(3) The large quantities of chalk residue resulting from the reaction must be thoroughly and carefully washed. The economy of the whole process depends in no small measure upon this seemingly small detail.

Caustic Soda Tables.

Showing quantity of liquor obtained from 1 cwt. of caustic soda and the amount of caustic soda in 100 gallons of liquor (adapted from Lunge and others).

Twaddell.Gallons obtained per hundredweight of Caustic.Twaddell. Pounds of Caustic Soda per 100 gallons Liquor.
60 per cent. Caustic.77 per cent. Caustic Pure. 60 per cent. Caustic.77 per cent. Caustic Pure.
11,777 2,358 16·34·75
2896 1,179 212·59·5
3596 767 318·814·6
4448 574 425·019·5
5359 457 531·224·5
6298 384 637·629·2
7256 330 743·834·0
8223 287 850·139·0
9199 256 956·243·7
10178 229 1062·948·9
11162 208 1169·153·7
12148 190 1275·758·7
13136 176 1382·163·7
14126 166 1488·567·5
15117·5152 1595·073·5
16110 141·5 16101·579·0
17103·5135 17107·883·0
1898 125·5 18114·489·0
1992·8119·5 19120·893·8
2088 114 20127·298·0
2570 90·3 25159·5124·0
3056·573 30197·3153·0
3548 61·5 35234·9182·2
4041 53 40272·6211·6
4535·345·5 45317·4246·3
5031 40 50362·1281·0

Dilution Table for Strong Liquors.

Showing number of gallons of water required to reduce the density of 100 gallons of liquor from a higher density, D, to a lower density, d. (See page [163]).

Higher
Density, D
(Twaddell).
Lower Density, d.
14.13.12.11.10.9.8.7.6.5.4.
42200 223 250 281·8320367 425500 600 740950
40185 207 233·3263·6300344·4400471·4566·6700900
38171 192 216·6245·5280322·2375442·8533·3660850
36157 177 200 227·3260300 350414·3500 620800
34143 161·5183·3209·1240277·7325385·7466·6580750
32128·6146 166·6191 220255·5300357·1433·3540700
30114·3130·6150 172·8200233·3275328·5400 500650
28100 115·3133·3154·6180211·1250300 366·6460600
2685·7100 116·6136·4160188·8225271·4333·3420550
2471·484·6100 118·2140166·6200243 300 380500
2257·169·283·3100 120144·4175214·4266·6340450
2043 53·666·681·8100122·2150185·7233·3300400
1828·638·450 63·780100 125157 200 260350
1614·323 33·345·56077·7100128·5166·6220300

Lime and Limestone.—Carbonate of soda and recovered ash are converted into caustic soda by means of lime. About sixty parts of lime are necessary for the conversion of 100 parts of carbonate of soda. Large quantities of insoluble carbonate of lime are produced in this operation, and great care is necessary to prevent a loss of caustic soda which occurs if the residue is not thoroughly washed. In some cases the residual chalk is drained by vacuum filters in order to remove all traces of soluble alkali. Processes have been devised for calcining the residue so as to convert the carbonate into caustic lime to be used over again, but no economical and practical method has yet been found. The treatment of the residual chalk with sulphuric acid for the production of calcium sulphate appears feasible, but the substance obtained is very impure, and therefore has little commercial value.