Calcium carbonate precipitation method

PCT No. PCT/GB96/00488 Sec. 371 Date Oct. 22, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Oct. 22, 1997 PCT Filed Mar. 1, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO96/26902 PCT Pub. Date Sep. 6, 1996A method for producing precipitated calcium carbonate by reacting an aqueous solution of calcium nitrate [Ca(NO3)2] with an aqueous solution of ammonium carbonate [(NH4)2CO3] and allowing calcium carbonate to precipitate from the resultant mixture containing nitrate [NH4NO3] in the mother liquor, the process being characterized in that: (i) the calcium nitrate [Ca(NO3)2)] solution utilized in the processes is prepared by slaking lime [CaO] in water in the presence of ammonium nitrate [NH4NO3] to form calcium nitrate [Ca(NO3)2] and ammonium hydroxide [NH4OH] in solution, filtering the solution to render it solids free, and heating the filtrate to dissociate the ammonium hydroxide [NH4OH] and to drive ammonia gas [NH3] from the solution; (ii) the ammonium carbonate (NH4)2CO3 solution utilized is prepared by absorbing ammonia gas [NH3] and carbon dioxide gas [CO2] in water, the ammonia gas preferably being derived from the step in (i) above in which the Ca(NO3)2 solution is heated; and (iii) the ammonium nitrate used is derived from the precipitation phase during which calcium carbonate is precipitated from the mother liquor containing ammonium nitrate.