Patent attributes
Novel methods for the removal of sodium perchlorate from electrolytic processes for the production of sodium chlorate have been discovered, allowing sodium chlorate production processes to proceed with low levels of sodium perchlorate. A portion of the mother liquor from the sodium chlorate crystallization is fed to a secondary crystallization step to concentrate sodium perchlorate in a second mother liquor. In this manner, at least a portion of the sodium perchlorate in the sodium chlorate production process is isolated in the second mother liquor, which can be removed from the sodium chlorate production process. The process is run until the concentration of sodium perchlorate in the second mother liquor reaches a desired concentration, at which point at least a portion of the second mother liquor can be removed, thereby removing a portion of the sodium perchlorate from the sodium chlorate production process. The removal of sodium perchlorate from the electrolytic production process allows extended process operating time, improved raw material utilization, and improved reaction efficiency.
