Investigation of chlorination process in aluminum production by carbothermic-chlorination reduction of Al _2O _3 under vacuum

摘要

The chlorination process in aluminum production by carbothermic- chlorination reduction of Al _2O _3 under vacuum has been investigated by XRD, SEM and thermodynamic analysis. The results of thermodynamic calculations indicated that the chlorination of Al 4C _3 or Al _4O _4C possibly proceeded at temperature 1300°C under 5-50 Pa. The experiment results showed that aluminum could be produced by the chlorination of Al _4C _3 or Al _4O _4C and the decomposition of AlCl(g). According to the analysis of experiment results, Al _4C _3 and Al _4O _4C were the main reactants participated in chlorination process in aluminum production by carbothermic-chlorination reduction of Al _2O _3 under vacuum. AlCl(g) generated in chlorination of Al _4C _3 or Al _4O _4C would decompose into Al and AlCl _3(g), and then aluminum product would condense in condensation tower.