Kinetics of chlorination of chromite

International audienceChlorination can be an efficient alternative for the physical beneficiation of refractory metals' bearing materials. The chlorination of a chromite mineral was studied up to 1050 °C using thermogravimetric analysis. The effects of the gas flow rate, temperature and partial pressure of the reactive gases on the reaction rate were studied in isothermal conditions. Only FeCr 2O 4 could be chlorinated up to 1000 °C by Cl 2+O 2 and Cl 2+N 2 gas mixtures generating chromium oxychloride (CrO 2Cl 2) that can be recovered by cooling the gas phase. The oxychlorination can ameliorate the characteristics of chromite bearing materials and/or the recovery of the chromium compounds from its wastes