Justification of an acceptable modern energy-efficient method of obtaining sodium silicate for production in Kazakhstan

Abstract

Sodium silicate is used in various industries. Sodium silicate is a basic component in the production of silicate adhesives and paints, silica gel, welding electrodes, corrugated packaging, and geopolymer concretes and cements. All this is currently not produced in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The article discusses the methods of production of sodium silicate and substantiates the possibility of organizing production in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The authors have studied all the available experience in the production of sodium silicate, both now and in the past. At this stage of the research, an analysis was made of the experience in the production of serial and pilot sodium silicate in the USSR in the past and in countries where development has not been suspended at the present time. All possible sources of raw materials of technogenic and natural origin were studied. Business trips and expeditions to natural deposits were carried out and samples of raw materials from various natural and man-made sources were delivered. Studies have been carried out to determine the available volumes of raw materials. Various technologies for melting sodium silicate have been studied, incl. by unconventional schemes, such as smelting in cyclone furnaces. For melting in electric furnaces, various schemes of energy-saving methods for melting sodium silicate were analyzed. Promising ones have been identified. The following types of sodium silicate production were analyzed in the study: traditional smelting (carbonate method), wet method, sodium chloride sublimation method, sulfate method, cullet smelting. The optimal variant has been chosen, which makes it possible to reduce the cost of electricity by several times when introducing a highly efficient innovative technology of electric melting into practice.