Catalytic process for the reduction of aluminum chloride by manganese

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for the catalytic reduction of aluminum chloride by manganese to form a high aluminum content alloy, separating the catalysis metal from the alloy, and separating the manganese in the alloy to produce essentially pure aluminum. As a preferred embodiment, liquid aluminum chloride is contacted with solid manganese metal in the presence of a Group IIB metal or compound thereof at a relatively low temperature and at a pressure to maintain the reactants in such phases.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.