Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of anhydrous magnesium chloride from magnesium carbonate preferably magnesium carbonate ores such as magnesite. The process comprises reacting solid magnesium carbonate pieces preferably screened ore in a packed bed reactor comprising the magnesium carbonate pieces with gaseous chlorine in the presence of carbon monoxide at a temperature above the melting point of magnesium chloride and below 1200.degree. C. The off-gas predominantly carbon dioxide is withdrawn from above the packed bed and molten anhydrous magnesium chloride is withdrawn from below the packed bed. The invention provides a process having low energy requirements which can be applied industrially on a continuous basis using simple apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of recovering the chlorine values from iron chloride obtained from the chlorination of an aluminous material containing iron oxide, such as bauxite. The method involves partially dechlorinating ferric chloride in the presence of a reducing agent to form products comprising ferrous chloride and a chloride compound derived from the reducing agent and oxidizing ferrous chloride at a temperature of about 300.degree. C. to 1200.degree. C. to form products comprising ferric chloride and ferric oxide. The ferric chloride is recycled and the chlorine values are recovered as the chloride of the reducing agent which is suitable for recycle to the aluminous chlorination stage or has other industrial utility.

Abstract: The invention relates to the recovery of chlorine values as ferric chloride from iron chloride dust which is obtained as a by-product from the chlorination of a titaniferous material containing more than 5% by weight iron oxide, such as ilmenite. The method comprises heating the iron chloride dust to a temperature above 275.degree. C. in the presence of chlorine and iron oxide and recovering the ferric chloride volatilized from the iron chloride dust together with the ferric chloride obtained from ferrous chloride present in the iron chloride dust by reaction with the chlorine and ferric chloride obtained from other metal chloride contaminants by reaction with the iron oxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to the recovery of chlorine values from iron chloride by-produced from the chlorination of a titaniferous material containing more than 5% by weight iron oxide, and particularly from the carbo-chlorination of ilmenite, which, for example, can be the first stage in the so-called chloride route to form titanium dioxide pigment.The iron chloride which may be ferric chloride or ferrous chloride is subjected to a combination of reduction and oxidation reactions. In the reduction reaction, ferric chloride is dechlorinated to ferrous chloride by a reducing agent suitable for producing a chloride compound for recycle to the chlorination process or for sale and in the oxidation reaction ferrous chloride is oxidized to ferric oxide and ferric chloride, the ferric chloride being recycled to the reduction reaction.