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Abstract

A process for producing sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate. The process includes reacting within a reactor sodium sulfate in aqueous solution with ammonia and carbon dioxide to precipitate sodium bicarbonate and form a first mother liquor. The sodium bicarbonate is separated and dried to produce sodium bicarbonate product. Alternatively, the sodium bicarbonate may be calcined to convert it to sodium carbonate. The first mother liquor may be evaporated to precipitate unreacted sodium sulfate, with the formation of a second mother liquor. The second mother liquor may be cooled to precipitate a double salt of sodium sulfate/ammonium sulfate and water. A third mother liquor is formed from this process. The latter-mentioned liquor from the precipitation of the double salt is evaporated to precipitate a substantial pure ammonium sulfate in a purity of greater than approximately 75 wt %. A fourth mother liquor is formed. The double salt is added to the first mother liquor from the precipitation of sodium bicarbonate prior to the evaporation step and the fourth mother liquor is added to the second mother liquor from the evaporation to precipitate unreacted sodium sulfate.

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