Chlorination of impure magnesium chloride melt

Abstract

Magnesium oxide is chlorinated in molten impure magnesium chlorine with chlorine gas by adding ferrous chloride to magnesium chloride brine, drying the brine, adding a mixture of calcined petroleum coke and charcoal to the dried brine, melting the product and chlorinating the formed melt. Ferrous chloride is added in amounts sufficient to provide from about 1.0% to 2.2% by weight of iron in the dried product. A highly reactive carbon source is added in amounts of from about 0.8 to 2.3% by weight and a carbon source that is less reactive than the highly reactive carbon source is added in amounts ranging from about 0.8 to 2.3% by weight of dried brine. Iron levels in the magnesium chloride melt may be adjusted upwardly by addition of a mixture of iron oxide and charcoal. A melt cell characterized by side entry electrodes disposed at angles from 40.degree. to 50.degree., an arched roof configuration, and an improved electrode refractory and ceramic sleeve construction is used to chlorinate the magnesium.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.