Extractive crystallization for the production of calcium acetate and magnesium acetate from carbonate sources

Extractive crystallization was employed for the preparation of deicing comp ositions of calcium acetate (CA) and magnesium acetate (MA) at room tempera ture. The design system comprises an aqueous phase as the source of calcium or magnesium ions and an organic phase as the source of acetate ions. The process was designed with the consideration that acetic acid is used in an organic phase as extracted from a fermentation broth. The conditions under which the extractive crystallization method resulted in the formation of si ngle crystals or aggregates of calcium acetate and magnesium acetate were s tudied. Furthermore, the effect of acetic acid concentration in the organic and aqueous phases on the characteristics of the obtained crystals was inv estigated. Overall, the extractive crystallization process proved to be fea sible at least in the laboratory and resulted in the production of well-for med, nonporous, large single crystals and clusters of either calcium acetat e acetic acid hydrate [Ca(CH3COO)(2). CH3COOH . 3H(2)O] or magnesium acetat e tetrahydrate [Mg(CH3COO)(2). 4H(2)O, alpha], depending on the type of sal t (CaCO3 or MgCO3) used in each case.