EP1885677A2

EP1885677A2 - Method for making a chlorhydrine by reaction between a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and a chlorinating agent

Info

Publication number: EP1885677A2
Application number: EP06763189A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Philippe Krafft
Original assignee: Solvay SA
Current assignee: Solvay SA
Priority date: 2005-05-20
Filing date: 2006-05-19
Publication date: 2008-02-13
Also published as: US20080200701A1; WO2006100312A3; WO2006100314A1; MX2007014523A; CA2608961C; US20090131631A1; CA2608816A1; CN102603474A; EP2284162A2; CN101052606B; US8106245B2; CN101098843A; US8389777B2; US7906691B2; WO2006100315A3; WO2006100315A2; BRPI0610745A2; TW200700361A; TW200700401A; EP2284162A3

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for making a chlorhydrine from a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or a mixture thereof, and a chlorinating agent, the chlorinating agent containing at least one of the following compounds: nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, chlorine, a hydrocarbon organic compound, a halogen organic compound, an oxygen-containing organic compound and a metal.

Description

Process for producing a chlorohydrin by reaction between a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and a chlorinating agent

The present patent application claims the benefit of the patent application FR 05.05120 and the patent application EP 05104321.4, filed on May 20, 2005 and the provisional US patent applications 60/734659, 60/734627, 60/734657, 60 / 734658, 60/734635, 60/734634, 60/734637 and 60/734636, filed November 8, 2005, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a chlorohydrin. It relates more specifically to a process for producing a chlorohydrin from a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and a chlorinating agent.

Chlorohydrins are reaction intermediates in the manufacture of epoxides. Dichloropropanol, for example, is a reaction intermediate in the manufacture of epichlorohydrin and epoxy resins (Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Fourth Edition, 1992, Vol 2, page 156, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) .

According to known processes, dichloropropanol can be obtained in particular by hypochlorination of allyl chloride, by chlorination of allyl alcohol and by hydrochlorination of glycerol. The latter process has the advantage that dichloropropanol can be obtained from fossil raw materials or renewable raw materials, and it is known that petrochemical natural resources, from which fossil fuels are derived, for example petroleum, natural gas or coal, available on the earth are limited.

The international application WO 2005/021476 and the application WO 2005/054167 of SOLVAY SA describe a process for the manufacture of dichloropropanol by reaction between glycerol and hydrogen chloride. The hydrogen chloride may be gaseous or in the form of aqueous solutions.

The toxicity and corrosivity of these compounds make their preparation, purification, storage and transport delicate. Hydrogen chloride is toxic by contact, inhalation and ingestion (The Merck Index, Eleventh Edition, 1989, pages 759). It is usually transported as liquefied gas in pressure vessels. Aqueous hydrochloric acid is extremely corrosive (The Merck Index, Eleventh Edition, 1989, pages 756) and requires equipment made of special materials for storage and transport. These disadvantages are disadvantageous for the processes for producing chlorinated organic products which use these chlorinating agents at one of their stages.

The object of the invention is to provide a process for producing chlorohydrin from a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture of them, and a chlorinating agent that does not have these disadvantages. The invention therefore relates to a process for producing a chlorohydrin from a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, or a mixture thereof, and a chlorinating agent, the chlorinating agent containing at least one of nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, chlorine, an organic hydrocarbon compound, a halogenated organic compound, an oxygenated organic compound and a metal.

It has surprisingly been found that at least a partial feed of the process for producing chlorohydrin by a chlorinating agent containing these compounds gives particularly good results. In particular, the yield of the process for the manufacture of chlorohydrin is not impaired by the use of this chlorinating agent.

In the process according to the invention, the hydrocarbon-based organic compound is chosen from aromatic, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof. In the process according to the invention, the unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon is chosen from acetylene, ethylene, propylene, butene, propadiene, methylacetylene and their mixtures, the saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon is chosen from methane, ethane, propane, butane and mixtures thereof, and the aromatic hydrocarbon is benzene. In the process according to the invention, the halogenated organic compound is a chlorinated organic compound chosen from chloromethanes, chloroethanes, chloropropanes, chlorobutanes, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, monochloropropenes, perchlorethylene, trichlorethylene, chlorobutadiene, chlorobenzenes and mixtures thereof. In the process according to the invention, the halogenated organic compound is a fluorinated organic compound chosen from fluoromethanes, fluoroethanes, vinyl fluoride, vinylidene fluoride, and mixtures thereof.

In the process according to the invention, the oxygenated organic compound is chosen from alcohols, chloroalcohols, chloroethers and their mixtures. In the process according to the invention, the metal is chosen from alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, iron, nickel, copper, lead, arsenic, cobalt, titanium, cadmium, antimony, mercury, zinc, selenium, aluminum, bismuth, and mixtures thereof. In the process according to the invention, the chlorinating agent is at least partially derived from a process for producing allyl chloride and / or a process for producing chloromethanes and / or a chlorinolysis process and or a process for oxidizing chlorinated compounds at a temperature greater than or equal to 800 ° C. The manufacturing processes can be carried out independently in batch mode or in continuous mode. It is preferred that at least one of the methods be conducted in a continuous mode. It is more particularly preferred that the continuous mode be used for all manufacturing processes considered.

In the process according to the invention, the chlorinating agent contains hydrogen chloride.

The term "polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon" refers to a hydrocarbon that contains at least two hydroxyl groups attached to two different saturated carbon atoms. The polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon may contain, but is not limited to, from 2 to 60 carbon atoms. Each of the carbons of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon bearing the functional hydroxyl (OH) group can not have more than one OH group, and must be of sp3 hybridization. The carbon atom carrying the OH group may be primary, secondary or tertiary. The polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon used in the present invention must contain at least two sp3 hybridization carbon atoms carrying an OH group. The polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon includes any hydrocarbon containing a vicinal diol (1,2-diol) or a vicinal triol (1,2,3-triol) including higher orders of these repeating units, vicinal or contiguous . The definition of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon also includes, for example, one or more 1,3-, 1,4-, 1,5- and 1,6-diol functional groups. The polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon may also be a polymer such as alcohol - AT -

Polyvinyl. Geminated diols, for example, are excluded from this class of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbons.

The polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbons may contain aromatic entities or hetero atoms including, for example, hetero atoms of the halogen, sulfur, phosphorus, nitrogen, oxygen, silicon and boron type, and mixtures thereof.

Polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbons for use in the present invention include, for example, 1,2-ethanediol (ethylene glycol), 1,2-propanediol (propylene glycol), 1,3-propanediol, 1-chloro-2, 3-propanediol (chloropropanediol), 2-chloro-1,3-propanediol

(chloropropanediol), 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, cyclohexanediols, 1,2-butanediol, 1,2-cyclohexanedimethanol, 1,2,3-propanetriol (also known as "glycerol" or "glycerin"), and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon used in the present invention includes, for example, 1,2-ethanediol, 1,2-propanediol,

1,3-propanediol, chloropropanediol and 1,2,3-propanetriol, and mixtures of at least two of them. More preferably, the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon used in the present invention includes, for example, 1,2-ethanediol, 1,2-propanediol, chloropropanediol and 1,2,3-propanetriol, and mixtures thereof. least two of them. 1,2,3-propanetriol or glycerol is the most preferred.

