Production of anhydrous aluminum chloride

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Aluminum chloride is produced from material for example, clay, containing aluminum silicon and oxygen by chlorinating the material through contact with a mixture consisting essentially of a chlorinating agent, a reducing agent an alkali metal compound, catalyst, and silicon chloride; and thereafter separating the reaction products from the chlorination step; and recycling back to the chlorination step substantially all the silicon chloride separated from the reaction products to thereby promote the chlorination of the aluminum oxide in the material while suppressing chlorination of the silicon oxide.