Process for making rare earth metal chlorides

Abstract

A process for forming a metal chloride of a metal or its compound comprising forming a liquid fused salt bath mixture of at least two metal chlorides, the bath having the property of dissolving the formed metal chloride, and introducing the metal or compound into the liquid fused salt bath in the presence of chlorine to form the metal chloride and recovering the formed chloride from the liquid fused salt bath mixture. The metals which may be chlorinated are those from groups 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 5a and 8 of the periodic table and the rare earth metals. Compounds from which the metals may be chlorinated are the sulfides, oxides, carbonates and sulfates. Chlorine may be introduced as such or its source may be a chlorine donor such as ferric chloride or sulfur chloride. The chlorides for the liquid fused salt bath are those of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, ammonia, zinc, and ferric iron. The chlorination can be performed within a temperature range of 150.degree. C.-1000.degree. C.