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Thermodynamic simulation of the Bayer process

  • Erich Königsberger
Published/Copyright: March 1, 2013
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International Journal of Materials Research
From the journal International Journal of Materials Research Volume 99 Issue 2

Abstract

The Gibbs energy minimiser incorporated in the thermodynamic subroutine library ChemApp and a thermodynamically consistent, ten-component Bayer liquor model were applied to a simulation of the Bayer process employed worldwide for the refining of alumina from bauxite ores. As well as the liquor cycle from digestion, clarification, precipitation, evaporation and back to digestion (including flash cooling and heating steps), calcination to alumina in a circulating fluid bed furnace was simulated. The present study not only covers temperature and concentration ranges from boehmite digestion to gibbsite precipitation, it also permits exploration of boehmite precipitation as a potential energy saving modification of the process. Furthermore, the simulation is able to predict the accumulation and precipitation of undesirable impurities in various stages of the liquor circuit. It also identifies possible reductions in the overall energy consumption of the Bayer process.

Keywords:: Process simulation; ChemApp, Bayer liquors; Pitzer model; Solubility; Energy balance
2 Correspondence address: Dr. Erich Königsberger, Chemistry, Murdoch University, Murdoch WA 6150, Australia, Tel.: +61 8 9360 2301, Fax: +61 8 9310 1711. E-mail:

Dedicated to Dr. Gunnar Eriksson on the occasion of his 65th birthday

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Received: 2007-06-15
Accepted: 2007-11-20
Published Online: 2013-03-01
Published in Print: 2008-02-01

© 2008, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich

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https://doi.org/10.3139/146.101624
Keywords for this article
Process simulation; ChemApp, Bayer liquors; Pitzer model; Solubility; Energy balance

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Contents
  2. Contents
  3. Editorial
  4. IJMR wishes all its readers and contributors a belated Happy New Year
  5. Basic
  6. Experimental study of the phase relations in the Fe–Zn–Cr system at 600°C
  7. Thermodynamic description of the ternary Pd–Sn–Zn system
  8. The morphology of nitrided iron–chromium alloys; influence of chromium content and nitrogen supersaturation
  9. The surface tension and density of Ag–Bi–Sn alloys
  10. Density and thermal expansion of liquid binary Al–Ag and Al–Cu alloys
  11. Hardening precipitation and mechanical properties in new Mg–Mn–Y–Gd alloys
  12. On recrystallization texture formation in polycrystalline fcc alloys with low stacking fault energies
  13. A numerical study of grain size effects on the strength and elongation of Al polycrystals using strain gradient plasticity theory
  14. Applied
  15. Thermodynamic simulation of the Bayer process
  16. The anisotropy of deformation for friction stir processed Mg alloy due to the existence of onion rings
  17. A study of the Si-phase growth mechanismin thixocast (A356) alloy during hot deformation
  18. Study of hydrogen absorption of aluminum melt
  19. Modelling of work-hardening behaviour for laser welded magnesium alloy
  20. Tribological behavior of short carbon fiber or hybrid with SiCp reinforced Al alloy composites
  21. Elevated temperature compressive behavior of Nb-22Ti-16Si-7Cr-3Al-3Ta-2Hf alloy with minor Ho addition
  22. Notifications
  23. News
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