PROCESS FOR PRODUCING SYNTHETIC SPINEL

摘要

A process for producing synthetic spinel includes the steps of forming a mixture (for instance as a slurry) of magnesium chloride with an aluminous material, and roasting the mixture to temperature and to a time sufficient for the magnesium chloride and the aluminous material to react to form a spinel. The magnesium chloride source is advantageously bittern, containing 20 to 40% MgCl2. A relatively impure waste material of the alumina industry such as ESP (Electro Static Precipitate) can be used as the aluminous material. This waste material has a superfine particle size resulting in the production of a very fine particle size spinel product (less than 30 mu m) which can be used without further grinding in most commercial applications.