Reactivity of magnesium oxide in different chlorinating gas mixtures
Abstract
Reactivity of MgO towards Cl2+air, Cl2+N2 and Cl2+CO gas mixtures was studied up to 1000 °C. Carbochlorination of MgO occurs at temperatures lower than that of its oxychlorination. Effects of gas flow rate, temperature and partial pressure of the carbochlorinating gas mixture on the reaction rate were investigated. The apparent activation energy of MgO carbochlorination is 49 kJ/mol between 425 °C and 600 °C. At 550 °C, the apparent reaction orders with respect to Cl2+CO, Cl2 and CO, are 2.37, 1.47 and 0.89, respectively. At this temperature, the maximum reaction rate was obtained using a Cl2+CO gas mixture having a Cl2/CO molar ratio equal to about 0.6