Process for reducing the concentration of heavy metals in geothermal brine sludge

Patent · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5691468

Wong, M M; Shugarman, A L

A process for reducing the total concentration of heavy metal in silica sludge precipitated from a flow of geothermal brine is described comprising: (a) washing the silica sludge with hot water so as to replace with the water geothermal brine which is entrapped in the sludge; (b) contacting the washed sludge with a hydrochloric acid solution having a weight ratio of hydrochloric acid relative to the washed sludge causing the pH to the acid sludge mixture to be less than about 1; (c) separating a silicious solids residue from the hydrochloric acid solution, and (d) washing the silicious solids residue with water to flush hydrochloric acid solution from the residue.

• Assignee: Union Oil Co. of California, Los Angeles; Mono Power Co., Rosemead and Southern Pacific Land Co., San Francisco, CA
• Patent Number(s): US 4710367
• OSTI ID: 5691468
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150600* -- Geothermal Energy-- Environmental Aspects
ACIDIFICATION
BRINES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLEANING
DEMETALLIZATION
DISSOLUTION
FLUIDS
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
HOT WATER
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
LEACHING
MANAGEMENT
MINERALS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
REMOVAL
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SILICA
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SLUDGES
WASHING
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WATER