JPS5159794

1522842 Aluminium chloride SWISS ALUMINIUM Ltd 18 Sept 1975 [19 Sept 1974] 38338/75 Heading C1A Aluminium chloride is made by activating aluminium oxide bearing ores to provide a residual water content of 0À5-10% weight and a surface area of 10-450 m.2/g. by heating from room temperature to 350-900‹ C., preferably in vacuum, damp or dry inert atmosphere for 1-60 minutes, and converting the oxide to chloride with a chloridizing and reducing gas or gas mixture at 350-800‹ C. Both the stages may be carried out in a fluidized bed, shaft or rotary furnace. The conversion to aluminium chloride may be effected by means of Cl 2 and CO; phosgene; nitrosyl chloride and CO; Cl 2 and S; or S, Cl 2 . The reaction gases are preferably used at total partial pressures 0À1-40 atmospheres and may be diluted with inert gases. Particles of low ash carbon may be added to the gas. The ore is preferably bauxite.