Sargon Engineering Energy&experience

Boric Acid

borpic
 
Sargon Engineering has completed a number of projects for the processing of borate ores to render boric acid. Sargon Engineering has a sound grasp of the various process options available, along with an appreciation of the associated costs.

Sargon Engineering carried out a series of concept studies for the extraction of boric acid from the Satimola borate deposit for WorleyParsons, Kazakhstan, with the end client being Toll Resources. Sargon Engineering modeled the entirety of the process in METSIM, and formulated a conceptual cost estimate, based on a comprehensive equipment list and the project’s infrastructure requirements. The final report, for a plant capable of 100,000 tpa, provided commentary on the following key areas:

BORIC ACID INDUSTRY
  • Other operating Boric Acid plants         (comparison and commentary)
PROCESS DESCRIPTION
  • Ore Supply
  • Milling
  • Salt Wash and Wash Stream Disposal
  • Leaching
  • Tails Wash and Disposal
  • Boric Acid Crystallisation
  • Product Separation and Packaging
  • Chloride Purge Stream Disposal
  • Evaporation Pond
  • Chloride Concentration Control
  • Water
  • Supply to Site
  • Water Treatment
  • Cooling Water
  • Natural Gas
  • Steam and Condensate
  • Electrical Power
  • Sulphur Supply and Sulphur Handling
  • Sulphuric Acid Plant
  • Compressed Air
  • Lime
  • Flocculant
  • Diesel
PROCESS SIMULATION
  • Design Criteria
  • Process Flow Diagrams
  • Stream Tables
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
  • Boron Recovery
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Water Balance
PROCESS VARIATIONS
  • Increase Circuit Concentration of Boric Acid
  • Further Reduce Evaporation Pond Area
  • Variation of Thickener Underflow Densities
  • Use DSM Screens instead of Centrifuge Feed Thickener
  • Drier Dust Recovery Equipment
  • Delivery of Sulphur in Solid Instead of Molten Form
COST ESTIMATE & CONCLUSIONS
  • Capital Cost Estimate (CAPEX)
  • Operating Cost Estimate (OPEX)
  • Findings & Recommendations

Based on the experience gained in Boric Acid production, Sargon Engineering is well positioned to provide process advice and consultation to clients seeking to develop Borate deposits. Sargon Engineering is able to prepare proposals or quotations to clients with a defined scope of work.

>> Download a sample flowsheet (Salt Wash Thickening)
>> View the Satimola project summary under our Projects section