Demagging was tried using ZnCl
2 dissolved in NaCl-KCl eutectic salt bath as a substitute for expensive AlCl
3 and AlF
3. The demagging reaction is:
Mg (in Al) + ZnCl
2→Zn (in Al) + MgCl
2The products are Zn-Al alloy and MgCl
2 entrapped in NaCl-KCl melt. Separation of Zn and Al and electrolysis of MgCl
2 in NaCl-KCl melt are required to extract Zn, Al, Mg and Cl
2 gas. This substitutional chlorination reaction results in complete transfer of Mg from Al scrap to salt bath without loss ofAl or without harmful AlCl
3 and Cl
2 gases emission and MgCl
2 wast generation. The demagging with ZnCl
2 is controlled by complex ion formation among weak Lewis base ZnCl
2 and strong base AlCl
3 and MgCl
2. An addition of NaCl-KCl to ZnCl
2 as a reaction medium overcomes depression of ZnCl
2 activity and dilutes Mg in Zn-Al alloy down to 0.01wt% at 650°C quickly.
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