The chlorination of a chromite concentrate was studied between 600 and 1000
degrees C. The reaction products were analyzed by scanning electron micros
copy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and chemical analyses. Chlorination of
a chromite concentrate at about 700 degrees C allowed the extraction of ab
out 50% of the iron, thus doubling the Cr/Fe ratio in the treated concentra
te. Aluminum chloride was tested as a chlorinating agent in the presence of
a reducing atmosphere.
The effect of temperature on the kinetics of chromite chlorination was stud
ied between 900 and 1040 degrees C using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).
Temperature effects changed significantly with reaction extent. The initial
stage of the chlorination was characterized by an apparent activation ener
gy of about 112 kJ/mol, while a value of about of 269 kJ/mol was found for
reaction extents greater than 0.4. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All right
s reserved.