Low-temperature precausticizing — a hopeful approach for green liquor desilication
We investigated silica removal by low-temperature precausticizing and the properties of second causticizing calcium carbonate (CCC). The results showed that about 89.3% of silica removal was achieved when 20% (the stoichiometric ratio) of causticizing quicklime was added for precausticizing at 20ºC for 60 min. After that, silica removal became slow. When no precausticizing quicklime was used to remove silica, the CCC particles had a rhombohedral crystal structure covered with amorphous material. As precausticizing quicklime was increased to 30%, the amorphous material and the crack disappeared, and the specific surface area decreased significantly. When CCC was used as filler, the Cobb value decreased significantly, and the sizing effect improved as precausticizing quicklime increased.