Carbonate Reaction of Alkaline-Earth Element by Carbonate Agent Injection Method

Abstract

The carbonate reaction of some alkaline-earth chlorides was investigated by a carbonate agent injection method in LiCl-KCl eutectic salts containing both SrCl2 and BaCl2 and LiCl molten salts containing SrCl2. The effects of the injected molar ratio of a carbonate agent (Li2CO3 or K2CO3) and the temperature (450–750°C) on the conversion efficiencies of the strontium and barium chloride to their carbonates were determined. The forms of strontium and barium carbonate resulting from the carbonate reaction with carbonate agents were identified by XRD and SEM-EDS analyses. In these experiments, the carbonate agent injection method can carbonate strontium and barium chlorides effectively at over 99% under LiCl-KCl eutectic and LiCl molten salt conditions. For LiCl-KCl eutectic molten salts, carbonation efficiency was more favorable in the case of K2CO3 injection than in the case of Li2CO injection, where strontium and barium were carbonated in the form of Ba0.5Sr0.5CO3. For LiCl molten salts, strontium was carbonated in the form of SrCO3 by Li2CO3 injection.