Chlorination-disproportionation of Al4O4C and Al4C3 in vacuum

• In vacuum Al4O4C and Al4C3 are more likely to be chlorinated with AlCl3.
• The chlorinations of Al4O4C and Al4C3 with AlCl3 in vacuum occurred at 1643 K–1843 K.
• Aluminum was extracted from Al4O4C and Al4C3 by the chlorination-disproportionation.
• Aluminum extracted from Al4O4C and Al4C3 contained a certain carbon.

The chlorination-disproportionation of Al4O4C and Al4C3 in vacuum was investigated by thermodynamic analysis and experiments using the side products of the AlCl disproportionation process of alumina, consisting of Al4O4C, Al4C3, Al2O3 and C, as raw materials. It was demonstrated that the chlorinations of Al4O4C and Al4C3 with AlCl3 in vacuum are thermodynamically favorable, and their kinetics feasibilities were supported by the experiments at 1643 K–1843 K. The metallic aluminum obtained in the experiments contained a certain carbon formed from the disproportionation of CO.