The esters of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon may be present in the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and / or may be produced in the process for the manufacture of chlorohydrin and / or may be manufactured prior to the process for producing the chlorohydrin. Examples of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon esters include ethylene glycol monoacetate, propanediol monoacetates, glycerol monoacetates, glycerol monostearates, glycerol diacetates, and mixtures thereof. The term "chorhydrin" is used here to describe a compound containing at least one hydroxyl group and at least one chlorine atom attached to different saturated carbon atoms. A chlorohydrin which contains at least two hydroxyl groups is also a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon. Thus, the starting material and the product of the reaction can each be chlorohydrins. In this case, the "produced" chlorohydrin is more chlorinated than the starting chlorohydrin, that is to say that it has more chlorine atoms and fewer hydroxyl groups than the chlorohydrin departure. Preferred chlorohydrins are chloroethanol, chloropropanol, chloropropanediol, dichloropropanol and mixtures of at least two of them. Dichloropropanol is particularly preferred. More particularly preferred chlorohydrins are 2-chloroethanol, 1-chloropropan-2-ol, 2-chloropropan-1-ol, 1-chloropropane-2,3-diol, 2-chloropropane-1,3-diol. 1,3-dichloropropan-2-ol, 2,3-dichloropropan-1-ol and mixtures of at least two of them.

The polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or the mixture of them, in the process according to the invention can be obtained starting from fossil raw materials or starting from renewable raw materials, from preferably from renewable raw materials.

Fossil raw materials are understood to mean materials from the processing of petrochemical natural resources, for example, petroleum, natural gas, and coal. Of these materials, organic compounds having 2 and 3 carbon atoms are preferred. When the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is glycerol, allyl chloride, allyl alcohol and "synthetic" glycerol are particularly preferred. By "synthetic" glycerol is meant a glycerol generally obtained from petrochemical resources. When the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is ethylene glycol, ethylene and "synthetic" ethylene glycol are particularly preferred. By "synthetic" ethylene glycol is meant an ethylene glycol generally obtained from petrochemical resources. When the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is propylene glycol, propylene and "synthetic" propylene glycol are particularly preferred. By "synthetic" propylene glycol is meant a propylene glycol generally obtained from petrochemical resources.

Renewable raw materials are defined as materials derived from the treatment of renewable natural resources. Among these materials, "natural" ethylene glycol, "natural" propylene glycol and "natural" glycerol are preferred. For example, "natural" ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and glycerol are obtained by sugar conversion via thermochemical processes, which sugars can be obtained from biomass, as described in Industrial Bioproducts: Today and Tomorrow, Energetics. , Incorporated for the US Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Office of the Biomass Program, July 2003, pages 49, 52 to 56. One of these processes is, for example, the catalytic hydrogenolysis of sorbitol obtained by thermochemical conversion of glucose, for example another method. catalytic hydrogenolysis of xylitol obtained by hydrogenation of xylose Xylose may, for example, be obtained by hydrolysis of hemicellulose contained in corn fibers By "natural glycerol" or "glycerol obtained from renewable raw materials" is intended to mean particular glycerol obtained during the manufacture of biodiesel or glycerol obtained during transformations of fats or oils of plant or animal origin in general such as saponification reactions, trans-esterification or hydrolysis.

Among the oils that can be used to make natural glycerol are all common oils, such as palm, palm kernel, copra, babassu, old or new rapeseed, sunflower, maize, castor oil and cotton oils. , peanut, soybean, flax and crambe oils and all oils derived for example from sunflower or rapeseed plants obtained by genetic modification or hybridization.

You can even use used cooking oils, various animal oils, such as fish oils, tallow, lard and even rendering fats.

Among the oils used, it is also possible to indicate partially modified oils, for example by polymerization or oligomerization, for example the "standolies" of linseed oil, sunflower oil and blown vegetable oils. A particularly suitable glycerol can be obtained during the processing of animal fats. Another particularly suitable glycerol can be obtained during the manufacture of biodiesel. A third particularly suitable glycerol can be obtained during the transformation of fats or oils, animal or vegetable, by trans-esterification in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst, as described in documents FR 2752242,

FR 2869612 and FR 2869613. More specifically, the heterogeneous catalyst is chosen from mixed oxides of aluminum and zinc, mixed oxides of zinc and titanium, mixed oxides of zinc, titanium and aluminum, and oxides. mixed bismuth and aluminum, and the heterogeneous catalyst is implemented in the form of a fixed bed. The latter process may be a biodiesel manufacturing process. In the process for producing a chlorohydrin according to the invention, the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester or the mixture of them may be as described in the patent application entitled " Process for the preparation of chlorohydrin by conversion of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbons "deposited in the name of SOLVAY SA on the same day as the present application, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Particular mention is made of a process for producing a chlorohydrin in which a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, or a mixture thereof, of which the total content of expressed metals, is reacted. in the form of elements is greater than or equal to 0.1 μg / kg and less than or equal to 1000 mg / kg, with a chlorinating agent.

In the process according to the invention, it is preferred to use glycerol obtained from renewable raw materials.

The process for producing chlorohydrins according to the invention may be followed by the manufacture of an epoxide.

The term "epoxide" is used herein to describe a compound having at least one oxygen bridged on a carbon-carbon bond. Generally the carbon atoms of the carbon-carbon bond are adjacent and the compound may contain other atoms than carbon and oxygen atoms, such as hydrogen atoms and halogens. The preferred epoxides are ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, glycidol, epichlorohydrin and mixtures of at least two of them. The process for producing the epoxide may be followed by a process for producing epoxy resins.

The processes from which the chlorinating agent may be derived are often associated. The heavy by-products of the synthesis of allyl chloride and epichlorohydrin are advantageously employed as a source of raw materials in a high temperature chlorinolysis process to produce commercially valuable materials. These facilities may, however, have other sources of raw materials. Oxidation at or above 800 ° C is used to remove chlorinated or oxygenated organic waste. The processes from which the chlorinating agent can be generated generate hydrogen chloride or aqueous solutions of hydrogen chloride as co-produced. These acids are generally of poor quality, containing traces of organic matter. They are advantageously engaged in the aforementioned chlorohydrin manufacturing process as such or after treatment.

It has surprisingly been found that at least a partial feed of the process for the production of chlorohydrin by the crude chlorination agent from such manufacturing processes gives particularly good results. In particular, the efficiency of the process for producing chlorohydrin is not impaired by the use of this untreated chlorination agent.

In addition, an at least partial feed of the process for the manufacture of chorhydrin by the chlorinating agent from a process for producing allyl chloride and / or a chlorinolysis process and / or a manufacturing process chloromethane and / or a process for the oxidation of chlorinated compounds at a temperature greater than or equal to 800 ° C, in addition to limiting the transport of hazardous materials with removal of the costs related to these transports, allows an advantageous alternative valuation of the acids co-products in these processes. In addition, plant sharing between various manufacturing processes of the same product can be envisaged, which also contributes to a reduction in the costs of these processes.

