A study of the mechanisms of the salt catalyzed carbochlorination of kaolin

Continuous weighing of kaolin during carbochlorination has been used to show the superiority of NaCl as a catalyst for increasing the reaction rate and selectivity at 625° to 650 °C, and the possibility of using different types of carbon as a reductant. Initial distribution of NaCl in the kaolin was found to be of importance. A reaction mechanism involving the formation of NaAlCl₄ and alumina solubility in this salt is used to explain the effect of reactor configuration and kaolin particle geometry.