Molten salt scrubbing of zirconium or hafnium tetrachloride

Patent · Tue Apr 03 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6784542

Lee, E D; McLaughlin, D F

This patent describes a continuous process for removing impurities of iron or aluminum chloride or both from vaporous zirconium or hafnium chloride or both. It comprises: introducing impure zirconium or hafnium chloride vapor or both into a middle portion of an absorbing column containing a molten salt phase, the molten salt phase absorbing the impurities of iron or aluminum chloride or both to produce chloride vapor stripped of zirconium or hafnium chloride; introducing sodium or potassium chloride or both into a top portion of the column; controlling the top portion of the column to between 300--375{degrees} C.; heating a bottom portion of the column to 450--550{degrees} C. To vaporize zirconium chloride or hafnium chloride or hafnium and zirconium chloride from the molten salt; withdrawing molten salt substantially free of zirconium and hafnium chloride from the bottom portion of the column; and withdrawing zirconium chloride or hafnium chloride or hafnium and zirconium chloride vapor substantially free of impurities of iron and aluminum chloride from the top of the column.

• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA
• Patent Number(s): A; US 4913778
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-305125A
• OSTI ID: 6784542
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360601* -- Other Materials-- Preparation & Manufacture
ALUMINIUM CHLORIDES
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
DISPERSIONS
HAFNIUM CHLORIDES
HAFNIUM COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
IRON CHLORIDES
IRON COMPOUNDS
MIXTURES
MOLTEN SALTS
PROCESS SOLUTIONS
PURIFICATION
REFRACTORY METAL COMPOUNDS
SALTS
SCRUBBING
SOLUTIONS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM CHLORIDES
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS