Production of Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) in Venturi Reactor

• Main Author: Fahri Ahmad, Hikam
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/38643
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Indonesia is a rich country of natural resources, such as limestone. On the other hand, Indonesia still imports a large amount limestone and processed limestone products. This is due to the limestones of Indonesia's mine production exported are not properly processed, so it does not meet industry standards. Lime source rocks are dominated by calcitic and dolomitic rocks. The number of calcitic mine in Indonesia began to decrease, and so dolomitic lime mining began. Where calcite rocks have a CaCO3 content of about 80-99% by weight while dolomitic rocks have a CaCO3 content of about 50-80% by weight. Industrial standard limestone has a purity requirement above 95% by weight with size less than 100 microns. The requirements are met by precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC). In industry in general, PCC can be produced using the bubbling method in a bubble reactor. This method has the disadvantage that a lot of CO2 gas reactants are wasted into the air during the reaction process. In this study, a venturi reactor with a closed system was used so that no CO2 gas was wasted. The venturi ejector contained in the reactor is able to provide fast and efficient gas-liquid interface mass transfer so that the reaction takes place faster and uses less CO2 than the bubble reactor. This study aims to produce PCC that is in line with industry standards by using raw dolomitic lime using a venturi reactor. The variation of treatment carried out in the experiment is the CO2 gas flow rate and the circulation of Ca (OH)2 feeds in a range of 5 – 25 L/m and 0,42 – 1,67 L/s. The results obtained PCC products with a purity and whiteness above 99% and 95, particle size below 1 ?m, predominantly calcite crystal phase, and the highest gain of 29.4% at the circulation rate of Ca(OH)2 and CO2 gas of 1,67 L/s and 5 L/m. Based on these specifications, PCC can be applied to the paint and coating industry as fillers, coatings, primers, dispersing cats, paint decorations, and the paint industry, in the paper industry as paper fillers and additives, in the agricultural and agricultural sectors as agricultural and plant feeds the pharmaceutical sector as a calcium additive in tables or vitamins, and as an abrasive material such as detergents or interior cleaners.