Inventor: R.N. Vohra

IPR Status: US Patent No: 6,890,509

A new process for recovery of Low Sodium Salt from bittern has been described in the present invention, the said process comprising desulphatation of bittern (by-product of salt industry), evaporation of bittern in solar pans and processing of solid mixture with water to produce a mixture of sodium and potassium chlorides and optionally preparing "free flowing" and iodized, by known techniques.

Advantages of the invention:

The ratio of KCl and NaCl can be adjusted in the range from 20% KCl to 70% KCl according to customer requirements by varying the baume density at which the carnallite crystallizer pan is charged.

Technology licensed to:

Ms/ Archean Group of Chemical Industries , Chennai

Inventor: P K Ghosh
IPR Status: US Patent No: 6,865,942

The present invention relates to a novel device that enables a person to gauge the brine density in solar salt works from afar without recourse to sampling of the brine. The device--which can be considered as an improvisation over the conventional laboratory type Baume meter can be placed directly in the salt pan. The device remains sunk, and therefore invisible, until the desired density of brine is approached. Thereafter it gradually floats up and becomes visible from afar. From appropriate markings on the rod connected to the top end of the device, it can be gauged whether the brine is yet to attain the desired density, or has attained the desired density range, or has exceeded the desired density range. The device is resistant to corrosion and able to combat extreme weather conditions prevailing in solar salt works. The control of brine density from afar helps eliminate the need for frequent sampling of brine for density measurement that would make adherence to the optimum process of salt production easier. The methodology can be extended to production of other marine chemicals such as carnallite and kainite.

Advantages of the invention:

The material of construction of the device is compatible with any brine of any concentration, and is tolerant to the corrosive property of brine and the large temperature variations in the solar salt works that are typically set up in semi-arid regions. The materials used for construction of the device are fiber reinforced plastic and stainless steel. The configuration of the device is so made as to minimize accumulation of salts that might alter the precision of the device.

Technology licensed to:

Units given to Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd., for testing. Units helped to improve the quality of salt.

Inventor: P K Ghosh
IPR Status: US Patent Application No: 12/086 542

The present invention is directed to provide a novel iodized salt that is iodized by- the mixture of iodide and iodate in 5:1 molar ratio is used for iodization of salt and is shown to be a source of latent elemental iodine that can be liberated from the salt under acidic conditions such as that which prevails in the stomach. The iodizing agent is stabilized in the salt by adjusting pH to be in the range of 7.5-8.0. The said iodizing agent may be prepared cost-effectively through the reaction of pure iodine crystals with a suitable alkali.

Advantages of the invention:

• Iodine in the form of more potent elemental iodine can be delivered in the stomach through the vehicle of salt.
• The iodizing agent of the present invention would be both easier and cheaper to produce than either of the conventional iodizing agents used hitherto for salt iodization, namely pure iodide or iodate salts.
• Delivery of iodine in the form of elemental iodine via the iodide-iodate system may lead to greater efficacy of treatment of iodine deficiency disorders. 
   

Technology licensed to:

Yet to be licensed

Inventor: P K Ghosh
IPR Status: US Patent No: 7,041,268

The present invention is directed to a novel integrated process for the recovery of sulphate of potash (SOP) from sulphate rich bittern. The process requires bittern and lime as raw materials. Kainite type mixed salt is obtained by fractional crystallization of the bittern, and is converted to schoenite which is subsequently reacted with muriate of potash (MOP) for its conversion to SOP. End liquor from kainite to schoenite conversion (SEL) is desulphated and supplemented with MgCl2using end bittern generated in the process of making carnallite. Decomposed carnallite liquor produced is reacted with hydrated lime for preparing CaCl2 solution and high purity Mg(OH)2 having low boron content. It is shown that the liquid streams containing potash are recycled in the process, and the recovery of potash in the form of SOP is quantitative.

