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Production Methods

Iron(III) chloride forms passing chlorine gas over iron filings at 350°C: 2Fe + 3Cl2 → 2FeCl3 It also forms heating iron(III) oxide with HCl at elevated temperatures: Fe2O3 + 6HCl → 2FeCl3 + 3H2O The product may be sublimed in a stream of chlorine to give high purity grade iron(III) chloride. The anhydrous chloride also may be made by heating the hexahydrate, FeCl3?6H2O, with thionyl chloride: FeCl3?6H2O + 6SOCl2 → FeCl3 + 12HCl + SO2

Air & Water Reactions

Very hygroscopic. Slightly water soluble, where a 0.1M solution has a pH of 2.0.

Reactivity Profile

Alkali metal hydroxides, acids, anhydrous chlorides of iron, tin, and aluminum, pure oxides of iron and aluminum, and metallic potassium are some of the catalysts that may cause ethylene oxide to rearrange and polymerize, liberating heat, [J. Soc. Chem. Ind. 68:179(1949)]. Explosions occur , although infrequently, from the combination of ethylene oxide and alcohols or mercaptans, [Chem. Eng. News 20:1318(1942)]. Allyl chloride may polymerize violently under conditions involving an acid catalyst, such as sulfuric acid, Ferric chloride, aluminum chloride, Lewis acids, and Ziegler type catalysts (initiators), [Ventrone (1971)].

Hazard

Toxic by ingestion, strong irritant to skin and tissue.

Health Hazard

Inhalation of dust may irritate nose and throat. Ingestion causes irritation of mouth and stomach. Dust irritates eyes. Prolonged contact with skin causes irritation and burns.

Flammability and Explosibility

Nonflammable

Safety Profile

Poison by ingestion and intravenous routes. Experimental reproductive effects. Corrosive. Probably an eye, skin, and mucous membrane irritant. Mutation data reported. Reacts with water to produce toxic and corrosive fumes. Catalyzes potentially explosive polymerization of ethylene oxide, chlorine + monomers (e.g., styrene). Forms shock sensitive explosive mixtures with some metals (e.g., potassium, sodium). Violent reaction with all$ chloride. When heated to decomposition it emits highly toxic fumes of HCl.

Potential Exposure

Iron chloride is used to treat sewage and industrial waste. It is also used as an etchant for photo engraving and rotogravure; in textiles; photography; as a disinfectant; as a feed additive.

Shipping

UN1773 Ferric chloride, anhydrous, Hazard class: 8; Labels: 8-Corrosive material. UN2582 Ferric chlo ride, solution, Hazard class: 8; Labels: 8-Corrosive material

Purification Methods

Sublime it at 200o in an atmosphere of chlorine. It is an “iron-black” coloured powder with green irridescence. Store it in a weighing bottle inside a desiccator as it absorbs moisture from air to form the yellow hexahydrate (see next entry). [Tarr Inorg Synth III 191 1950, Pray Inorg Synth V 153 1957, Epperson Inorg Synth VII 163 1963.]

Structure and conformation

The crystalline solid has a semicovalent layer structure with hexagonal packing of chloride ions, each iron atom being surrounded octahedrally by six chlorines in a BiI3 type structure. The dimers in the vapour phase have a structure similar to that of Al2Cl6 with the iron atoms surrounded by chlorines in a roughly tetrahedral fashion. The magnetic properties of iron(III) chloride in its different environments have been investigated extensively. The magnetic moment at 290°K is 5-73 B.M. and is independent of the field strength. In aqueous hydrochloric acid the room temperature moment is 5-94 B.M. and the hexahydrate has a similar moment (5-95 B.M.).

Incompatibilities

Aqueous solutions are a strong acid. Violent reaction with bases, allyl chloride; sulfuric acid; water. Shock- and friction-sensitive explosive material forms with potassium, sodium and other active metals. Attacks metals when wet.

Waste Disposal

Neutralize with lime or soda ash and bury in an approved landfill.

