Nitric Effluent Calcination Using Dilution Adjuvants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for calcining nitric aqueous liquid effluents with high sodium nitrate content face challenges such as adhesion and clogging in calcination tubes, requiring multiple tests to optimize dilution adjuvant amounts and leading to increased glass production during vitrification.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a calcination step with a dilution adjuvant comprising nitrates that form non-tacky oxides, governed by specific mass ratios to prevent adhesion and clogging, using inequations to determine the optimal adjuvant amount, and incorporating iron or rare earth nitrates to minimize glass production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If aluminium nitrate is added to the effluent to prevent clogging during calcination, then adhesion of calcinate on the walls of the rotating tube is avoided, but the amount of glass to be produced increases and the elaboration temperature of the glass increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the dilution adjuvant by replacing aluminium nitrate with iron(III) nitrate or rare earth nitrates. This substitution maintains the anti-clogging function during calcination while reducing the alumina content in the final glass, thereby decreasing the glass elaboration temperature and the total amount of glass to be produced.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses iron(III) nitrate or rare earth nitrates as temporary additives that serve their function during calcination (preventing adhesion) but do not persist in the final product in harmful amounts. These adjuvants are consumed or transformed during the calcination process, leaving minimal residual impact on the glass composition and production volume.
2Reliability
If aluminium nitrate is added to the effluent to prevent clogging during calcination, then adhesion of calcinate on the walls of the rotating tube is avoided, but several tests are required to determine the operating calcination conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes predetermined mass ratio ranges (inequations) that define the optimal amount of iron(III) nitrate or rare earth nitrate to be added to the effluent before calcination. By providing these pre-calculated ratios based on the effluent composition, the method eliminates the need for multiple trial tests to determine operating conditions, saving time and enabling direct implementation of optimal parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a feedback mechanism where the effluent composition is analyzed and used to calculate the precise amount of dilution adjuvant needed through the mass ratio inequations. This closed-loop approach ensures that the correct amount of iron(III) nitrate or rare earth nitrate is added from the start, preventing adhesion issues without requiring iterative testing and adjustment.
3Quantity of substance
If iron(III) nitrate or rare earth nitrate is used as dilution adjuvant instead of aluminium nitrate, then the glass elaboration temperature is reduced and glass production amount is minimized, but the calcination conditions must be precisely controlled according to mass ratios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent defines specific mass ratio parameters (inequations) that relate the amount of iron(III) nitrate or rare earth nitrate to the effluent composition. By establishing these quantitative relationships, the method transforms a potentially complex control problem into a straightforward calculation based on measurable effluent parameters, simplifying the overall control complexity while achieving reduced glass production.
4Quantity of substance
If the amount of dilution adjuvant is optimized to minimize glass production, then the confinement glass properties are maintained, but the calcination process must be precisely controlled to avoid clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes mass ratio inequations that define the precise relationship between the dilution adjuvant amount and effluent composition. These inequations provide a mathematical framework that simultaneously ensures adequate adhesion prevention during calcination and minimization of glass production, balancing manufacturing precision requirements with material efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for reliable, reproducible calcination without clogging, reduces the amount of dilution adjuvant needed, and minimizes the increase in confinement glass production, ensuring efficient and flexible glass formulation.
Implementation Method 1
a step for calcination of the effluent in order to convert the nitrates of metals or metalloids into oxides of said metals or metalloids
Implementation Method 2
a dilution adjuvant comprising at least one nitrate of metal or metalloid leading upon, during, calcination to a non-tacky oxide
Implementation Method 3
a step for vitrification of the calcinate obtained during said calcination step
Data Source
AI summary
A method for treating a nitric aqueous liquid effluent containing nitrates of metals or metalloids, comprising a step for calcination of the effluent in order to convert the nitrates of metals or metalloids into oxides of said metals or metalloids, at least one compound selected from the nitrates of metals or metalloids and the other compounds of the effluent leading upon calcination to a tacky oxide, and a dilution adjuvant comprising at least one nitrate of metal or metalloid leading upon calcination to a non-tacky oxide being added to the effluent prior to the calcination step in order to give a mixture of effluent and of dilution adjuvant.