GB572662A - Process for the production of anhydrous magnesium chloride - Google Patents

Abstract

572.662. Anhydrous magnesium chloride. ABBEY, A. (Consolidated Mining & Smelting Co. of Canada, Ltd.). Feb. 12, 1941, No. 1948. [Class 1 (iii)] Anhydrous magnesium chloride is produced, in a molten state suitable for direct addition to an electrolytic cell for the manufacture of magnesium, by sintering magnesium oxide at a temperature, e.g., 1,250 to 1,400‹C. sufficiently high to cause incipient fusion into a strong porous structure which is broken into pieces “ to 1¢ inches across and charged into a chlorinating furnace together with pieces of coke, e.g., 20 per cent. of petroleum or metallurgical coke of similar size, in which it is maintained at a temperature, e.g., 1,100‹C., above the melting point of magnesium chloride but below that at which much volatilization thereof occurs. The furnace 1 may be heated by vertical carbon resistances 6, drilled axially, and positioned to give uniform temperature. Chlorine is injected through a nozzle 7, magnesium chloride is drawn off at 4, residue is removed through a door 8, and exit gases leave through openings 10 in the cover 9; the walls may be of silica bricks. The magnesium oxide may be obtained by calcining, e.g., at 700‹C., magnesium bearing ores or concentrates. e.g., from dolomite, brucite, or magnesite.