Amine detection and process control within potash processing systems

Potash is a primary industrial product containing soluble potassium, and is used extensively within Canada and abroad as fertilizer needed to maintain agricultural production. Within the Mosaic Company's current process, potash is recovered through selective removal of KCl from a brine solution via floatation, which requires the use of a treated amine molecule to bind with the KCl and allow for it to be removed. Another type of amine is used prior to shipment of finished product to avoid dust pollution and improve handling characteristics. In both processes, knowledge of the amine content and state prior to introduction is important to improve efficiency and minimize the net environmental and economic cost of recovering potash from mining operations. Through an NSERC funded Engage program, Mosaic and Dalhousie University have identified a number of potential measurement methods which can address current limitations within Mosaic's monitoring process for these Amines, enabling better control of both the addition rates and degree of conditioning for use within the process. This preliminary work has also identified a new approach to working with these amines which will make their use inherently safer through inventory reduction and reduced manual involvement during routine operation. This project is expanding on these preliminary results, and is intent on fully developing both the measurement techniques and processing options needed to improve monitoring and efficiency in potash operations within Canada and abroad.