Method for forming insoluble solute adducts using an acidic medium

Abstract

A method for forming an insoluble adduct using an acidic medium is provided. A chemical process utilizes acidic media to change the solubility behavior of metal solutes. The method can utilize Group 1 soluble alkali metals but can also be extended to any other soluble salts discussed under the solubility rules. The insoluble salts can be Group 2 alkaline earth metals or other insoluble salts. The insoluble adduct can have the designation XYZ where X is a soluble metal from a metal hydroxide or a metal oxide, Y is an insoluble metal from an insoluble metal hydroxide or an insoluble metal oxide, and Z is the acid ion from an aqueous acidic media.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of forming an insoluble adduct, the method comprising:
 reacting a soluble component from the group consisting of a soluble metal hydroxide and a soluble metal oxide with an insoluble component from the group consisting of an insoluble metal hydroxide and an insoluble metal oxide in the presence of an aqueous acidic media to form an insoluble adduct and a water byproduct.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water byproduct becomes a part of an aqueous phase and further comprising separating the aqueous phase from the insoluble adduct to yield a dry insoluble adduct. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble adduct is precipitated and has the general designation XYZ, wherein X is the metal in the soluble component, Y is the metal in the insoluble component, and Z is an acidic ion of the aqueous acidic media. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal in the soluble metal hydroxide comprises at least one of sodium, potassium, and lithium. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal in the soluble metal oxide comprises at least one of sodium, potassium, and lithium. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble metal in the insoluble metal hydroxide comprises at least one of calcium, zirconium, and zinc. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble metal in the insoluble metal oxide comprises at least one of calcium, zirconium, and zinc. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the acidic media comprises at least one of phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid and hydroiodic acids. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reaction occurs at a process temperature in the range from a freezing point to a boiling point of a solution of the acidic media. 
     
     
         10 . A method of forming an insoluble K:Ca:Phosphate adduct using an aqueous acidic medium, the method comprising:
 reacting a soluble component comprising potassium hydroxide with an insoluble component comprising calcium hydroxide in the presence of an aqueous phosphoric acid to form the insoluble K:Ca:Phosphate adduct and a water byproduct.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the water byproduct becomes a part of an aqueous phase and further comprising separating the aqueous phase from the insoluble adduct to yield a dry insoluble adduct. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the insoluble K:Ca:Phosphate adduct has the general designation XYZ, wherein X is the potassium of the soluble component, Y is the calcium of the insoluble component, and Z is a phosphoric acid ion of the aqueous acidic media. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the reacting of the soluble component with the insoluble component comprises intimately mixing the soluble component and the insoluble component in presence of the aqueous acidic media. 
     
     
         14 . A method of forming an insoluble K:Ca:Sulfate adduct using an aqueous acidic medium, the method comprising:
 reacting a soluble component comprising potassium hydroxide with an insoluble component comprising calcium hydroxide in the presence of an aqueous sulfuric acid to form the insoluble K:Ca:Sulfate adduct and a water byproduct.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the water byproduct becomes a part of an aqueous phase and further comprising separating the aqueous phase from the insoluble adduct to yield a dry insoluble adduct. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the insoluble K:Ca:Sulfate adduct has the general designation XYZ, wherein X is the potassium of the soluble component, Y is the calcium of the insoluble component, and Z is a sulfuric acid ion of the aqueous acidic media. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the reacting of the soluble component with the insoluble component comprises intimately mixing the soluble component and the insoluble component in the presence of an aqueous acidic media. 
     
     
         18 . A method of forming an insoluble Na:Ca:Phosphate adduct using an acidic medium, the method comprising:
 reacting a soluble component comprising sodium hydroxide with an insoluble component comprising calcium hydroxide in the presence of an aqueous phosphoric acid to form the insoluble Na:Ca:Phosphate adduct and a water byproduct.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the water byproduct becomes a part of an aqueous phase and further comprising separating the aqueous phase from the insoluble adduct to yield a dry insoluble adduct. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the insoluble Na:Ca:Phosphate adduct is precipitated and has the general designation XYZ, wherein X is the sodium of the soluble component, Y is the calcium of the insoluble component, and Z is a phosphoric acid ion of the aqueous acidic media. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the reacting of the soluble component with the insoluble component comprises intimately mixing the soluble component and the insoluble component in presence of aqueous acidic media.