Synthesis of magnesium aluminate spinel by periclase and alumina chlorination

PABLO OROSCO; LUCÍA BARBOSA; MARÍA DEL CARMEN RUIZ1

MATERIALS RESEARCH BULLETIN

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2014 vol. 59 p. 337 - 340

0025-5408

A pyrometallurgical route for the synthesis of magnesium aluminate spinel by thermal treatment of a mechanical mixture containing 29 wt % MgO (periclase) and 71 wt % Al2O3 (alumina) in chlorine atmosphere was developed and the results were compared with those obtained by calcining the same mixture of oxides in air atmosphere. Isothermal and non-isothermal assays were performed in an experimental piece of equipment adapted to work in corrosive atmospheres. Both reagents and products were analyzed by differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Thermal treatment in Cl2 atmosphere of the MgO-Al2O3 mixture produces magnesium aluminate spinel at 700°C, while magnesium spinel is generated in air at 930°C. The synthesis reaction of magnesium aluminate spinel was complete at 800°C.