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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Process for removal of silica from geothermal brine

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6547981
Ammonium hydroxide is added to a mixture of high-temperature, high-pressure geothermal steam and brine to raise the pH of the brine to between 6.0 and 7.0 and precipitate out a gelatinous sludge of aluminum and iron hydroxides. The hydroxide sludge is suspended in the brine and sweeps out enough dissolved silica so that the temperature and pressure of the brine can be reduced with little, if any, formation of silica scale. Various metals and ammonium hydroxide may then be recovered from the brine. (3 claims)
Assignee:
Southern Pacific Land Co.
Patent Number(s):
US 4016075
OSTI ID:
6547981
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English