In the process for producing a chlorohydrin according to the invention, the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or the mixture of them, can be a crude product or a purified product, such as as specifically disclosed in SOLVAY SA application WO 2005/054167, page 2, line 8, to page 4, line 2. In the process for producing a chglorhdyrin according to the invention, the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or mixture thereof, may have an alkali and / or alkaline earth metal content may be less than or equal to 5 g / kg as described in the application entitled " A process for producing a chlorohydrin by chlorination of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon deposited in the name of SOLVAY SA on the same day as the present application, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The alkali metals may be selected from lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium and the alkaline earth metals may be selected from magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium. In the process according to the invention, the content of alkaline and / or alkaline-earth metals of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, of the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or mixture thereof is less than or equal to 5 g / kg, often less than or equal to 1 g / kg, more particularly less than or equal to 0.5 g / kg and in some case less than or equal to 0.01 g / kg. The content of alkaline and / or alkaline earth metals of glycerol is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 μg / kg.

In the process according to the invention, the alkali metals are generally lithium, sodium, potassium and cesium, often sodium and potassium, and frequently sodium.

In the process for producing a chlorohydrin according to the invention, the lithium content of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or of the mixture of them, is generally less than or equal to at 1 g / kg, often less than or equal to 0.1 g / kg and more particularly less than or equal to 2 mg / kg. This content is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 μg / kg. In the process according to the invention, the sodium content of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or of the mixture of them, is generally less than or equal to 1 g / kg, often less than or equal to 0.1 g / kg and more particularly less than or equal to 2 mg / kg. This content is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 μg / kg.

In the process according to the invention, the potassium content of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or of the mixture of them, is generally less than or equal to 1 g / kg, often less than or equal to 0.1 g / kg and more particularly less than or equal to 2 mg / kg. This content is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 μg / kg.

In the process according to the invention, the rubidium content of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or of the mixture of them, is generally less than or equal to 1 g / kg, often less than or equal to 0.1 g / kg and more particularly less than or equal to 2 mg / kg. This content is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 μg / kg.

In the process according to the invention, the cesium content of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or of the mixture of them, is generally less than or equal to 1 g / kg, often less than or equal to 0.1 g / kg and more particularly lower or equal to 2 mg / kg. This content is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 μg / kg.

In the process according to the invention, the alkaline-earth elements are generally magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium, often magnesium and calcium and frequently calcium.

In the process according to the invention, the magnesium content of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or of the mixture of them, is generally less than or equal to 1 g / kg, often less than or equal to 0.1 g / kg and more particularly less than or equal to 2 mg / kg. This content is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 μg / kg.

In the process according to the invention, the calcium content of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or of the mixture of them, is generally less than or equal to 1 g / kg, often less than or equal to 0.1 g / kg and more particularly less than or equal to 2 mg / kg. This content is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 μg / kg.

In the process according to the invention, the strontium content of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or of the mixture of them, is generally less than or equal to 1 g / kg, often less than or equal to 0.1 g / kg and more particularly less than or equal to 2 mg / kg. This content is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 μg / kg.

In the process according to the invention, the barium content of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or of the mixture of them, is generally less than or equal to 1 g / kg, often less than or equal to 0.1 g / kg and more particularly less than or equal to 2 mg / kg. This content is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 μg / kg. In the process according to the invention, the alkali and / or alkaline earth metals are generally present in the form of salts, frequently in the form of chlorides, sulphates and mixtures thereof. Sodium chloride is most often encountered.

In the process for producing a chlorhdydrin according to the invention, the chlorinating agent may be as described in the application WO 2005/054167 of SOLVAY SA, of page 4, line 25, on page 6, line 2 . In the process for producing a chlorhdyrine according to the invention, the chlorinating agent may be hydrogen chloride may be as described in SOLVAY SA application WO 2005/054167, page 4, line 30, In an advantageous embodiment of the method for producing a chlorhdyrine according to the invention, the chlorinating agent is gaseous hydrogen chloride or an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride or a hydrogen chloride. combination of both.

This chlorinating agent is particularly advantageous since it is often obtained as a by-product in organic synthesis of chlorination, elimination or substitution, or by combustion. The present invention allows recovery of this by-product.

In a first embodiment of the process according to the invention, the chlorinating agent comes at least partially from a process for producing allyl chloride.

In a first variant of this first embodiment, the allyl chloride can be obtained by chlorination of propylene. The process for producing allyl chloride is then fed with at least propylene and chlorine. Other compounds may also be present in the feed such as non-chlorinated hydrocarbons other than propylene, partially chlorinated hydrocarbons, totally chlorinated hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof.

In a second variant of this first embodiment, the allyl chloride can be obtained by dehydrochlorination of dichloropropane. The process for producing allyl chloride is then fed with at least partially chlorinated hydrocarbons, preferably containing dichloropropane, in particular 1,2-dichloropropane.

A description of the methods of making allyl chloride can be found at Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Fifth, Completely Revised Edition, 1985, Volume A1, pp. 427-429.

In a second embodiment of the process according to the invention, the chlorinating agent comes at least partially from a process for producing chloromethanes.

In this second embodiment, the manufacturing process is fed with methane and / or methyl chloride and chlorine. The process chlorination can be thermal, photochemical or catalytic. Thermal and photochemical processes are preferred.

A description of the methods of making chloromethanes can be found at Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Fifth, Completely Revised Edition, 1986, Volume A6, pp. 240-252.

In a third embodiment of the process according to the invention, the chlorinating agent comes at least partially from a chlorinolysis process. By chlorinolysis is meant any decomposition reaction with chlorine and more particularly decomposition reactions of organic compounds, carried out at temperatures greater than or equal to 300 ° C, preferably greater than or equal to 350 ° C. In this third embodiment, the chlorinolysis process is fed with at least chlorine and aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons, saturated or unsaturated, preferably aliphatic and selected from non-chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons, comprising from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, partially and / or totally chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and 1 to 14 chlorine atoms, and mixtures thereof. The non-chlorinated hydrocarbons are, for example, propane, propylene, methyl acetylene, methane and ethylene. Partially chlorinated hydrocarbons are, for example, chloroform, trichloropropanes, chloropropenes, tetrachloroethanes, trichloroethanes, acetylene chloride and tetrachloropentane. The totally chlorinated hydrocarbons can be selected from carbon tetrachloride, hexachloroethane, and perchlorethylene. An example of such a process is the process of pyrolysis of chlorinated hydrocarbons containing from one to three carbon atoms in the presence of chlorine for the production of perchlorethylene and carbon tetrachloride. Generally, these hydrocarbons do not contain other heteroatoms than chlorine.

A description of the chlorinolysis processes can be found at "Propylene and its Industrial Derivatives, Hancock E.G., 1973, pp. 298-332".

In a fourth embodiment of the process according to the invention, the chlorinating agent comes at least partially from a process for the oxidation of chlorinated compounds at a temperature greater than or equal to 800 ° C. This temperature is often greater than or equal to 900 ° C. and more particularly greater than or equal to 1000 ° C. Thereafter, this process will be referred to as a process In this embodiment, the oxidation process is fed with at least one oxidizing agent and at least one chlorinated compound.

