Electrolysis of Fused Anhydrous Aluminium Chloride and Chlorination of Salem Bauxite

Abstract

Investigations carried out to determine (i)optimum condit-ions for the electrolysis of fused anhydrous aluminium chloride to yield aluminium metal and (ii) the optimum conditions for the chlorination of the ferruginous bauxite-ores from Salem District so as to eliminate selectively the chief impurities associated with these and to yield an acceptable grade of bauxite, are described. The electro-lysis experiments were carried out using chemically pure salts, to obtain reliable working results. Chlorination experiments yielded encouraging results if carried out on a mixture of the bauxite and powdered charcoal and on initially sulphided bauxite.