Method To Determine MgO and MgOHCl in Chloride Molten Salts.

A commercial blend of mainly carnallite (KCl·MgCl2·6H2O) is considered as a next-generation heat transfer fluid in solar thermal plants. Corrosive properties of MgCl2 hydrates must be addressed at the operating temperatures of 500-720 °C. For successful chemical monitoring of the carnallite heat transfer fluid, an experimental method was developed to separate and titrate for MgO and MgOHCl from solid carnallite. This new method was assessed for error and accuracy. The method's relative error for MgOHCl was -7.0% for a mass fraction of 9.0 wt % MgOHCl in the carnallite salt. The method's relative error for MgO was less than +1.0% for a mass fraction of 12.0 wt % MgO in the carnallite salt. Titration results were used to track changes in the MgOHCl concentration in carnallite salt through the carnallite's dehydration and purification.