In this fourth embodiment, the oxidizing agent may be selected from oxygen, chlorine oxides, nitrogen oxides, their mixtures and their mixtures with nitrogen. Water can be usefully added to the oxidizing agent especially to facilitate the oxidation of chlorinated compounds.

In this fourth embodiment, the chlorinated compounds can be inorganic or organic compounds. Chlorinated organic compounds are preferred. These chlorinated organic compounds are hydrocarbons chosen from partially chlorinated hydrocarbons comprising from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and from 1 to 21 chlorine atoms, the totally chlorinated hydrocarbons comprising from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof.

An example of such a process for the oxidation of chlorinated compounds is that in which chlorinated and oxygenated organic compounds are oxidized in the form of carbon dioxide. In such a process, chlorinated compounds from processes for producing allyl chloride, epichlorohydrin, dichloroethane, propylene oxide, vinylidene chloride, vinyl chloride, are oxidized at high temperature. , 1-trichloroethane, chloromethanes, trichlorethylene and chlorinolysis process, to enhance the energy content of chlorinated compounds in the form of CO ₂ and generating hydrogen chloride in the form of aqueous solutions of hydrogen chloride (hydrochloric acid) "Technical") that can be purified or not.

A description of the high temperature oxidation processes can be found at "Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Fifth, Completely Revised Edition, 1985, Volume Al 3, pp. 292-293".

In a first preferred aspect of the process according to the invention, the chlorinating agent resulting from a process for producing allyl chloride and / or a process for producing chloromethanes and / or a chlorinolysis process and or a high temperature oxidation process which feeds the manufacture of dichloropropanol, contains hydrogen chloride, liquid or gaseous, preferably gaseous. Hydrogen chloride is particularly preferably substantially anhydrous. By "substantially anhydrous" hydrogen chloride is meant hydrogen chloride whose water content is generally less than or equal to 15 mol%, preferably less than or equal to 10 mol% and particularly preferably preferred less than or equal to 8 mol%. This water content is generally greater than or equal to 0.01 ppm in mole.

In this first aspect of the process according to the invention, the nitrogen content of the chlorinating agent is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 ppm vol, often greater than or equal to 10 ppm vol and in particular greater than or equal to 20 ppm flight . This content is generally less than or equal to 50 000 ppm vol, often less than or equal to 40 000 ppm vol and in particular less than or equal to 30 000 ppm vol.

In this first aspect of the process according to the invention, the oxygen content of the chlorinating agent, without taking into account the water and nitrogen present in the chlorinating agent, is generally greater than or equal to 0 , 1 ppm volume and often greater than or equal to 0.5 ppm vol. This content is generally less than or equal to 5% vol, often less than or equal to 2% vol and in particular less than or equal to 1% vol. In this first aspect of the process according to the invention, the hydrogen content of the chlorinating agent, without taking into account the water and nitrogen present in the chlorinating agent, is generally greater than or equal to 0. , 1 ppm vol and often greater than or equal to 0.5 ppm vol. This content is generally less than or equal to 0.1% vol and often less than or equal to 500 ppm vol.

In this first aspect of the process according to the invention, the chlorine content of the chlorinating agent, without taking into account the water and nitrogen present in the chlorinating agent, is generally greater than or equal to 0 , 1 ppm vol and often greater than or equal to 0.5 ppm vol. This content is generally less than or equal to 2000 ppm vol, often less than or equal to 1000 ppm vol and in particular less than or equal to 500 ppm vol.

In this first aspect of the process according to the invention, the methane content of the chlorinating agent, without taking into account the water and nitrogen present in the chlorinating agent, is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 ppm vol, often greater than or equal to 1 ppm vol and in particular greater than or equal to 5 ppm vol. This content is generally less than or equal to 10,000 ppm vol, often less than or equal to 5,000 ppm vol and in particular less than or equal to 40,000 ppm vol.

In this first aspect of the process according to the invention, the carbon monoxide content of the chlorinating agent, not taking into account the water and nitrogen present in the chlorinating agent, is generally greater or equal to 0.1 ppm vol, often greater than or equal to 0.5 ppm vol and in particular greater than or equal to 1 ppm vol. This content is generally less than or equal to 10,000 ppm vol, often less than or equal to 5,000 ppm vol and in particular less than or equal to 4,000 ppm vol. In this first aspect of the process according to the invention, the carbon dioxide content of the chlorinating agent, not taking into account the water and nitrogen present in the chlorinating agent, is generally greater or equal to 0.1 ppm vol, often greater than or equal to 0.5 ppm vol and in particular greater than or equal to 1 ppm vol. This content is generally less than or equal to 10,000 ppm vol, often less than or equal to 5,000 ppm vol and in particular less than or equal to 4,000 ppm vol.

In this first aspect of the process according to the invention, the overall content of chlorinated organic products such as, for example, chloromethanes, ethyl chloride, dichloroethane, vinyl chloride and chlorobenzene, in the chlorinating agent, in not taking into account the water and nitrogen present in the chlorinating agent, is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 ppm vol, often greater than or equal to 1 ppm vol and in particular greater than or equal to 5 ppm flight . This content is generally less than or equal to 50,000 ppm vol, often less than or equal to 20,000 ppm vol and in particular less than or equal to 10,000 ppm vol.

In this first aspect of the process according to the invention, the overall content of non-chlorinated organic products such as, for example, ethylene, acetylene, ethane, propylene, methylacetylene and propane, in the chlorinating agent , without taking into account the water and nitrogen present in the chlorinating agent, is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 ppm vol, often greater than or equal to 1 ppm vol and in particular greater than or equal to 5 ppm vol. This content is generally less than or equal to 50,000 ppm vol, often less than or equal to 20,000 ppm vol and in particular less than or equal to 10,000 ppm vol. In this first aspect of the process according to the invention, the overall content of fluorinated organic products, such as, for example, vinyl fluoride, fluoroethane, vinylidene fluoride and fluoromethanes, in the chlorinating agent, by not taking account of the water and nitrogen present in the chlorinating agent, is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 ppm vol, often greater than or equal to 1 ppm vol and in particular greater than or equal to 5 ppm vol. This content is generally less than or equal to 500 ppm vol, often less than or equal to 20 000 ppm vol and in particular less than or equal to 100 000 ppm vol.

In this first aspect of the process according to the invention, the overall content of organic products comprising heteroatoms other than chlorine and fluoro such as, for example, alcohols and acids, in the chlorinating agent, without taking into account the water and nitrogen present in the chlorinating agent, is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 ppm vol, often greater than or equal to 1 ppm vol and in particular greater than or equal to 5 ppm vol. This content is generally less than or equal to 50,000 ppm vol, often less than or equal to 20,000 ppm vol and in particular less than or equal to 10,000 ppm vol. In this first aspect of the process according to the invention, the propylene content of the chlorinating agent, without taking into account the water and nitrogen present in the chlorinating agent, is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 ppm vol, often greater than or equal to 1 ppm vol and in particular greater than or equal to 5 ppm vol. This content is generally less than or equal to

15,000 ppm vol, often less than or equal to 10,000 ppm flap in particular less than or equal to 5,000 ppm vol.

