# US 2017/0283273 A1 · Centrifugal aluminum chloride generator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0283273 A1 - Document ID: US20170283273A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/471,922 - Filed: 2017-03-28 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Tronox LLC - Applicants: Tronox LLC - Inventors: Harry E. Flynn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170283273A1 ## CPC - C01G 23/07: Producing by vapour phase processes, e.g. halide oxidation - B01J 8/08: with moving particles (with fluidised particles B01J8/18) - B01J 8/14: moving in free vortex flow apparatus - C01F 7/56: Chlorides (containing fluorine C01F7/52) - C01G 23/022: {Titanium tetrachloride} - B01J 2208/00495: using insulating materials or refractories - B01J 2208/00752: Feeding - B01J 2208/00761: Discharging - B01J 2208/00769: Details of feeding or discharging - B01J 2219/0218: of ceramic - B01J 2219/024: Metal oxides - C01P 2002/54: one element only - C01G: COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C01D OR C01F (metal hydrides {monoborane, diborane or addition complexes thereof} C01B6/00; salts of oxyacids of halogens C01B11/00; peroxides, salts or peroxyacids C01B15/00; thiosulfates, dithionites, polythionates C01B17/64; compounds containing selenium, or tellurium C01B19/00; binary compounds of nitrogen with metals C01B21/06; azides C01B21/08; {compounds containing nitrogen, other non-metals and metal C01B21/082}; metal amides C01B21/092; nitrites C01B21/50; {compounds of noble gases C01B23/0005}; phosphides C01B25/08; salts of oxyacids of phosphorus C01B25/16; carbides C01B32/90; compounds containing silicon C01B33/00; compounds containing boron C01B35/00; compounds having molecular sieve properties but not having base-exchange properties C01B37/00; compounds having molecular sieve and base-exchange properties, e.g. crystalline zeolites, C01B39/00; cyanides C01C3/08; salts of cyanamide C01C3/16; thiocyanates C01C3/20) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - C01F: COMPOUNDS OF THE METALS BERYLLIUM, MAGNESIUM, ALUMINIUM, CALCIUM, STRONTIUM, BARIUM, RADIUM, THORIUM, OR OF THE RARE-EARTH METALS (metal hydrides {monoborane, diborane or addition complexes thereof} C01B6/00; salts of oxyacids of halogens C01B11/00; peroxides, salts of peroxyacids C01B15/00; sulfides or polysulfides of magnesium, calcium, strontium, or barium C01B17/42; thiosulfates, dithionites, polythionates C01B17/64; compounds containing selenium or tellurium C01B19/00; binary compounds of nitrogen with metals C01B21/06; azides C01B21/08; {compounds other than ammonia or cyanogen containing nitrogen and non-metals and optionally metals C01B21/082; amides or imides of silicon C01B21/087}; metal {imides or} amides C01B21/092, {C01B21/0923}; nitrites C01B21/50; {compounds of noble gases C01B23/0005}; phosphides C01B25/08; salts of oxyacids of phosphorus C01B25/16; carbides C01B32/90; compounds containing silicon C01B33/00; compounds containing boron C01B35/00; compounds having molecular sieve properties but not having base-exchange properties C01B37/00; compounds having molecular sieve and base-exchange properties, e.g. crystalline zeolites, C01B39/00; cyanides C01C3/08; salts of cyanic acid C01C3/14; salts of cyanamide C01C3/16; thiocyanates C01C3/20; {double sulfates of magnesium with sodium or potassium C01D5/12; with other alkali metals C01D15/00, C01D17/00}) - C01P: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO STRUCTURAL AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF SOLID INORGANIC COMPOUNDS ## Abstract A metal chloride generator is provided. The metal chloride generator is a metal chloride centrifugal reactor that can be operated under conditions sufficient to cause metal particles and chlorine in the generator to be brought into contact with one another and react using centrifugal force to form metal chloride. A process for manufacturing titanium dioxide that utilizes the metal chloride generator is also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A metal chloride generator, comprising: a reactor housing, said reactor housing including an inside surface, an outside surface, a top portion, a bottom portion, a sidewall connecting said top portion and said bottom portion together, and an interior; a cylindrical reaction chamber positioned within said interior of said reactor housing, said reaction chamber including an inside surface, an outside surface, a top, a bottom, a cylindrical side wall connecting said top and said bottom together and an interior, said interior of said reaction chamber having a top half and a bottom half; a reactant inlet conduit extending through said sidewall of said reactor housing and said sidewall of said reaction chamber and including an inside surface, an outside surface and an interior, said reactant inlet conduit also including a first opening for receiving at least one reaction component from a location outside of said reactor housing and a second opening for discharging said reaction component into said reaction chamber, said second opening of said reactant inlet conduit being flush with said inside surface of said cylindrical sidewall of said reaction chamber and opening into said interior of said reaction chamber; and a reaction product outlet conduit extending through said top of said reaction chamber and said top of said reactor housing and including an inside surface, an outside surface and an interior, said reaction product outlet conduit also including a first opening for receiving at least one reaction product from said interior of said reaction chamber and a second opening for discharging said reaction product to a location outside of said reactor housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The metal chloride generator of claim 1, wherein said second opening of said reactant inlet conduit opens into said top half of said interior of