Metals chlorination and oxides carbo-chlorination

The metals chlorinations concern essentially aluminium, iron, titanium and antimony to obtain the corresponding anhydrous chlorides. Generally, the chlorine which is at the gaseous state, acts directly to the liquid metal. The oxides carbo-chlorinations concern the aluminia, the rutile and the zircon. The principle of the oxides carbo-chlorinations consists to pull the oxygen atom of the oxide molecule off by a reducing agent while the chlorine binds simultaneously to the metal. The processes differ by the choice of the reducing agent (carbon or carbon oxide) and by the chlorination agent (Cl2, COCl2 or SOCl2). The reactions take place in fluidized bed reactors at high temperatures (750-1130 degrees Celsius). This technology can be used for the revalorization of the noble metals contained in alloys. More particularly, It applies to the superalloys with a high content in cobalt, nickel, chromium, molybdenum and tungsten and to the tungsten carbide wastes. (O.M.). 18 refs., 2 figs