In this first aspect of the process according to the invention, the monochloropropene content of the chlorinating agent, not taking into account the water and nitrogen present in the chlorinating agent, is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 ppm vol, often greater than or equal to 1 ppm vol and in particular greater than or equal to 5 ppm vol. This content is generally less than or equal to 5000 ppm vol, often less than or equal to 1000 ppm vol and in particular less than or equal to 500 ppm vol. In this first aspect of the process according to the invention, the sum of the chloropropane contents of the chlorinating agent, without taking into account the water and nitrogen present in the chlorinating agent, is generally greater or equal to 0.1 ppm vol, often greater than or equal to 1 ppm vol and in particular greater than or equal to 5 ppm vol. This content is generally less than or equal to 10,000 ppm vol, often less than or equal to 4,000 ppm vol and in particular less than or equal to 3,000 ppm vol.

In this first aspect of the process according to the invention, the content of isopropanol, chloroalcohols and chloroethers of the chlorinating agent, without taking into account the water and nitrogen present in the chlorinating agent, is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 ppm vol, often greater than or equal to 1 ppm vol and in particular greater than or equal to 5 ppm vol. This content is generally less than or equal to 5,000 ppm vol, often less than or equal to 4,000 ppm vol and in particular less than or equal to 3,000 ppm vol.

In a second preferred aspect of the process according to the invention, the hydrogen chloride is an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride. In this case, the hydrogen chloride solution content is generally at least 10% by weight. Preferably, this content is greater than or equal to 15% by weight. In this case, the content of the hydrogen chloride solution is generally at most 37% by weight.

This second aspect allows the development of aqueous solutions of hydrogen chloride of low quality, resulting for example from the pyrolysis of chlorinated organic compounds or having been used for the pickling of metals.

In a first variant of this second aspect, a concentrated aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride is used, generally comprising from 28 to 37% by weight of hydrogen chloride as the primary source of the chlorinating agent and said concentrated solution is separated off. for example by evaporation in at least two fractions, the first consisting essentially of anhydrous hydrogen chloride and the second comprising hydrogen chloride and water in proportions in which they form an azeotrope, said azeotrope being at a pressure of 101.3 kPa of 19 to 25% of hydrogen chloride, and 75 to 81% by weight of water, in particular of about 20% by weight of hydrogen chloride and about 80% water. The aqueous solution of 20% hydrogen chloride may optionally be used to absorb hydrogen chloride produced by the allyl chloride production process, the chlorinolysis process, the chloromethane production process and the process oxidation at high temperature, so as to generate an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride at 33% by weight of hydrogen chloride.

When an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride is used as a chlorinating agent, this aspect allows the use of a transportable chlorination agent in an easy manner while allowing an effective control of the water content in the reaction medium, particularly when the reaction between the glycerol and the chlorinating agent is carried out in several steps.

The aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride used in this second aspect of the process according to the invention may contain compounds other than water and hydrogen chloride. These compounds can be, inter alia, chlorinated or non-chlorinated inorganic compounds and saturated organic compounds or unsaturated, non-chlorinated, partially chlorinated or totally chlorinated. These compounds may be different depending on the manufacturing process from which the aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride is derived.

In this second aspect of the process according to the invention, the contents of oxygen, hydrogen, chlorine, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, chlorinated organic compounds, non-chlorinated organic compounds, fluorinated organic compounds , organic compounds comprising heteroatoms other than chlorine and fluorine, propylene, monochloropropenes, choropropanes, isopropanol, chloroalcohols and chloroethers, in the chlorinating agent, without taking into account the water present in the chlorinating agent, are identical to the values given above, for the first aspect of the process according to the invention.

In this second aspect of the process according to the invention, the individual contents of metals and in particular of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, iron, nickel, copper, lead, arsenic, cobalt, titanium, cadmium, antimony, mercury, zinc, selenium aluminum and bismuth are generally greater than or equal to 0.03 ppb by weight, often greater than or equal to 0.3 ppb by weight and frequently greater than 1 ppb by weight. weight. These contents are generally less than or equal to 5 ppm by weight and preferably less than or equal to 1 ppm by weight.

In the process according to the invention, the chlorinating agent fraction which feeds the manufacture of dichloropropanol and which is derived from a process for producing allyl chloride and / or a process for chlorinolysis and / or a process for producing chloromethane and / or a high temperature oxidation process is generally greater than or equal to 0% by weight of the chlorinating agent, often greater than or equal to 10% by weight and frequently greater than or equal to at 20% by weight. This fraction is generally less than or equal to 100% by weight of the chlorinating agent, often less than or equal to 90% by weight and frequently less than 80% by weight. In the method for producing a chlorinated organic product according to the invention, the reaction between the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, or the mixture of them, and the chlorination, can be carried out in a reactor as described in the application WO 2005/054167 SOLVAY SA, on page 6, lines 3 to 23. In the process for manufacturing a chlorinated organic product according to the invention, the reaction between the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, or mixture thereof, and the chlorinating agent, may be carried out in equipment, made of or covered with chlorine-resistant materials, as described in the application entitled " Process for producing a chlorohydrin in corrosion-resistant equipment "deposited in the name of SOLVAY SA on the same day as the present application, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Particular mention is made of a process for the manufacture of a chlorohydrin comprising a step in which a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof is subjected to a reaction with a chlorinating agent containing hydrogen chloride and at least one other step performed in equipment, made of or coated with chlorinating agent resistant materials, under the conditions of carrying out this step. Mention is more particularly made of metallic materials such as enamelled steel, gold and tantalum and non-metallic materials such as high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene , perfluoroalkoxyalkanes and poly (perfluoropropylvinylether), polysulfones and polysulfides, graphite and impregnated graphite.

In the process for producing a chlorinated organic product according to the invention, the reaction between the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or the mixture of them, and the chlorinating agent , may be carried out in a reaction medium, as described in the application entitled "Continuous process for the manufacture of chlorhydrins" filed in the name of SOLVAY SA on the same day as the present application, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Particular mention is made of a continuous process for the production of chlorohydrin in which a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture of them is reacted with a chlorinating agent and an organic acid. in a liquid reaction medium whose composition in the stationary state comprises polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and esters of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon whose sum of the contents expressed in moles of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is greater than 1, 1 mol% and less than or equal to 30 mol%, the percentage being related to the organic part of the liquid reaction medium. The organic part of the liquid reaction medium consists of all the organic compounds of the liquid reaction medium, that is to say compounds whose molecule contains at least 1 carbon atom.

In the process for producing a chlorinated organic product according to the invention, the reaction between the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or the mixture of them, and the chlorinating agent can be carried out in the presence of a catalyst as described in SOLVAY SA application WO 2005/054167, page 6, line 28, to page 8, line 5. Particular mention is made of an acid-based catalyst carboxylic acid or on a carboxylic acid derivative having an atmospheric boiling point greater than or equal to 200 ° C, in particular adipic acid and adipic acid derivatives.

In the process for producing a chlorinated organic product according to the invention, the reaction between the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or the mixture of them, and the chlorinating agent can be carried out at a catalyst concentration, a temperature, a pressure and for residence times as described in SOLVAY SA application WO 2005/054167, page 8, line 6 to page 10, line 10.

