The particle size of carbonation mud, and possibilities for influencing it

The waste precipitate from sugar technology called carbonation mud contains CaCO3 and aggregated or adsorbed non-sugars. The authors considered feasible applications of carbonation mud – both inside and outside the sugar plant. The granulometric distribution of carbonation mud is among its basic properties. The authors chose image analysis, combined with microscopic observation using the LUCIA system, to determine particle parameters. Particle size distribution was measured and used to evaluate some full-scale chemical-engineering operations, such as the application of flocculants, particle damage by mixing and hydrocyclone separation. The authors established that the industrial method of preparing input mud suspension for hydrocyclone separation is not fine enough and that, compared to unfiltered first carbonation juice, the amount of small particles increased. As a result, the bottom output suspension of the hydrocyclones was of worse quality.