Suitability of agricultural drainage water at Safi for potash production

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nizar Abu-Jaber[1]

Sultan Abu-Orabi[2]

Sameh Gharaibeh¹

Hanan Malkawi[3]

Idrees Momani²

Mohammed Qudah²

Nigem Din Yousef¹

 

 

The nature of drainage waters from agricultural fields in the Safi area and their potential for use as process water in the potash production plants was evaluated.  Five triplicate samples were taken during a ten day period from the drainage waters in the area.  The samples were analyzed for chemical, physical and microbiological characteristics.

 

Thermodynamic equilibrium models indicate that no change in the quantity of carnallite produced can be expected as the result of introducing these waters.  However, small amounts of CaSO₄ are expected to precipitate in the hot leaching facility.  This can be minimized or eliminated through various simple options.  A slight increase in scaling and corrosion is also expected. 

 

The physical properties of the waters were inferior to those of the currently used process waters.  Suspended solids and organic material could be easily removed through the use of rapid sand filters.  Biological hazards are present in some samples.  These need to be taken into consideration when handling and using the water.

 

In conclusion, it was recommended that the waters to be used as process water in the plants, following the simple treatment methods that were recommended in this study.