Particular mention is made of a temperature of at least 20 ° C and not more than 160 ° C, a pressure of not less than 0.3 bar and not more than 100 bar, and a time of stay of not less than 1 hour and not more than 50 hours.

In the process for producing a chlorinated organic product according to the invention, the reaction between the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or the mixture of them, and the chlorinating agent may be carried out in the presence of a solvent as described in the application WO 2005/054167 of SOLVAY SA, on page 11, lines 12 to 36.

Particular mention is made of an organic solvent such as a chlorinated organic solvent, an alcohol, a ketone, an ester or an ether, a non-aqueous solvent miscible with the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon such as chloroethanol, chloropropanol and chloropropanediol. , dichloropropanol, dioxane, phenol, cresol, and mixtures of chloropropanediol and dichloropropanol, or heavy products of the reaction such as oligomers of at least partially chlorinated and or esterified polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon. In the process for producing a chlorinated organic product according to the invention, the reaction between the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and the chlorinating agent can be carried out in the presence of a liquid phase comprising heavy compounds other than hydrocarbon polyhydroxylated aliphatic, as described in the application entitled "Process for manufacturing a chlorohydrin in a liquid phase" filed in the name of SOLVAY SA on the same day as the present application, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Particular mention is made of a process for producing a chlorohydrin, wherein a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or a mixture thereof is subjected to a reaction with a chlorinating agent. in the presence of a liquid phase comprising heavy compounds other than the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and whose boiling point at a pressure of 1 bar absolute is at least 15 ° C higher than the boiling point of chlorohydrin under a pressure of 1 bar absolute.

In the process for producing a chlorinated organic product according to the invention, the reaction between the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or the mixture of them, and the chlorinating agent is preferably carried out in a liquid reaction medium. The liquid reaction medium may be mono- or multiphasic.

The liquid reaction medium consists of all the dissolved or dispersed solid compounds, dissolved or dispersed liquids and gaseous dissolved or dispersed, at the reaction temperature.

The reaction medium comprises the reactants, the catalyst, the solvent, the impurities present in the reagents, in the solvent and in the catalyst, the reaction intermediates, the products and the by-products of the reaction.

By reagents is meant the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, and the chlorinating agent.

Among the impurities present in the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, mention may be made of carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid salts, fatty acid esters with polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, esters of fatty acids with the alcohols used. during the trans-esterification, inorganic salts such as chlorides and sulphates alkali or alkaline earth.

When the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is glycerol, carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid salts, fatty acid esters such as mono-, di- and triglycerides, esters of fatty acids with the alcohols used in transesterification, inorganic salts such as alkali or alkaline earth chlorides and sulphates.

Among the reaction intermediates, mention may be made of the monochlorohydrins of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and their esters and / or polyesters, the esters and / or polyesters of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and the esters of the polychlorohydrins.

When the chlorohydrin is dichloropropanol, mention may be made, among the reaction intermediates, of glycerol monochlorohydrin and its esters and / or polyesters, esters and / or polyesters of glycerol and esters of dichloropropanol.

The polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester may therefore be, depending on the case, a reagent, an impurity of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a reaction intermediate. By products of the reaction is meant chlorohydrin and water.

The water may be the water formed in the chlorination reaction and / or the water introduced into the process, for example via the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and / or the chlorinating agent, as described in the application WO 2005/054167 of SOLVAY SA, on page 2, lines 22 to 28, on page 3, lines 20 to 25, on page 5, lines 7 to 31 and on page 12, lines 14 to 19. By-products include, for example, partially chlorinated and / or esterified polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon oligomers. When the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is glycerol, among the by-products, mention may be made, for example, of partially chlorinated and / or esterified glycerol oligomers.

The reaction intermediates and by-products may be formed in the various process steps such as, for example, during the chlorohydrin manufacturing step and during the chlorohydrin separation steps. The liquid reaction medium may thus contain the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the dissolved or dispersed chlorination agent in the form of bubbles, the catalyst, the solvent, the impurities present in the reactants, the solvent and the catalyst, such as dissolved salts. or solids for example, the solvent, the catalyst, the reaction intermediates, the products and the by-products of the reaction. The separation of the chlorohydrin and of the other compounds from the reaction medium can be carried out according to the modes as described in the application WO 2005/054167 of SOLVAY SA, of page 12, line 1, to page 16, line 35 and to the These other compounds are those mentioned above and comprise the reagents not consumed, the impurities present in the reagents, the catalyst, the solvent, the reaction intermediates, the water and the by-products of the invention. reaction.

Particular mention is made of separation by azeotropic distillation of a water / chlorohydrin / chlorinating agent mixture under conditions which minimize losses of chlorinating agent followed by separation of the chlorohydrin by decantation.

In the process for producing a chlorinated organic product according to the invention, the separation of the chlorohydrin and the other compounds from the reaction medium can be carried out according to the methods described in the patent application EP 05104321.4 filed in the name of SOLVAY. SA, 20/05/2005, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Particular mention is made of a separation mode comprising at least one separation operation for removing the salt from the liquid phase.

Particular mention is made of a process for producing a chlorohydrin by reaction between a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture of them, and a chlorinating agent in which the hydrocarbon Polyhydroxylated aliphatic acid, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof, used contains at least one solid or dissolved metal salt, the process comprising a separation process for removing a portion of the metal salt. Mention is more particularly made of a process for producing a chlorohydrin by reaction between a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture of them, and a chlorinating agent in which polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof, used contains at least one sodium and / or potassium chloride and / or sulfate and wherein the separation operation for removing some of the metal salt is a filtration operation. Particular mention is also made of a process for producing a chlorohydrin in which (a) a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture are subjected to of them, to a reaction with a chlorinating agent in a reaction medium, (b) a fraction of the reaction medium containing at least water and chlorohydrin is withdrawn continuously or periodically, (c) at least a part of the fraction obtained in step (b) is introduced into a distillation step and (d) the reflux ratio of the distillation step is controlled by supplying water to said distillation step. Particular mention is made of a process for producing a chlorohydrin in which (a) a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof is subjected to a reaction with hydrogen chloride in a reaction medium, (b) a fraction of the reaction medium containing at least water and the chlorohydrin is withdrawn continuously or periodically, (c) at least part of the fraction obtained in step ( b) is introduced into a distillation step, wherein the ratio between the hydrogen chloride concentration and the water concentration in the fraction introduced into the distillation step is smaller than the ratio of hydrogen chloride concentrations / water in the azeotropic hydrogen chloride / water binary composition at the distillation temperature and pressure.

In the process for producing the epoxide according to the invention, the separation of the chlorohydrin and the other compounds from the reaction medium of chlorination of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or of the mixture of between them, may be carried out according to the modes as described in the application entitled "Process for the manufacture of a chlorohydrin" deposited in the name of SOLVAY SA, the same day as the present application, and the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference .

Particular mention is made of a process for producing a chlorohydrin comprising the following steps: (a) reacting a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, or a mixture thereof, with a chlorination and an organic acid to obtain a mixture containing chlorohydrin and chlorohydrin esters, (b) subjecting at least a portion of the mixture obtained in step (a) to one or more treatments in subsequent steps in step (a) and (c) polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is added to at least one of the steps subsequent to step (a), so that it reacts at a temperature greater than or equal to 20 ° C, with the chlorohydrin esters so as to at least partially form esters of the aliphatic hydrocarbon polyhydroxylated. Mention is more particularly made of a process in which the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is glycerol and the chlorohydrin is dichloropropanol.

