Process development for sulphate of potassium (SOP) recovery from schoenite mineral and flue gases

硫酸钾(K2SO4)，又名钾盐(SOP)是一种重要的化肥用钾化合物。世界SOP市场每年约400万吨，加拿大是最大的生产国，也是第二大钾盐生产国。SOP优先于钾盐(KCl，又名对于一些不能耐受钾盐氯(氯)的物种，例如大多数水果和蔬菜，可将其用作肥料。SOP也是一种比钾肥更好的富硫肥料。本项目重点研究了从两种不同来源生产SOP的可行性：1-从水镁石，K2 Mg(SO4)2.6H2O矿物，一种钾和镁的双重硫酸盐，通常在太阳池作业中生产；2-从工业SO2烟气中生产，这将提供重要的环境效益。二氧化硫气体的释放会导致酸雨(一个重大的环境问题)，因此，如果拟议的研究成功，工业可以使用新的工艺将有问题的污染物转化为有用的肥料。

Potassium sulphate (K2SO4), a.k.a. sulphate of potash (SOP), is an important potassium compound withapplication as fertilizer. The world SOP market is about 4,000,000 tons per annum, Canada being the largestproducing country, and is the second largest tonnage potassium compound produced. SOP is preferred overpotash (KCl, a.k.a. MOP) as fertilizer for some species that cannot tolerate chloride (Cl) of potash, e.g. mostfruits and vegetables. SOP is also preferred over potash for being a sulphur rich fertilizer.This project focuses on the studying of the feasibility of the SOP production from 2 different sources:1- from schoenite, K2Mg(SO4)2.6H2O mineral, a potassium and magnesium double sulphate salt which iscommonly produced in solar pond operations.2- From industrial SO2 flue gases, which would will provide an important environmental benefit. SO2 gasrelease results in acidic rain (a significant environmental issue), so if the proposed research is successful,industry could use the new process to convert a problematic pollutant into a useful fertilizer.