GB734081A - Improvements relating to the production of ferric chloride from iron ore - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0734081/III/1> Ferric chloride is obtained from iron ore or other material containing ferric oxide by treating the material with hydrochloric acid and then distilling off ferric chloride, preferably from a fluidized refractory bed, in the presence of sufficient hydrogen chloride to prevent hydrolysis. In the process illustrated, low-grade iron ore which may contain calcium, magnesium, aluminium, and phosphorus is roasted if necessary to convert the iron to the ferric state and is then dissolved in hydrochloric acid in vessel 1. The solution is filtered to remove insoluble matter at 2, concentrated in an evaporator 4, and passed to the first stage 6 of a two-stage distillation apparatus 5 supplied with a hot refractory material which is fluidized by admission of hydrogen chloride at 8. Most of the water is distilled off in this stage at 100-200 DEG C.; the refractory material with the salts deposited thereon then passes to stage 7 and is fluidized by hot hydrogen chloride admitted at 10, the temperature being maintained at 200-400 DEG C. The distilled ferric chloride is removed at 11 and the refractory is reheated in vessel 13 by treatment with hot combustion gases, and may be treated with steam to recover hydrogen chloride from the deposited chlorides as described in Specification 734,080. Alternatively the material leaving 7 may be leached with water to recover the salts. Aluminium present in the ore may be precipitated as hydrated aluminium chloride by allowing the solution to settle before distillation. Specification 701,797 also is referred to.