The recovery of ammonia and carbon dioxide from leaching solutions in a nickel refinery
contributes to the economics of the process and to reducing the environmental impact of waste
streams. The ammonia and carbon dioxide recovery process involves the counter current contact
between steam and the process and tailings streams in steam stripping columns. The recovered
stream consists of a mixture of water vapour, carbon dioxide and ammonia at a pressure of 125
kPa and having a temperature range of 50 to 90°C. Energy recovery heat exchangers are part of
the ammonia and carbon dioxide recovery plant. The plant is constructed of a 304L and 316L
stainless steel and carbon steel.
Thermodynamic modeling has been used to identify locations in the piping and vessels where
carbamate forms. The model needed to describe the equilibrium between the gas and liquid
phases and estimate the activity coefficients of the solution components, ammonium carbamate
and ammonium carbonate in the close-to-saturated concentrated solutions which form.
The model was first used to provide a rational explanation for a limited number of locations where
carbon steel had failed and to provide guidance for selecting locations to inspect through out the
plant.