In the process for producing the epoxide according to the invention, the separation of the chlorohydrin and the other compounds from the reaction medium of chlorination of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or of the mixture of between them, can be carried out according to the modes as described in the application entitled "Process for the manufacture of a chlorohydrin starting from a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon" deposited in the name of SOLVAY SA the same day as the present application, and whose content is hereby incorporated by reference.

Particular mention is made of a process for producing chlorohydrin by reaction between a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, or a mixture of them, and a chlorinating agent in a reactor which is fed with one or more liquid streams containing less than 50% by weight of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or the mixture of them, based on the weight of all the liquid streams introduced into the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the reactor. More particular mention is made of a process comprising the following steps: (a) reacting a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, or a mixture of them, with a chlorination agent such as to obtain at least one medium containing chlorohydrin, water and chlorinating agent, (b) removing at least a fraction of the medium formed in step (a) and (c) subjecting the fraction taken in step (b) to a distillation and / or stripping operation in which polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is added so as to separate from the fraction taken in step (b) a mixture containing water and chlorohydrin having a reduced content of chlorinating agent compared to that of the fraction taken in step (b). In the process for the production of the epoxide according to the invention, the separation of the chlorohydrin and the other compounds from the reaction medium of chlorination of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon can be carried out according to the modes as described in the application entitled "Process of conversion of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbons to chlorhydrins "deposited in the name of SOLVAY SA on the same day as the present application and the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Particular mention is made of a method of preparation of a chlorohydrin comprising the following steps: (a) reacting a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, or a mixture thereof, with a chlorinating agent so as to obtain a mixture containing chlorohydrin, chlorohydrin esters and water, (b) subjecting at least a fraction of the mixture obtained in step (a) to a distillation and / or stripping treatment so as to obtain a concentrated portion in water, chlorohydrin and chlorohydrin esters and (c) at least a fraction of the part obtained in step (b) is subjected to a separation operation in the presence of at least one additive so as to obtain a portion concentrated to chlorohydrin and chlorohydrin esters and contains less than 40% by weight of water.

The separation operation is more particularly a settling. In the process for producing a chlorinated organic product according to the invention, the separation and the treatment of the other compounds of the reaction medium can be carried out according to modes as described in the application entitled "Process for the production of a chlorohydrin by chlorination" of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon deposited in the name of SOLVAY SA on the same day as the present application. A preferred treatment is to subject a fraction of the by-products of the reaction to high temperature oxidation.

Particular mention is made of a process for producing a chlorohydrin comprising the following steps: (a) reacting a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, or a mixture of them, the alkali and / or alkaline-earth metal content is less than or equal to 5 g / kg, an oxidizing agent and an organic acid so as to obtain a mixture containing at least chlorohydrin and by-products, (b) subject to at least a portion of the mixture obtained in step (a) to one or more treatments in steps subsequent to step (a) and (c) at least one of the steps subsequent to step (a) consists of oxidation at a temperature greater than or equal to 800 ° C. More particular mention is made of a process in which in the subsequent step, a part of the mixture obtained in step (a) is taken and this part is subjected to oxidation at a temperature greater than or equal to 800 ° C. during the sampling. Particular mention is also made of a process in which the treatment of step (b) is a separation operation selected from the settling, filtration, centrifugation, extraction, washing, evaporation, stripping, distillation, adsorption or combinations of at least two of them.

In the process according to the invention, when the chlorohydrin is chloropropanol, it is generally used in the form of a mixture of compounds comprising the isomers of 1-chloropropan-2-ol and 2-chloropropane-1. ol. This mixture generally contains more than 1% by weight of the two isomers, preferably more than 5% by weight and more particularly more than 50%. The mixture usually contains less than 99.9% by weight of the two isomers, preferably less than 95% by weight and most preferably less than 90% by weight. The other constituents of the mixture may be compounds derived from chloropropanol production processes, such as residual reagents, reaction by-products, solvents and in particular water.

The mass ratio between the isomers 1-chloropropan-2-ol and 2-chloropropane-1-ol is usually greater than or equal to 0.01, preferably greater than or equal to 0.4. This ratio is usually less than or equal to 99 and preferably less than or equal to 25.

In the process according to the invention, when the chlorohydrin is chloroethanol, it is generally used in the form of a mixture of compounds comprising the 2-chloroethanol isomer. This mixture generally contains more than 1% by weight of the isomer, preferably more than 5% by weight and especially more than 50%. The mixture usually contains less than 99.9% by weight of the isomer, preferably less than 95% by weight and most preferably less than 90% by weight. The other constituents of the mixture may be compounds derived from chloroethanol production processes, such as residual reagents, reaction by-products, solvents and in particular water.

In the process according to the invention, when the chlorohydrin is chloropropanediol, it is generally used in the form of a mixture of compounds comprising the isomers of 1-chloropropane-2,3-diol and 2-chloropropane. -l, 3-diol. This mixture generally contains more than 1% by weight of the two isomers, preferably more than 5% by weight and more particularly more than 50%. The mixture usually contains less than 99.9% by weight of the two isomers, preferably less than 95% by weight and most preferably less than 90% by weight. The other constituents of the mixture may be compounds from the manufacturing processes of the chloropropanediol, such as residual reagents, reaction by-products, solvents and in particular water.

The weight ratio between the isomers 1-chloropropane-2,3-diol and 2-chloropropane-1,3-diol is usually greater than or equal to 0.01, preferably greater than or equal to 0.4. This ratio is usually less than or equal to 99 and preferably less than or equal to 25. In the process according to the invention, when the chlorohydrin is dichloropropanol, it is generally used in the form of a mixture of compounds. comprising the isomers of 1,3-dichloropropan-2-ol and 2,3-dichloropropan-1-ol. This mixture generally contains more than 1% by weight of the two isomers, preferably more than 5% by weight and more particularly more than 50%. The mixture usually contains less than 99.9% by weight of the two isomers, preferably less than 95% by weight and most preferably less than 90% by weight. The other constituents of the mixture may be compounds from dichloropropanol production processes, such as residual reagents, reaction by-products, solvents and in particular water.

The weight ratio between the 1,3-dichloropropan-2-ol and 2,3-dichloropropan-1-ol isomers is usually greater than or equal to 0.01, often greater than or equal to 0.4, frequently greater than or equal to 1 , 5, preferably greater than or equal to 3.0, more preferably greater than or equal to 7.0 and most preferably greater than or equal to 20.0. This ratio is usually less than or equal to 99 and preferably less than or equal to 25.

In the process for producing a chlorohydrin according to the invention, the reaction between the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, or the mixture of them, and the chlorinating agent can take place in the presence of an organic acid. The organic acid can be a product from the process for producing the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a product not from this process. In the latter case, it may be an organic acid used to catalyze the reaction between the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and the chlorinating agent. The organic acid may also be an organic acid mixture derived from the process for producing the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and an organic acid not derived from the process for producing the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon. In the process according to the invention, the esters of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon can come from the reaction between the aliphatic hydrocarbon polyhydroxy and the organic acid, before, during or in the steps following the reaction with the chlorinating agent.

