Method for producing magnesium aluminate spinels

1. A process for producing a magnesium aluminate spinel comprising the following steps:

i) preparing a magnesium suspension containing a magnesium compound;

ii) preparing an aluminum suspension containing an aluminum compound;

iii) feeding the magnesium suspension and aluminum suspension independently into a spray dryer nozzle to form a mixed magnesium, aluminum suspension;

iv) feeding the mixed magnesium, aluminium suspension from the spray dryer nozzle into a spray dryer to form a mixed magnesium and aluminum compound; and

v) calcining the mixed magnesium and aluminum compound to generate a magnesium aluminate spinel.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the magnesium suspension and the aluminum suspension are fed into the spray dryer by a spray dryer nozzle comprising at least two inlets that allows the magnesium suspension and the aluminum suspension to be fed independently into the spray dryer nozzle where they are combined and fed out into the spray dryer as a mixed magnesium aluminum suspension.

3. The process according to claim 1 wherein a pump system is used to feed the magnesium and aluminum suspensions independently into the spray dryer nozzle.

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the aluminum compound comprises aluminum oxyhydroxide, aluminum oxide, aluminum hydroxide, or mixtures thereof.

5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the aluminum compound is milled prior to preparing the suspension in step ii).

6. The process according to claim 1 , wherein an acidic solution is added to the alumina suspension in step ii) such that the alumina suspension has a pH of 3 to 5.

7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the magnesium compound includes magnesium oxides and magnesium salts.

8. The process according to claim 7 , wherein the magnesium compound is magnesium oxide or magnesium hydroxide.

9. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the magnesium suspension in step i) has a pH of about 8 to 9.

10. The process according to claim 1 , wherein a base is added to the alumina suspension in step ii) and to the magnesium suspension in step i) after about 30 minutes of the formation of the respective suspensions to increase the pH of the respective suspensions to a pH of 8 to 10.

11. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the magnesium suspension is dispersed for a period of 20 to 50 min.

12. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the magnesium suspension is dispersed for a period of 25 to 35 min.

13. The process according to claim 1 , wherein weight loadings of the mixed suspensions of higher than 10% are achieved when spray drying in step iv).

14. The process according to claim 13 , wherein the conversion rate to spinel is equal to or greater than 95%.

15. The process according to claim 3 , wherein the pumping rates of the magnesium suspension and the alumina suspension can be adjusted.