Preparation method and station for non-caking agent solutions
Process and dosing station ( 1 ) for the preparation of a solution of a non-caking agent, wherein a concentrate of the non-caking agent is circulated in a loop ( 6 ) and wherein the concentrate is subsequently diluted by water to obtain the solution. A flow of the concentrate can be drawn from the circulation loop ( 6 ) and mixed with a flow of water. The obtained solution can subsequently be fed into a second recirculation loop ( 12 ). A flow of solution can be drawn off from the second recirculation loop for being dosed into an amount of salt.
1. A process for the preparation of a solution of a non-caking agent comprising an iron salt of an organic acid with a ferric component and a ferrous component of less solubility than said ferric component, the process comprising circulating a concentrate of the non-caking agent in a circulation loop adapted to minimize the amount of oxygen introduced into the concentrate, and subsequently diluting the concentrate with water to obtain the solution, wherein the non-caking agent comprises the Fe 3+ salt of meso-tartaric acid (FeMTA).
2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein a flow of the concentrate is drawn from the circulation loop and mixed with a flow of water.
3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the obtained solution is subsequently fed into a second circulation loop.
4. The process according to claim 3 , wherein a flow of the solution is drawn off from the second circulation loop for being dosed into an amount of salt.
5. The process according to claim 3 , wherein the temperature in at least one of the circulation loop or the second circulation loop is below 20° C.
6. The process according to claim 3 , wherein at least one of the circulation loop or the second circulation loop have an interior atmosphere with an oxygen content of below 1 vol %, of the gaseous interior content of the at least one of the circulation loop or the second circulation loop.
7. The process according to claim 3 , wherein the pH of the solution in the second circulation loop is between 3.5 and 5.
8. The process according to claim 7 , wherein the solution is passed via one or more static mixers at least one of in or between or upstream of the circulation loop and the second circulation loop.
9. The process according to claim 1 , wherein a flow of the solution is passed via one or more pH measurement stations and wherein the pH is adjusted when the measured pH is outside of the range of 3-5.
10. The process according to claim 2 , wherein the obtained solution is subsequently fed into a second circulation loop.
11. The process according to claim 4 , wherein the temperature in at least one of the circulation loop or the second circulation loop is below 20° C.
12. The process according to claim 4 , wherein at least one of the circulation loop or the second circulation loop have an interior atmosphere with an oxygen content of below 1 vol %, of the gaseous interior content of the at least one of the circulation loop or the second circulation loop.
13. The process according to claim 5 , wherein at least one of the circulation loop or the second circulation loop have an interior atmosphere with an oxygen content of below 1 vol %, of the gaseous interior content of the at least one of the circulation loop or the second circulation loop.
14. The process according to claim 5 , wherein the pH of the solution in the second circulation loop is between 3.5 and 5.
15. The process according to claim 6 , wherein the pH of the solution in the second circulation loop is between 3.5 and 5.
16. The process according to claim 3 , wherein the solution is passed via one or more static mixers at least one of in or between or upstream of the circulation loop and the second circulation loop.
17. The process according to claim 6 , wherein a flow of the solution is passed via one or more pH measurement stations and wherein the pH is adjusted in case the measured pH is outside a prescribed range.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein the circulation loop has an atmosphere with a reduced level of oxygen compared to air.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the circulation loop atmosphere is inert with an oxygen level of less than 5 vol %.