THE
CHEMICAL
Above. In these cell houses magnesium chloride is electrotyzed to metal and chlorine. Right. Chlorine from the magnesium cells is converted to hydrochloric acid by burning with natural gas i n tbis unit. Below. The magnesium hydroxide sludge is mixed with hydrochloric acid to form a magnesium chloride solution. Here the two streams enter a rubber-lined mixing tank.
Ma g n e s i u m from lagnesium rrom the Seâ Metal Process of Dow Using Gulf of Mexico SeaWater Photographed
The picture spread depicts the process of Dow Chemical Co. for recovery of metallic magnesium from sea water at Freeport, Tex., detailed on page 1189The first unit of the new plant is producing magnesium at a rate of 18,000,000 pounds a year. Left beloto. Magnesium cbloride solution is concentrated in direct gas-fired spray evaporators at tHe center. The Moore filter plant is shown at t h e right. Below. Tbe lime slurry, thickened in a 150-foot Dorr thickener, is fed into sea water in tbe flocculating tank through six laun-
i&&M
NEWS PARADE
Above, Thickened magnesium hydroxide slurry from tbe Dorr thickeners is furtber dewatered in tbis battery of huge Moore leaf filters. Left. Dorr diaphragm pumps handle the thick magnesium Hydroxide slurry. Below. Looking doAvn a row of magnesium cells, picturing bus bar connections and an operator ladling the molten metal from a cell into the ingot molds.
ders on its surface. ΊΝ\ο bundred-foot Oorr tfciickeners for settling out trie magnesium hydroxide formed are seen in t h e background. Right belotu. The final dehydration of the magnesium chloride solution after the solids h a \ e been filtered out takes place in the gigan tic shelf dryer at the right in this view looking across one of the Dorr thickeners. The huge tanks in the cen ter are storage for magnesium chloride. In the left background is the hydro chloric acid plant and to its right is one of t h e magnesium ceil houses.
