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1 SELECTED ILLUSTRATIVE LVIC-S INDUSTRY PRODUCTS
1.1 Aluminium chlorides
In principle, <strong>the</strong> <strong>information</strong> contained in this section relates to aluminium chlorides, which are
used as inorganic coagulants. Aluminium chloride is also extensively utilised in its anhydrous
form. In 1984 approx. 30000 tonnes was produced in <strong>the</strong> US and approx. 50000 tonnes in
Western Europe [48, W. Buchner et al, 1989].
Anhydrous aluminium chloride is mainly used as a catalyst in organic chemistry, essentially as
an alkylation catalyst, ei<strong>the</strong>r in fine chemistry, or in <strong>the</strong> production of commodity organics like
ethylbenzene in competition with e.g. solid catalysts. Its significance in <strong>the</strong> petrochemical
industry has strongly decreased with <strong>the</strong> advent of zeolite-based catalysts [6, CEFIC, 2002].
It can be produced by two process routes:
From aluminium
This process is based on <strong>the</strong> reaction of gaseous chlorine injected into a molten aluminium bath
at a typical temperature of 800 °C. The equation of <strong>the</strong> reaction is:
2 Al + 3 Cl2 F 2 AlCl3
The chlorine conversion is very rapid and complete. Aluminium chloride leaves <strong>the</strong> reactor as a
vapour, which is condensed to a solid on a cooled surface. The solid aluminium chloride is
conditioned by crushing and sieving, <strong>the</strong>n stored in bulk or packaged and finally shipped.
Air emissions from <strong>the</strong> vent in <strong>the</strong> aluminium chloride condensation reactor and from <strong>the</strong>
conditioning, handling and storage systems contain chlorine, hydrochloric acid and aluminium
chloride. Emissions to water are essentially from <strong>the</strong> vents scrubbers, and include hydrochloric
acid and dissolved/suspended aluminium compounds. Waste generation is very small and
includes essentially aluminium hydroxide sludge recovered from waste water treatment.
From aluminium oxide
This process, which is no longer used in Europe, is based on <strong>the</strong> carbo-chlorination of
aluminium oxide according to <strong>the</strong> following reaction:
2 Al2O3 + 3 C + 6 Cl2 F 3 CO2 + 4 AlCl3
In addition to <strong>the</strong> environmental issues of <strong>the</strong> aluminium process, generic CO, SOx and NOx air
emissions occur, while <strong>the</strong> formation of some chlorinated organics is possible [6, CEFIC, 2002].
1.1.1 Polyaluminium chloride
1.1.1.1 General <strong>information</strong>
Product Name : Polyaluminium chloride
CAS number : 1327-41-9 (Aluminium hydroxy chloride) and
39290-78-3 (Aluminium hydroxy chloride sulphate)
Polyaluminium chloride is a very common aluminium salt, <strong>the</strong> major uses of which are:
Use Application
Water Treatment As a coagulant for drinking, industrial waste and municipal waste water
Paper Additive As a retention and fixing agent, and a sizing additive
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