Method and device for the continuous production of NaAlCl4 or NaFeCl4

Abstract

A method and a device for the production of NaDCl 4 , in which D is aluminum or iron, is described. The method includes a first reaction step in which a melt of aluminum or iron is reacted with chlorine gas to give gaseous metal halide. This is subsequently reacted, in a second reaction step, with solid sodium chloride to give the corresponding compound and is separated off as a melt.

1 .- 12 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         13 . A device for the production of a salt melt, or mixture thereof, of the formula  
       NaDCl 4   (I)  
       in which 
 D is Al or Fe, 
 by a method comprising reacting, in a first reaction step (i), a melt of aluminum and/or iron with chlorine gas to give gaseous metal chloride (DCl 3 ), and, in a second reaction step (ii), reacting the gaseous metal halide with solid sodium chloride to produce the compound of formula (I), which is separated off as a melt, the device comprising:  
 a first reaction vessel for containing the melt of aluminum and/or iron,  
 a feed device to the reaction vessel for chlorine gas,  
 a collection device for the gaseous metal chloride above the reaction vessel,  
 and a second reaction vessel for containing the sodium chloride in solid form and having a feed device for feeding the gaseous metal chloride from said collection device to the second reaction vessel.  
 
 
     
     
         14 . A device according to  claim 13 , further comprising a solids metering unit in communication with the first reaction vessel for metering a powder or granule form of the metal D into the first reaction vessel.  
     
     
         15 . A device according to  claim 13 , wherein the feed device for feeding the gaseous metal chloride from said collection device to the second reaction vessel feeds the gas at a height between the upper quarter and the center of the second reaction vessel.  
     
     
         16 . A device according to  claim 14 , wherein the feed device for feeding the gaseous metal chloride from said collection device to the second reaction vessel feeds the gas at a height between the upper quarter and the center of the second reaction vessel.  
     
     
         17 . A device according to  claim 13 , further comprising a solids metering unit in communication with the second reaction vessel for metering a mixture of solid sodium chloride and metal D into the second reaction vessel.  
     
     
         18 . A device according to  claim 14 , further comprising a solids metering unit in communication with the second reaction vessel for metering a mixture of solid sodium chloride and metal D into the second reaction vessel.  
     
     
         19 . A device according to  claim 15 , further comprising a solids metering unit in communication with the second reaction vessel for metering a mixture of solid sodium chloride and metal D into the second reaction vessel.  
     
     
         20 . A device according to  claim 13 , further comprising a third reaction vessel containing solid sodium chloride in communication downstream of the second reaction vessel for reacting the sodium chloride with residual metal chloride resulting in further product of formula (I).  
     
     
         21 . A device according to  claim 14 , further comprising a third reaction vessel containing solid sodium chloride in communication downstream of the second reaction vessel for reacting the sodium chloride with residual metal chloride resulting in further product of formula (I).  
     
     
         22 . A device according to  claim 15 , further comprising a third reaction vessel containing solid sodium chloride in communication downstream of the second reaction vessel for reacting the sodium chloride with residual metal chloride resulting in further product of formula (I).  
     
     
         23 . A device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a third reaction vessel containing solid sodium chloride in communication downstream of the second reaction vessel for reacting the sodium chloride with residual metal chloride resulting in further product of formula (I).  
     
     
         24 . A device according to  claim 13 , further comprising means for utilizing the energy being liberated from the first reaction vessel to heat the second reaction vessel.  
     
     
         25 . A device according to  claim 13 , wherein the device is a capable of carrying out the method of reaction steps (i) and (ii) continuously.