Synthesis of boehmite and hematite by joint hydrolysis of carbamide, aluminum chloride, and iron(III) chloride under hydrothermal conditions

Abstract

The formation of boehmite and hematite in dependence of the conditions of joint hydrothermal hydrolysis of carbamide and a mixture of aluminum and iron(III) chlorides in the presence of K, Na, Ca, and Mg chlorides at T = 160–200°C and P = 0.6–1.6 MPa was studied. It was shown that the amount of boehmite and hematite being formed in hydrolysis of Al and Fe chlorides strongly depends on pressure, temperature, hydrolysis duration, and composition of the model mixture of Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, K, and Na chlorides. It was found that a complete hydrolysis of AlCl3 and FeCl3 with 99% yield of boehmite and hematite occurs at the stoichiometric ratio between carbamide and aluminum and iron chlorides in the starting solution, whereas mostly iron oxyhydroxide [goethite FeO(OH)] and aluminum oxychloride [Al17O16(OH)16Cl3] are formed at nonstoichiometric ratios.