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1. Introduction - Firenze University Press

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Figure 4 shows that an increase in temperature results in a reduction in % Mg extraction is already<br />

at 440 o C (i.e. within the 401-450 o C temperature range). For the selected reaction condition 6, the<br />

effect due to temperature is almost flat (see Fig.3). However, reaction time has a significant effect<br />

on magnesium extraction; an increase in reaction time from low (-1) to high (+1) levels leads to a<br />

15 percent points’ increase in magnesium extraction. More so, reaction time significantly affects<br />

Mg extraction at all the conditions modeled except when t > 60 min and S/AS ≤0.67 g/g (conditions<br />

3 and 4). Besides, this effect of reaction time on Mg ext seems not straightforward from Fig.4; more<br />

investigation is needed.<br />

3.2.4 Interaction effects<br />

Under the conditions modeled, the interaction effects of Mg/Fe-S/AS ratios and T-t are significant at<br />

95 % significance level. The interaction effects presented in Fig.3 show that increasing the reaction<br />

time from high (+1) to low (-1) (above 25 min) levels significantly increases (by 30 % point) the<br />

value for Mg extraction if the reaction temperature are kept below 480 o C. Above this temperature,<br />

no increase in Mg extraction is possible, presumably due to thermal decomposition of AS above at<br />

high temperatures leading to the formation of sulfur trioxide gas, which could alter the<br />

thermodynamics [16]. On the other hand, increasing S/AS ratio levels from high (+1) to low (-1) (≤1<br />

g/g) at both high (+1) and low (-1) levels Mg/Fe leads to a significant increase in % Mg ext. But, the<br />

% Mg ext values obtained with high (+1) level of Mg/Fe (>2.16 g/g) are higher. This confirms<br />

previous results which showed that rocks with high Mg/Fe ratios respond better to Mg extraction<br />

than those with low Mg/Fe ratios[6].<br />

4. Process evaluation using exergy and pinch analysis<br />

4.1 Process simulation<br />

The Mg(OH)2 production, AS recovery and Mg(OH)2 carbonation were modeled using Aspen<br />

Plus® software. The process flow diagram is presented in Fig.5. Pinch analysis was done using<br />

Aspen Energy Analyzer®.<br />

4.<strong>1.</strong>1 Mg, Fe and Ca extraction<br />

The base property method used for this simulation is the ELECTRTL method. The solid state<br />

reaction of serpentinite and AS salt was simulated using a stoichiometric reactor (REACTOR) with<br />

the extraction equations and thermodynamics specified as presented in the Appendix section ((R1),<br />

(R3) and (R5) in Table A2). The serpentinite feed has its composition simulated after the Finnish<br />

serpentinite which contains ~83 %-wt Mg3Si2O5(OH)4, ~14 %-wt Fe2O3 and ~1 %-wt CaSiO3. The<br />

AS feed (AS-1) is a product from the MVR section, where AS salt is crystallized. The specified<br />

conversion of this reactor is 100% – meaning that serpentine and AS feed react completely to form<br />

products. This assumption is based on the best case scenario of the extraction reaction which is the<br />

aim of an ongoing optimization study. However, all the scenarios have previously been explored<br />

using life cycle analysis (LCA)[25].<br />

4.<strong>1.</strong>2 Dissolution of extraction products<br />

The product stream from the reactor (PRDTS) was separated in a solid/gas separator (SEP-1) into a<br />

solid stream (SOLIDS-1) and a gas stream (GASES) before cooling. The dissolution of the solid<br />

products was modeled using a stoichiometric reactor (CONVTR) and an RGibbs reactor<br />

(DISSOLUT) respectively. At the CONVTR the solid compounds were converted to aqueous<br />

compounds before dissociating into anions and cations at the DISSOLUT. The DISSOLUT<br />

simulated the dissolution reactions of MgSO4, FeSO4, Fe2(SO4)3 and CaSO4 in water streams at 40<br />

°C by calculating both the phase and chemical equilibrium based on Gibbs free energy<br />

minimization. The water stream (DISS-H2O) used for dissolution is made up of the following: a<br />

recycled water stream (MVR-H2O) from the MVR section, a water stream (WATER) recovered from<br />

the separation of the GASES stream into H2O and NH3 gas. After dissolution, the mixture is<br />

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