GB929929A - Process and apparatus for the manufacture of low titanium chlorides - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0929929/III/1> <PICT:0929929/III/2> <PICT:0929929/III/3> In a process for the continuous manufacture of titanium di- and tri-chlorides from titanium tetrachloride using hydrogen as the reducing agent, the hydrogen is preheated to above 1000 DEG C. and 1,2 to 20 times the theoretical amount is mixed rapidly in the gaseous phase with titanium tetrachloride in a mixing zone which is kept at temperatures between the boiling point of titanium tetrachloride and 500 DEG C. The reaction products are chilled in the absence of air on a moving cooled surface from which the resultant deposit is continuously removed and collected under an inert atmosphere. Preferably the chloride is vaporized under such a pressure that the vapour is brought into contact with the preheated hydrogen at a relatively high speed. To increase this speed additional hydrogen may be admixed. In the apparatus shown, see Figs. 1 and 2, hydrogen introduced at 13 is preheated on its passage through an electric arc between cathode 4 and anode 5 and is then mixed in nozzle 6 with gaseous titanium tetrachloride introduced radially through feed pipe 14. Alternatively the chloride vapour may be tangentially introduced. The reaction products strike the moving cooled roller 1 surrounded with casing 2 provided with cooling jacket 10, the roller being cooled by spraying water or oil at a temperature of 50 DEG C. to 300 DEG C. from perforated pipe 7 against that segment of roller 1 which is nearest to the mixing nozzle. The cooling agent leaves the roller at 9. The reaction products adhering to the roller 1 and casing 2 are removed by knife 17 secured to the casing and by pivoted knife 16 and fall into receiver 19. The exhaust gas leaves the apparatus through outlet 18 and titanium tetrachloride and hydrogen may be separated and recycled. Alternatively the reaction products may be chilled and separated on a rotating cone, (see Fig.3).