Evidence for the synthesis of La-hexaaluminate from aluminum-containing saline slag wastes: correction of structural defects and phase purification at low temperature

Abstract

The synthesis of a lanthanum hexaaluminate from the aluminum extracted from a saline slag waste is presented for the first time. Briefly, a refluxing 2 M solution of HCl is used to extract the aluminum, giving 8.9 gAl/dm3 along with other metals in lower concentrations. This solution is used to synthesize the hexaaluminate by mixing with a stoichiometric amount of lanthanum nitrate. The results showed the formation of pure phase hexaaluminate at 1473 K, as well as predominance of the hexaaluminate phase at temperatures of 1273 and 1373 K. These results also indicate that the pure hexaaluminate phase can be obtained at a much lower temperature than when commercial aluminum solutions are used improving the applications as catalyst and thermal barrier material. It was also found that the presence of other metals in solution allows the structural problems and purity of the La-hexaaluminate phase to be corrected when working with stoichiometric ratios.