Resumen de Russia to revive Tyumen iodine and bromine project
Industrial Minerals
"Our combined sorption-electrochemical method differs from ion exchange method by the fact that the electrochemical oxidation and acidification of iodide ions occurs in the anode compartment of the flow-through electrolyser, without adding reagents, simultaneously with the process of adsorption of iodine on activated carbon with high exchange capacity," [Elena Shapovalova] outlines. "Recovery and leaching of iodine from carbon occurs as a result of changing the polarity of electrodes. The iodine concentration in the obtained concentrates exceeds the initial level by nearly 1,000 times. All iodine recovery steps occur in one chemical reactor [without an] overload of carbon." TRC says that its main commercial product will be purified crystalline iodine and iodine salts. "The production cost will be about R500,000/tonne ($7,600/tonne) of iodine," estimates Shapovalova. "Conventional extraction methods [would cost approximately] 30% more, at about R800,000/tonne ($12,300/tonne). Furthermore, there is an important environmental aspect; the technology will allow for the extraction of iodine without changing the composition of the source water, so there will be no harmful impurities in the waste water," she said.