said reaction chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The metal chloride generator of claim 1, wherein said second opening of said reactant inlet conduit opens into said bottom half of said interior of said reaction chamber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The metal chloride generator of claim 1, wherein said first opening of said reaction product outlet conduit is flush with said top of said reaction chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The metal chloride generator of claim 1, wherein said reaction product outlet conduit extends from said top of said reaction chamber into said interior of said reaction chamber such that said first opening of said reaction product outlet conduit is positioned within said interior of said reaction chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The metal chloride generator of claim 5, wherein said reaction product outlet conduit extends less than half way into said interior of said reaction chamber such that said first opening of said reaction product outlet conduit is positioned within said top half of said interior of said reaction chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The metal chloride generator of claim 5, wherein said reaction product outlet conduit extends more than half way into said interior of said reaction chamber such that said first opening of said reaction product outlet conduit is positioned within said bottom half of said interior of said reaction chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The metal chloride generator of claim 6, wherein at least one of said reaction chamber, said reactant inlet conduit, and said reaction product outlet conduit includes a refractory lining attached to said inside surface thereof, said refractory lining having an inside surface facing said interior of said reaction chamber, reactant inlet conduit, or reaction product outlet conduit that has a texture rough enough to break up metal oxide layers on said metal particles. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The metal chloride generator of claim 8, wherein said inside surface of said refractory lining has a surface roughness in the range of from about 0.01 μm to about 1000 μm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The metal chloride generator of claim 8, wherein said refractory lining is formed of a ceramic material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The metal chloride generator of claim 10, wherein said refractory lining is formed of a silicon carbide ceramic material. ### Claim 12 A chloride process for manufacturing titanium dioxide, comprising: introducing titanium dioxide ore, a carbon source and chlorine into a chlorinator, operating said chlorinator under conditions sufficient to cause titanium dioxide ore, said carbon source and chlorine in said chlorinator to react to form titanium tetrachloride; introducing metal particles and chlorine into a metal chloride generator, wherein said metal chloride generator is a metal chloride centrifugal reactor; operating said metal chloride generator under conditions sufficient to cause metal particles and chlorine in said generator to be brought into contact with one another and react using centrifugal force to form metal chloride; introducing titanium tetrachloride formed in said chlorinator, metal chloride formed in said metal chloride generator and oxygen into an oxidizer; operating said oxidizer under conditions sufficient to oxidize titanium tetrachloride and metal chloride in said oxidizer to form titanium dioxide particles having a metal oxide incorporated into their crystalline lattice structure; and recovering titanium dioxide particles formed in said oxidizer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12, wherein said carbon source is coke. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12, wherein said metal chloride centrifugal reactor comprises: a reactor housing, said reactor housing including an inside surface, an outside surface, a top portion, a bottom portion, a sidewall connecting said top portion and said bottom portion together, and an interior; a cylindrical reaction chamber positioned within said interior of said reactor housing, said reaction chamber including an inside surface, an outside surface, a top, a bottom, a cylindrical side wall connecting said top and said bottom together and an interior, said interior of said reaction chamber having a top half and a bottom half; a reactant inlet conduit extending through said sidewall of said reactor housing and said sidewall of said reaction chamber and including an inside surface, an outside surface and an interior, said reactant inlet conduit also including a first opening for receiving at least one reaction component from a location outside of said reactor housing and a second opening for discharging said reaction component into said reaction chamber, said second opening of said reactant inlet conduit being flush with said inside surface of said cylindrical sidewall of said reaction chamber and opening into said reaction chamber; and a reaction product outlet conduit extending through said top of said reaction chamber and said top of said reactor housing and including an inside surface, an outside surface and an interior, said reaction product outlet conduit also including a first opening for receiving at least one reaction product from said interior of said reaction chamber and a second opening for discharging said reaction product to a location outside of said reactor housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The process of claim 14, wherein said second opening of said reactant inlet conduit opens into said top half of said interior of said reaction chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The process of claim 14, wherein said first opening of said reaction product outlet conduit is flush with said top of said reaction chamber. