A separation process was proposed by Abdel-Aal et al. [1] [2] [3] which utilizes a series of chemical reaction sequences in order to separate NaCl from highly-saline water resources (sodium chloride-rich brines). The process involves bubbling of CO₂ gas into ammoniated brines, thus converting Na⁺ and Cl⁻ into NaHCO₃ and NH₄Cl, respectively. Bubble columns were used as chemical reactors. Detailed experimental findings are reported by Ibrahim [4] . More than 80% NaCl conversion was achieved for saturated brines, leading to the production of partially desalinated water along with valuable chemical products, namely, soda ash and NH₄Cl.

When it comes to the Solvay process [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] , it could be stated that while the soda ash is the main product in this process, it is a by-product in the proposed process. The main product is partially-desalted water that contains ammonium chloride, which may be called “fertile” water, to be used for agriculture purposes.

Our proposed process follows the idiom of “killing two birds with one stone”. Sea oceans are a virtually inexhaustible source of magnesium [10] [11] [12] [13] . About one pound of magnesium is recovered from each hundred gallon of sea water.

The main two steps involved in the proposed process are:

1^st: Adding ammonia to our system will trigger the precipitation of magnesium, in the brine, as magnesium hydroxide Mg(OH)₂ which is separated first as an intermediate product. Simulateously, brine will get sturatred with ammonia forming what is called “ammoniated brine”.

2^nd: Bubbling carbon dioxide gas into the ammoniated brine, will initiate a set of chemical reactions described as follows:

Ÿ Primary reactions: Takes place between CO₂ and NH₃:

(a) [carbamic acid]

(b) [carbamate]

The net reaction is:

Ÿ Secondary reaction s: In the bulk of the solution, the carbamate hydrolyses comparatively slowly to bicarbonate:

Ÿ Product formation reactions

A bird’s eye view on the MSP compared to current one (shown in Figure 2) indicates some interesting observations:

For the current Solvay process, CO₂ and Ca(OH₂) are produced by burning lime stone using metallurgical coke:

Next, Quick lime, CaO, is slacked by water:

Ÿ In the proposed process, the source of CO₂ could be the combustion of fossil fuels in power generation and water desalination plants.

Ÿ In the Solvy process, CaCl₂ is produced as a waste; and arrangements are done for its disposal.

Ÿ The extraction of magnesium as magnesium chloride from sea water by the Dow process implies the precipitation of magnesium as magnesium hydroxide first by slurrying with calcined dolomite and then converting it to magnesium chloride by reacting it next, with hydrochloric acid.

The proposed process comprises two simultaneous operations: brine desalting and magnesium recovery. It offers a scheme that provides three products, soda ash, magnesium chloride and partially desalted water, as compared to one product by the Solvay process. Regeneration of ammonia is accomplished in the absence of CaO used in the Solvay process as indicated before.

The option of producing fertile water, (partially desalted water) containing NH₄Cl could be a feasible choice to be sold as a fertilizer for rice crops [14] .

The proposed process offers a novel scheme, different from the well-known Dow process, for the extraction of magnesium chloride from sea water by eliminating the use of hydrochloric acid [15] . The separation of magnesium chloride as a byproduct adds an economic value to the proposed process.

Abdel-Aal, H., Abdelkreem, M. and Zohdy, K. (2016) Dual- Purpose Solvay-Dow (Magnesium) Concep- tual Process. Open Access Library Journal, 3: e2998. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1102998