Advantages of the invention:

(i)    SOP is a dual fertilizer containing 50% K2O and 18% sulfur.
(ii)    SOP is virtually free of chloride and hence ideal for saline soils and chloride sensitive crops.
(iii)    SOP has lower salt index i.e low osmostic effect
Salt index of sodium nitrate = 100
Muriate of potash (MOP) = 116.3
Nitrate of potash (KNO3) = 73.6
Sulphate of potash (SOP) = 46.1
 

Technology licensed to:

Ms/ Archean Group of Chemical Industries , Chennai

IPR Status: 12/400512 and 11/376707

The present invention provides an improved process for the preparation of MgO of high purity >99% from salt bitterns via intermediate formation of Mg(OH)2 obtained from the reaction of MgCl2 and lime, albeit indirectly, i.e., MgCl2 is first reacted with NH3 in aqueous medium and the slurry is then filtered with ease. The resultant NH4Cl-containing filtrate is then treated with any lime, to regenerate NH3 while the lime itself gets transformed into CaCl2 that is used for desulphatation of bittern so as to recover carnallite and thereafter MgCl2of desired quality required in the present invention. The crude Mg(OH)2is dried and calcined directly to produce pure MgO, taking advantage of the fact that adhering impurities in the Mg(OH)2 either volatilize away or get transformed into the desired product, i.e., MgO.

Advantages of the invention:

The main advantage invention is that Mg(OH)2 obtained from the reaction of MgCl2 and ammonia in aqueous medium, which is very easy to filter, requires no further purification and can directly yield MgO of high purity, thereby largely eliminating the tedious nature of work up encountered in the conventional process of preparation of MgO from purified Mg(OH)2.
 

Technology licensed to:

Yet to be licensed

Inventor: P M Oza
IPR Status: US Patent No: 7,022,302

An improved process is described for the preparation of surface modified hydrotalcite. The process comprises reacting a precursor of magnesium and aluminium in the presence of suitable alkali carbonate at high temperature. The product has a BET surface area of 20M2/gm and average particle size of 5 micorns and is useful as halogen scavenger and fire retardant.

Advantages of the invention:

(i)    Cheap and easily available sea bittern and non-ferric alum has been used as a source of magnesium and aluminium compound respectively.
(ii)    The mother liquor after crystallization can be reused. 
(iii)    The process does not require costly equipment for drying i.e. spray drier. 
(iv)    Product having less surface area (20M2/gm) and fine particle size (average 5 microns) and at least 90% (by volume) particles are under 1 micron) and free from amorphous as well as crystalline impurities, can be obtained with less energy intensive step of 4 -5 hrs of heat crystallization at 140-150.degree. C.
 

Technology licensed to:

Yet to be licensed

Inventor: G. Ramachandraiah
IPR Status: US Patent No: 6,740,253

The present invention relates to a non-hazardous brominating reagent from an aqueous alkaline bromine byproduct solution obtained from bromine recovery plant and containing 25 to 35% bromine dissolved in aqueous lime or sodium hydroxide containing alkali bromide and alkali bromate mixture having bromide to bromate stoichiometric ratio in the range of 5:1 to 5.1:1 or 2:1 to 2.1:1 and a pH ranging between 8-12 and also relates to a method for borminating aromatic compounds by using the above brominating agent.

Advantages of the invention:

(i)    Inexpensive method of preparation of non-hazardous brominating reagents that are stable under storage and can be formulated either in solution or solid forms. 
(ii)    The alkaline bromine mixture with 5:1 bromide: bromate is a substitute for liquid bromine in bromine addition reactions and can be used for aromatic bromination reactions. 
(iii)    The brominating reagent with 2:1 bromide: bromate can be prepared from the alkaline bromine mixture through oxidation with inexpensive oxidizing agents and is especially suitable for aromatic bromine reactions with high Br atom efficiency that avoids the formation of HBr.
(iv)    The brominating reagents are activated by simple addition of mineral acid and no catalyst is required for the bromination reactions. 
(v)    Bromination reaction can be carried out with the present brominating reagents under ambient conditions.
 

Technology licensed to:

Ms/ Chemcon Specialty Chemical Pvt. Ltd, Vadodara