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The process of claim 14, wherein said reaction product outlet conduit extends from said top of said reaction chamber into said interior of said reaction chamber such that said first opening of said reaction product outlet conduit is positioned within said interior of said reaction chamber. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The process of claim 14, wherein said reaction product outlet conduit extends less than half way into said interior of said reaction chamber such that said first opening of said reaction product outlet conduit is positioned within said top half of said interior of said reaction chamber. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The process of claim 14, wherein at least one of said reaction chamber, said reactant inlet conduit, and said reaction product outlet conduit includes a refractory lining attached to said inside surface thereof, said refractory lining having an inside surface facing said interior of said reaction chamber, reactant inlet conduit, or reaction product outlet conduit that has a texture rough enough to break up metal oxide layers on said metal particles. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The process of claim 19, wherein said inside surface of said refractory lining has a surface roughness in the range of from about 0.01 μm to about 1000 μm. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12, wherein said metal introduced into said metal chloride generator is selected from the group of aluminum, boron, zirconium, silicon and phosphorus. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12, wherein said metal introduced into said metal chloride generator is aluminum. ### Claim 23 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12, wherein the metal chloride formed in the metal chloride generator is aluminum chloride. ### Claim 24 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12, wherein said metal oxide is incorporated into the crystalline lattice structure of the titanium dioxide particles in an amount in the range of from about 0.5% to about 1.5% by weight based on the weight of the titanium dioxide. ### Claim 25 A process for manufacturing titanium dioxide, comprising: introducing metal particles and chlorine into a metal chloride generator, wherein said metal chloride generator is a metal chloride centrifugal reactor; operating said metal chloride generator under conditions sufficient to cause metal particles and chlorine in said generator to be brought into contact with one another and react using centrifugal force to form metal chloride; introducing titanium halide, metal chloride formed in said metal chloride generator and oxygen into an oxidizer; operating said oxidizer under conditions sufficient to oxidize titanium halide and metal chloride in said oxidizer to form titanium dioxide particles having a metal oxide incorporated their crystalline lattice structure; and recovering titanium dioxide particles formed in said oxidizer. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The process of claim 25, wherein said metal chloride centrifugal reactor comprises: a reactor housing, said reactor housing including an inside surface, an outside surface, a top portion, a bottom portion, a sidewall connecting said top portion and said bottom portion together, and an interior; a cylindrical reaction chamber positioned within said interior of said reactor housing, said reaction chamber including an inside surface, an outside surface, a top, a bottom, a cylindrical side wall connecting said top and said bottom together and an interior, said interior of said reaction chamber having a top half and a bottom half; a reactant inlet conduit extending through said sidewall of said reactor housing and said sidewall of said reaction chamber, said reactant inlet conduit including a first opening for receiving at least one reaction component from a location outside of said reactor housing and a second opening for discharging said reaction component into said reaction chamber, said second opening of said reactant inlet conduit being flush with said inside surface of said cylindrical sidewall of said reaction chamber and opening into said reaction chamber; and a reaction product outlet conduit extending through said top of said reaction chamber and said top of said reactor housing, said reaction product outlet conduit including a first opening for receiving at least one reaction product from said interior of said reaction chamber and a second opening for discharging at least one reaction product to a location outside of said reactor housing; ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The process of claim 26, wherein said second opening of said reactant inlet conduit opens into said top half of said interior of said reaction chamber. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The process of claim 26, wherein said first opening of said reaction product outlet conduit is flush with said top of said reaction chamber. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The process of claim 26, wherein said reaction product outlet conduit extends from said top of said reaction chamber into said interior of said reaction chamber such that said first opening of said reaction product outlet conduit is positioned within said interior of said reaction chamber. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The process of claim 26, wherein at least one of said reaction chamber, said reactant inlet conduit, and said reaction product outlet conduit includes a refractory lining attached to said inside surface thereof, said refractory lining having an inside surface facing said interior of said reaction chamber, reactant inlet conduit, or reaction product outlet conduit that has a texture rough enough to break up metal oxide layers on said metal particles.