Patent GB-451969-A (GB)
Title: Process for the production of aluminium chloride and certain metals as by-products
IPC: C01F7/58
Filed: 1935-01-10
Abstract: Aluminium chloride is obtained by reacting an aluminiferous material and a reducing agent with the chloride of a metal below aluminium in the electromotive series, the metal whose chloride is used being recovered as a by-product.  The aluminiferous material and a carbonaceous material such as coke may be formed into briquettes and be treated with the vapour of the reagent chloride. With cupric or cuprous chloride reaction may be effected at 1000 DEG  C., with lead or iron chloride at 1200 DEG  C., and with zinc chloride at 1450 DEG C.  Nickel gold, or silver chloride may also be used. The chlorides of the reagent metals, or a mixture thereof may be obtained by a chloridizing roasting of sulphide ores.  For instance, a complex sulphide ore is treated first to form and volatilize the chlorides of copper, silver, and gold, which are condensed and used together to form aluminium chloride and a molten mixture of copper, gold and silver, and zinc chloride is then formed and volatilized, and after condensation used to form and volatilize aluminium chloride and metallic zinc which are separately condensed.  Or a mixture of copper, iron, gold and silver chlorides may be obtained from a suitable ore, the mixture be reacted with sufficient bauxite and coke to reduce the copper, gold, and silver, and the volatilized mixture of aluminium and unreacted iron chlorides be reacted with more bauxite and coke to reduce the iron.  Or chalcopyrite may be chloridized preferentially to obtain copper chloride only for reaction, or to obtain both copper and iron chlorides, and the copper be reduced by passing the mixed chlorides over a heated mixture of iron oxide and coke, the resultant iron chloride being used for the reaction. When, in place of bauxite or alunite residue, clay is used as aluminiferous material, a copper silicide is obtained when the reagent chloride is cuprous chloride, and a ferro-silicon alloy when ferrous chloride is used.  In using feldspar, leucite &c. a double potassium aluminium chloride is obtained.  With silicates, temperatures of 1500--2000 DEG  C. may be used.ALSO:Metals or alloys are obtained as byproducts when aluminium chloride is formed by reacting an aluminiferous material and a reducing agent with the chloride of a metal below aluminium in the electromotive series.  The aluminiferous material and a carbonaceous material such as coke may be formed into briquettes and be treated with vapour of the reagent chloride.  With cupric or cuprous chloride reaction may be effected at 1000 DEG  C., with lead or iron chloride at 1200 DEG  C., and with zinc chloride at 1450 DEG  C.  Nickel, gold, or silver chloride may also be used.  When using a mixture of copper, silver, and gold chlorides obtained by chloridizing a complex sulphide ore, aluminium chloride and a molten mixture of copper, gold, and silver ore obtained.  With zinc chloride the volatilized mixture of metallic zinc and aluminium chloride is separated by fractional condensation. A mixture of copper, iron, gold, and silver chlorides may be reacted with sufficient bauxite and coke to reduce the copper, gold, and silver, and the volatilized mixture of aluminium and unreacted iron chlorides be reacted with more bauxite and coke to reduce the iron. When, in place of bauxite or alunite residue, clay is used as aluminiferous material, a copper silicate is obtained when the reagent chloride is cuprous chloride, and a ferrosilicon alloy when ferrous chloride is used.  With silicates, the reaction temperature may be 1500-2000 DEG  C.