Desalination, Vol.113, No.1, 19-25, 1997
Dual-purpose chemical desalination process
The separation of sodium chloride from sabkha water was carried out using a chemical conversion approach. A sodium cation and chloride anion were converted into sodium bicarbonate, which is precipitated under experimental conditions, and ammonium chloride, which can be separated by crystallization, respectively. Concentrated brine solutions of 25% salt content were the feedstock used. In addition to partially desalted water, chemical products of economic potential values were produced, namely soda ash and ammonium chloride. Utilization of the brine exit from MSF desalination plants as feed stock is another alternative.