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Potash recovery in cement works
576
CURRENT TOPICS.
[J. F. I.
Potash Recovery in Cement Works.-The discovery that a limited amount of soluble alkalies exists in the dust of cement plants seems to be due to Seger and Cremer, who in 1904 reported on the fact in Thonind.-Zeit. abstracted in Jour. Sot. Chew. Ind. (vol. xxiii, p. 531, 1904). The possibility of recovering this alkaline material was first pointed out by Clifford Richardson at a meeting of the American Society for Testing Materials in June, 1904. At this time Richardson stated that in a cement plant turning out 4o00 barrels per day there might be a possible profit of between $100 and $200 per day. This was, of course, at the prices then ruling for potassium salts. The data just given are taken from a report by the Department of Mines of Canada, bulletin 29, prepared by Alfred W. G. Wilson, Ph.D., Special Investigator for the War Trade Board. A considerable amount of information is given as to the results of recovery of potassium salts from the dust of the cement works, Several illustrations are inprincipally in the United States. It is also cluded, all of which are United States installations. stated that potassium salts may be recovered from blast-furnace gases,, and that three steel plants in the United States are experimenting on this matter, and further that in Great Britain it is believed that the yield from this source will suffice for domestic wants. Two systems are in vogue for recovery from cement dust, the electrical precipitation under the Cottrell patents and the water spray system. A double benefit results from these methods, for not only is a valuable fertilizer obtained, of which there is a shortIn age in America, but a very objectionable dust is condensed. fact, in one case it was due to legal proceedings against the works that the dust remover was insstalled and as a secondary result the potash yield was obtained and for a limited time, owing to the high price of potash salts, the by-product was the most profitable output of the plant. The bulletin concludes with the advice that the problem of byproduct recovery should receive the attention of all Canadian cement manufacturers. Of course, this advice will be worth considering by United States manufacturers as well. Not the least advantage will be removal of annoyance to the neighborhood by the escaping dust, especially objectionable in agriculture districts, and also very injurious to the workers in the plants. Thus we have the fortunate combination of industrial hygiene and increase of operation profit to bring about material improvement in such plants. TT. I,.
CURRENT TOPICS.
[J. F. I.
Potash Recovery in Cement Works.-The discovery that a limited amount of soluble alkalies exists in the dust of cement plants seems to be due to Seger and Cremer, who in 1904 reported on the fact in Thonind.-Zeit. abstracted in Jour. Sot. Chew. Ind. (vol. xxiii, p. 531, 1904). The possibility of recovering this alkaline material was first pointed out by Clifford Richardson at a meeting of the American Society for Testing Materials in June, 1904. At this time Richardson stated that in a cement plant turning out 4o00 barrels per day there might be a possible profit of between $100 and $200 per day. This was, of course, at the prices then ruling for potassium salts. The data just given are taken from a report by the Department of Mines of Canada, bulletin 29, prepared by Alfred W. G. Wilson, Ph.D., Special Investigator for the War Trade Board. A considerable amount of information is given as to the results of recovery of potassium salts from the dust of the cement works, Several illustrations are inprincipally in the United States. It is also cluded, all of which are United States installations. stated that potassium salts may be recovered from blast-furnace gases,, and that three steel plants in the United States are experimenting on this matter, and further that in Great Britain it is believed that the yield from this source will suffice for domestic wants. Two systems are in vogue for recovery from cement dust, the electrical precipitation under the Cottrell patents and the water spray system. A double benefit results from these methods, for not only is a valuable fertilizer obtained, of which there is a shortIn age in America, but a very objectionable dust is condensed. fact, in one case it was due to legal proceedings against the works that the dust remover was insstalled and as a secondary result the potash yield was obtained and for a limited time, owing to the high price of potash salts, the by-product was the most profitable output of the plant. The bulletin concludes with the advice that the problem of byproduct recovery should receive the attention of all Canadian cement manufacturers. Of course, this advice will be worth considering by United States manufacturers as well. Not the least advantage will be removal of annoyance to the neighborhood by the escaping dust, especially objectionable in agriculture districts, and also very injurious to the workers in the plants. Thus we have the fortunate combination of industrial hygiene and increase of operation profit to bring about material improvement in such plants. TT. I,.