Quicklime–Calcium Carbonate Compositions for Sugar Beet Juice Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing sugar beet juice purification process is inefficient due to fluctuating milk of lime quality, high energy consumption, excessive waste generation, and uncontrolled carbonation, leading to filtration issues and CO2 emissions.
Innovation Solution
A kit comprising a first particle composition of quicklime with high CaO content and a second particle composition of high CaCO3 content, optimized for size and purity, is used to control the pH and carbonation process, reducing waste and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If quicklime is produced in a single lime kiln using conventional calcination, then the process is simple and compact, but the milk of lime quality fluctuates and the slaking time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the quicklime production into two separate sources: a conventional lime kiln for producing quicklime and a separate calcination unit for producing calcium carbonate particles. This segmentation allows each unit to be optimized independently, ensuring stable quality of milk of lime while maintaining process simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary calcination of limestone to produce calcium carbonate particles before the slaking process. These pre-prepared calcium carbonate particles are then added to the milk of lime to control the slaking reaction rate, preventing excessively long reaction times while ensuring complete hydration.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional calcination is used in a lime kiln, then the process is established and simple, but energy consumption is high and CO2 emissions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the calcination parameters by using a fluidized bed reactor instead of a conventional lime kiln for producing calcium carbonate particles. This allows lower temperature operation and better heat efficiency, reducing energy consumption while maintaining the simplicity of the calcination process.
3Reliability
If CO2 is injected for carbonation in the conventional process, then the pH is reduced and impurities are removed, but filtration problems occur and CO2 is lost to the atmosphere
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful fine particles generated during conventional carbonation into beneficial filter aids. The calcium carbonate particles produced in the fluidized bed reactor serve as effective filtration media, eliminating filtration problems while the CO2 generated is fully captured and reused in the carbonation process, preventing atmospheric emissions.
4Reliability
If multiple separation equipment are used to sort unburnt and overburnt material, then the milk of lime quality can be improved, but the process becomes complex and generates waste streams
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary classification of limestone particles before calcination, selecting only particles within the optimal size range (0.5-2.0 mm) for uniform calcination. This preliminary action ensures that the calcined product has consistent properties, eliminating the need for complex post-calcination separation equipment and reducing waste generation.
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
The solution achieves efficient purification with reduced reaction times, lower CO2 emissions, and improved filtration, allowing for precise dosage and controlled particle composition, thereby enhancing process efficiency and reducing waste generation.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the kit or the particle mixture with an aqueous solution, in particular a water used to clean filtrated sludges generated in step e) during a prior cycle or from another sugar beets purification process, thereby forming a milk of lime (MOL') and generating heat
Implementation Method 2
The pre-limed juice is then mixed with a second amount of milk of lime in the main liming vessel(s) in step S4. After the main liming in step S4, the limed juice enters the carbonation vessels in step S5 where CO2 is injected causing the carbonation of the hydrated lime, leading to the nucleation and growth of carbonated lime
Implementation Method 3
at least one carbonation step consisting of introducing carbon dioxide (and optionally a portion of the second particle composition of the kit or particle mixture, or the particle composition) into the limed juice, leading to a carbonated limed juice
Implementation Method 4
alkalising and nucleating the aqueous composition by adding a first portion of said milk of lime, to a pH ranging from 8.5 to 11.4, leading to a pre-limed juice
Implementation Method 5
initiate several chemical reactions producing precipitation, coagulation and flocculation of several non-sugar compounds present in the raw juice
Implementation Method 6
at least one of filtering and/or decantation step consisting of removing particles in suspension in the limed juice or carbonated limed juice
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a kit for purifying an aqueous composition comprising saccharose, in particular a juice from sugar beets, said kit comprising or consist in: - a first particle composition having quicklime, wherein the weight fraction of said first composition relative to the weight of said kit is greater than 30%, preferably greater than 50%, in particular greater than 70%; and - a second particle composition having a CaCOs content or a CaCOs and MgCOs content of at least 90% in weight, in particular at least 95% in weight relative to said second composition, a d10 greater than 0.8 µm and a d50 greater than 2 µm and a Carr's index lower than 50%, wherein the weight fraction of said second composition relative to the weight of said kit is greater than 15% but less than 70%.