The Role of Silica in the Chlorination–Volatilization of Cobalt Oxide by Using Calcium Chloride

Abstract

The role of silica in the chlorination–volatilization of cobalt oxide, using calcium chloride, is investigated in this paper. It is found that the Co volatilization percentage of the CoO–Fe2O3–CaCl2 system is not larger than 12.1%. Silica plays an important role in the chlorination–volatilization of cobalt oxide by using calcium chloride. In the CoO–SiO2–Fe2O3–CaCl2 system, the Co volatilization percentage is initially positively related to the molar ratio of SiO2 to CaCl2, and remains almost constant when the molar ratio of SiO2 to CaCl2 rises from zero to eight. The critical molar ratios of SiO2 to CaCl2 are 1 and 2 when the molar ratios of CaCl2 to CoO are 8.3 and 16.6, respectively. The Co volatilization percentage remains almost constant with the increase in CaO concentration, and decreases when Al2O3 and MgO are added. Ca2SiO3Cl2 is determined after roasting at 1073 K and 1173 K, and disappears at temperatures in excess of 1273 K in the calcines from the CoO–SiO2–CaCl2 system. CaSiO3 always exists in the calcines at temperatures in excess of 973 K.

Keywords

• chlorination–volatilization
• cobalt oxide
• calcium chloride
• phases of calcines