Patent attributes
A method of producing calcium carbonate from lime comprises the steps of: (i) providing an aqueous solution comprising 10% to 35% by weight of dissolved polyhydroxy compound and 1% to 5% by weight of dissolved calcium hydroxide (expressed as Ca(OH)2) and having a pH of at least 11.5; (ii) treating the solution prepared in step (i) to remove solids including suspended solids; (iii) dispersing carbon dioxide through the solution so as to form calcium carbonate with a consequential reduction in the pH of the reaction mixture, (iv) during a time period beginning at the start of a sudden, short rise in pH and ended during a subsequent fall in pH but before it reaches 9.5 terminating the dispersion of carbon dioxide and adding an alkaline reagent to maintain a pH for the product mixture of at least 9.5, and (v) recovering precipitated calcium carbonate.
