Geothermal research at the Puna Facility

Abstract

Chemical analyses were conducted on the flocculated silica samples obtained during previous field experiments at HGP-A on both flashed and unflashed brines to determine the composition of the recovered silica for specific constituents of the brine which seem to often be entrapped in the silica during the flocculation process. Metals added as flocculants to the brine were also analyzed in order to evaluate the ease or difficulty with which these can be removed from the precipitated silica under varying conditions. Conditions employed included simple distilled water and acid washing (HCl of varying concentration).