CH179079A - Process for the production of potassium bicarbonate. - Google Patents

Description

  

  Process for the production of lialium bicarbonate. It has been found (inventor: Dr. Emil Lüscher, Basel) that potassium formate reacts with ammonium bicarbonate in aqueous alcohol to form potassium bicarbonate and ammonium formate, with the potassium bicarbonate formed largely precipitating as a poorly soluble salt and from the Separated ammonium formate-containing solution who can.



  A possible solvent for the potassium formate is, for example, aqueous methyl or ethyl alcohol or a mixture of both. The alcohol content is preferably around 60 to 90%. The ammonium bicarbonate can be produced directly by introducing ammonia and carbonic acid into the aqueous alcohol in the presence of the potassium formate.



  <I> Example </I> T 179 g of potassium formate were dissolved in 215 g of methyl alcohol and 54 g of water at 40 'and reacted with 170 g of freshly prepared ammonium bicarbonate. After stirring for two hours at 40 ', the separated potassium bicarbonate was filtered off and washed with methyl alcohol. The yield was about 75%



  <I> Example 2: </I> 84 g of potassium formate were dissolved in 269.1 g of ethyl alcohol with 67.3 g of water and 80 g of nurse bicarbonate were introduced into the solution. After stirring for two hours at room temperature, the precipitated potassium bicarbonate was filtered off. Yield about <B> 7.5%. </B>



  The potassium formate can be of any origin. If the same is produced, for example, from potassium sulfate and calcium formate, the production of the potassium bicarbonate can be carried out in the following cycle, for example.



  1. Potassium sulphate is reacted with the calcium formate obtained in step 3 in aqueous solution to form potassium formate and potassium sulphate and the latter is filtered off. The aqueous potassium formate solution is concentrated.



  2. The potassium formate obtained in this way is then converted into ammonium formate and potassium bicarbonate in aqueous alcohol with carbonic acid and ammonia (resulting from the following intermediate reaction 3), whereby ammonium bicarbonate is formed, and the precipitated potassium bicarbonate is separated from the ammonium formate solution.



  3. The ammonium formate is converted into calcium formate and ammonia in the alcoholic solution with lime, whereby the former precipitates out of the solution practically completely in anhydrous form and can then be used again directly for the production of the potassium formate according to step 1.



  When working in a closed cycle, the potassium bicarbonate yield becomes practically 100%. The potassium bicarbonate can be converted into carbonate in a known manner.

 

Claims (1)

PATENT CLAIM: Process for the production of potassium bicarbonate, characterized in that potassium formate is reacted with ammonium bicarbonate in aqueous alcohol to form potassium bicarbonate and ammonium formate and the poorly soluble potassium bicarbonate formed is separated from the solution containing ammonium formate. SUBClaims 1. Process according to claim, characterized in that the reaction is carried out in aqueous methyl alcohol. 2. Process according to claim, characterized in that the reaction is carried out in aqueous ethyl alcohol. 3. The method according to claim, characterized in that the ammonium formate resulting from the conversion of the potassium formate with ammonium bicarbonate is converted with lime with the development of ammonia to form calcium formate and the latter is then converted into potassium formate, which is returned to the process. Method according to claim. characterized in that the reaction is carried out with ammonium bicarbonate produced directly in the presence of the potassium formate by introducing carbonic acid and ammonia into the aqueous alcohol.