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1.4 Ferric chloride
1.4.1 General <strong>information</strong>
1.4.1.1 Introduction – ferric chloride (FeCl3)
Of <strong>the</strong> halides of iron, only iron(II) chloride (ferrous chloride FeCl2) and iron(III) chloride
(ferric chloride FeCl3) have become commercially important [87, Ullmann's, 2001]. Ferric
chloride is muchP more important industrially than ferrous chloride.
Anhydrous iron(III) chloride (FeCl3) is industrially produced by a high temperature reaction
of dry chlorine with scrap iron (direct chlorination). Ferric chloride is also aP by-product of
some metallurgical and chemical processes, such as <strong>the</strong> chlorinating decomposition of ironbearing
oxide ores. Its ready availability and cheap feedstock (iron and chlorine) have made
iron(III) chloride, especially its aqueous solution, a significant raw material for many
industries, in particular for water treatment and for <strong>the</strong> production of iron oxides or o<strong>the</strong>r
iron compounds – refer to <strong>the</strong> BREF on Ferrous Metals Processing Industry (FMP).
1.4.1.2 Background <strong>information</strong> on ferric chloride (FeCl3)
Product Name: Ferric chloride 40 %
Chemical Formula FeCl3
CAS number: 7705-08-0 (Ferric chloride solution 40 %)
Ferric chloride can be used in different applications.
A. Principal uses include:
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turbidity reduction
colour elimination
coagulation
sludge reduction
filter conditioning
arsenic removal
metal etching.
B. Waste water treatment:
phosphate precipitation and removal
sedimentation
dewatering
sulphide based odour elimination.
The major EU ferric chloride capacities are listed in Table 1.7:
Location of <strong>the</strong> FeCl3 plants in <strong>the</strong> EU Number of sites Capacity
Area 1: Benelux, Germany, Austria and Switzerland 10 550000
Area 2: Italy, France, Spain, Portugal 14 500000
Area 3: Nordic countries (Finland, Denmark,
Sweden, Norway), UK, Ireland, Slovenia, Hungary
6 250000
Total 30 1300000
Table 1.7: Location and capacities of FeCl3 plants in <strong>the</strong> EU
[CEFIC-INCOPA, 2004 #112]