• CSIR - Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute
  • G20
Salt and Marine Chemicals

Title of Process/ Know-how/ Product/Design/Equipment

Technology for the production of sulphate of potash & refractory grade magnesia from sea bittern

  • IPR
    IPR Status & Details:
  • US 7,041,268, US 7,811,535 B2
Application/Uses/Problem being addressed

Sulphate of Potash (SOP)

  • SOP is a premium two nutrient fertilizer (50% K2O and 18% S) with the highest total nutrient value (68%) and the lowest salt index (46.1).
  • SOP (K2SO4) offers an advantage over MOP (KCl) currently used by farmers with special focus on chloride sensitive crops, Dryland agriculture, sulphur responsive crops, drip irrigation and areas deficient in K & S.

    • Ultra Pure Magnesia

  • Ultra-pure magnesia is used in refractory lining for primary steelmaking as well as in magnesium metal production.
    • Salient Technical Features including Competing Features/ Impact
  • No floatation is used for NaCl separation and recycle system designed leaches away NaCl with simultaneous increase in potash recovery.
  • The sea bittern and many of subsoil bitterns in the country are sulphate rich and hence the potash is recovered in form of SOP which is agronomically better fertilizer
  • The recovery/yield of potash is high because of integration and recycle of intermediate streams
  • The unit operations used are simple and most of the operations are carried out at ambient temperature except drying and calcinations of magnesium hydroxide to form MgO
  • The technology developed is environmentally benign.
  • There is no fear of IPR infringement in view of the strong patent position.
    • TRL Level & Scale of Development:
    TRL 6

    Pilot Plant Scale

    Business scope & opportunity (in terms of scale, cost, market etc.):

    Economical viable integrated process with potash and magnesia production.

    Environmental Considerations:

    The technology developed is environmentally benign.

    There is no effluent generated in the process that poses environmental problems

    Status of Licensing:
    Licensed technology
    Status of Commercialization:
    Not yet commercialized
    Major Raw Materials Needed

    Sea bittern (mother liquor left after production of salt) & lime

    Major Plant Equipment and Machinery Required

    Belt conveyor, crushing unit, vessels with agitator, centrifuges, rotary calciner, intermediate storage tanks, fluid bed dryer, pumps, filter, packaging units etc.

    Techno-Economics

    Economically feasible as integrated process.

    Technology Package

    Technology package is ready and would be provided to the party at the time of technology transfer; License fee and other financial details would be provided on request.