Industrial Applications

Ferric chloride is used in various applications, including:
Treating sewage and industrial waste.
Purifying water.
Acting as an etching agent for engraving circuit boards.
Manufacturing other chemicals.

Role in Coagulation and Water Treatment

Ferric chloride is used in coagulation processes for water treatment.
Calcium (Ca2+) plays a significant role in enhancing the effectiveness of ferric chloride in coagulating natural organic matter (NOM) during water treatment.
Experiments and modeling have demonstrated that the presence of Ca2+ improves Fe hydrolysis, increases zeta potential, and enhances NOM removal.

Soil Remediation

Ferric chloride is used in soil washing techniques for the remediation of multi-metal contaminated soil. Studies have shown that soil washing with ferric chloride, either alone or in combination with chelators, enhances the removal of heavy metals from the topsoil. The addition of ferric chloride may increase metal leaching but is considered favorable for soil remediation.

Catalyst in Liquid Catalyzed Fuel Cells (LCFC)

Ferric chloride (FeCl3) is used as a main catalyst in liquid catalyzed fuel cells (LCFC) for the direct conversion of carbohydrates to electricity. It accelerates the hydrolysis and oxidation of carbohydrates and enhances electron transfer from glucose to the anode. The addition of FeCl3 reduces the usage of polyoxometalates, making LCFC operation less toxic and more economical.

Physical properties

Ferric chloride, solution appears as a colorless to light brown aqueous solution that has a faint hydrochloric acid odor. Highly corrosive to most metals and probably corrosive to tissue. Noncombustible. Used in sewage treatment and water purification.Ferric chloride is an dark brown hexagonal crystals; hygroscopic; density 2.898g/cm3; melts at 306°C; decomposes at 315°C; highly soluble in water (74.4g/100g water at 0°C); very soluble in alcohol, ether and acetone. The hexahydrate is brownish-yellow crystalline mass; deliquesces; melts at 37°C; vaporizes around 280°C; highly soluble in water (92g/100g water at 20°C); very soluble in organic solvents such as ethanol, ether and acetone.

Application

The following list represents some of the most common and largest applications of Ferric Chloride:As a purifying agent in water supply and as a coagulant in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment. In this application, Ferric chloride’s rapid hydrolysis in water makes it an ideal flocculating and precipitating agent. The ferric hydroxide (Fe[OH]3) produced forms flocs (small clumps or tufts) that adsorb suspended particles of various materials (e.g., colloids, clays and bacteria). The clumps, with the adsorbed matter, are then allowed to settle for easy removal. Ferric chloride forms precipitates with hydrogen sulfide (H2S), phosphate (PO4), arsenic as arsenate (AsO4) and hydroxide alkalinity (OH).As an oxidant in indigo blue dyestuff production.As an etching medium in producing printed circuit boards (PCBs).As a catalyst for the reaction of ethylene with chlorine, forming ethylene dichloride (1,2-dichloroethane), an important commodity chemical, which is mainly used for the industrial production of vinyl chloride, the monomer for making PVC.www.marchpump.com

General Description

Ferric chloride is an orange to brown-black solid. Ferric chloride is slightly soluble in water. Ferric chloride is noncombustible. When wet Ferric chloride is corrosive to aluminum and most metals. Pick up and remove spilled solid before adding water. Ferric chloride is used to treat sewage, industrial waste, to purify water, as an etching agent for engraving circuit boards, and in the manufacture of other chemicals.

Industrial uses

Ferric chloride (FeCl3) is obtained by an iron chlorination method at a temperature of 600–700 °C. Very limited data are available on the use of ferric chloride in the mineral processing industry. Ferric chloride has a depressing effect on barite and can be used in barite–celestite separation. It was also evaluated as a depressant during niobium– zirconium separation. In general, ferric and ferrous compounds are not selective depressants and in many cases are detrimental for flotation of oxidic and industrial minerals as in the case of anionic flotation, fatty acid, iron complexes or oleate iron complexes.