The chlorohydrin obtained in the process according to the invention may contain a high content of halogenated ketones, in particular chloroacetone, as described in the patent application FR 05.05120 of 20/05/2005 filed in the name of the Applicant, and whose content is hereby incorporated by reference. The content of halogenated ketone can be reduced by subjecting the chlorohydrin obtained in the process according to the invention to azeotropic distillation in the presence of water or by subjecting the chlorohydrin to a dehydrochlorination treatment as described in this application, on page 4, line 1, on page 6, line 35.

Particular mention is made of a process for producing an epoxide in which halogenated ketones are formed as by-products and which comprises at least one treatment for removing at least a portion of the halogenated ketones formed. Mention is more particularly made of a process for producing an epoxide by dehydrochlorination of a chlorohydrin of which at least one fraction is produced by chlorination of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, or a mixture thereof, a dehydrochlorination treatment and azeotropic distillation treatment of a halogenated water-ketone mixture for removing at least a portion of the halogenated ketones formed and a method of manufacture epichlorohydrin in which the halogenated ketone formed is chloroacetone.

The chlorohydrin obtained in the process according to the invention can be subjected to a dehydrochlorination reaction to produce an epoxide as described in the patent applications WO 2005/054167 and FR 05.05120 filed in the name of SOLVAY SA.

The dehydrochlorination of the chlorohydrin can be carried out as described in the application entitled "Process for producing an epoxide from a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and a chlorinating agent" deposited in the name of SOLVAY SA on the same day as the present application, and the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Particular mention is made of a process for producing an epoxide in which a reaction medium resulting from the reaction between a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, or a mixture of them, is subjected to and a chlorination agent, the medium reaction containing at least 10 g of chlorohydrin per kg of reaction medium, to a subsequent chemical reaction without intermediate treatment.

Epoxide manufacturing is also described comprising the steps of: (a) reacting a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, or a mixture thereof, with a chlorinating agent and an organic acid to form chlorohydrin and chlorohydrin esters in a reaction medium containing polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon ester, water, the chlorinating agent and the organic acid, the reaction medium containing at least 10 g of chlorohydrin per kg of reaction medium, (b) subjecting at least a fraction of the reaction medium obtained in step (a), which fraction has the same composition as the reaction medium obtained in step (a), one or more treatments in steps subsequent to step (a) and (c) is added a basic compound to at least one of the steps subsequent to step (a); ) so that he at least partially reacts with the chlorohydrin, the chlorohydrin esters, the chlorinating agent and the organic acid to form epoxide and salts.

In the process for producing a chlorinated organic product according to the invention, the process for the manufacture of chlorohydrin can be integrated into an overall scheme for the manufacture of an epoxide as described in the application entitled "Process for the manufacture of a epoxide from a chlorohydrin "deposited in the name of SOLVAY SA the same day as the present application, and whose content is here incorporated by reference.

Particular mention is made of a process for the production of an epoxide comprising at least one step of purifying the epoxide formed, the epoxide being at least partly produced by a process for the dehydrochlorination of a chlorohydrin, the latter being at least partly manufactured by a process for chlorinating a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, or a mixture of them. The various processes involved in the process for producing a chlorohydrin according to the invention may or may not be part of an integrated process for producing chlorinated organic products. An integrated method is preferred. The invention also relates to an installation for implementing an integrated process comprising: (a) an allyl chloride production unit and / or a chloromethane production unit and / or a chlorinolysis unit and / or an oxidation unit chlorinated compounds from which a chlorinating agent containing hydrogen chloride

(b) a unit for producing a chlorohydrin by chlorinating a polyhydroxylated hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, or a mixture of them fed with the chlorinating agent of the unit (a) and from which chlorhydrin

(c) a unit for producing an epoxide by dehydrochlorination of the chlorohydrin fed with chlorohydrin from the unit (b) and from which epoxide leaves. This installation may include:

(d) an epoxy-epoxy resin-producing unit of the unit (c).

The various manufacturing units are preferably distributed on the same industrial site or on nearby sites, and more preferably on the same site. The industrial scheme comprising these units on the same site or on nearby sites is particularly advantageous, such as, for example, a unit according to the above-mentioned method of manufacturing chlorohydrin in the vicinity of allyl chloride production units and epoxides to which there may be added a chlorinolysis unit and / or a chloromethane production unit and / or a high temperature oxidation unit of chlorinated compounds. By nearby sites, it is meant in particular to designate industrial sites close enough that the transport of materials between facilities can be done economically by collectors.

In the process and the plant according to the invention, the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is preferably glycerol, the chlorohydrin is preferably dichloropropanol and the epoxide is preferably epichlorohydrin.

When the epoxide is epichlorohydrin, it can be used in the manufacture of epoxy resins.

Figure 1 shows a particular scheme of installation used to implement the method according to the invention, in the case where the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is glycerol, the chlorohydrin is dichloropropanol and the epoxide is epichlorohydrin.

A dehydrochlorination unit of dichloropropanol (1) is supplied with dichloropropanol via line (2) and dehydrochlorination agent via line (3). Epichlorohydrin is withdrawn via line (4) and organic compounds other than epichlorohydrin via line (5). At least a fraction these compounds can feed a chlorinolysis plant (21) via the line (33) and / or a high temperature oxidation plant of chlorinated compounds (23) via the line (34). Epichlorohydrin feeds an epoxy resin manufacturing unit (8) via line (6) and / or a polyglycerol production unit (9) via line (7). The dichloropropanol is from a hypochlorination unit of allyl chloride (10) via line (11) and / or a glycerol chlorination unit (12) via line (13). The glycerol chlorination unit (12) is fed with crude and / or purified glycerol via line (14). The crude / and / or purified glycerol comes from a biodiesel production unit (15) from which biodiesel is also withdrawn via the line (37) and which is fed with vegetable and / or animal fats and / or oils via the line ( 16) and alcohol, preferably methanol via line (17). The glycerol chlorination unit (12) is supplied with hydrogen chloride and / or with an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride via line (18). The hydrogen chloride and / or the aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride come from an allyl chloride production unit by chlorination of the propylene (19) via the line (20) and / or a production unit of chloromethanes (35) via line (36) and / or a chlorinolysis unit (21) via line (22) and / or a high temperature oxidation unit (23) via line (24). ). Allyl chloride is withdrawn from the unit (19) and at least one fraction of this allyl chloride is fed to the hypochlorination unit (10) via line (25). The allyl chloride (19) production unit extracts organic compounds other than allyl chloride via line (26), at least one fraction of which serves to feed the chlorinolysis unit (21) via the line (27) and / or the high temperature oxidation unit of chlorinated compounds (23) via line (28). The chlorinolysis unit (21) is withdrawn from perchlorethylene and carbon tetrachloride via line (29) and organic compounds other than perchlorethylene and carbon tetrachloride via line (30) and at least a fraction of these are removed. The compounds can be recycled to the chlorinolysis unit via the line (31) and / or fed to the high temperature oxidation unit of chlorinated compounds (23) via the line (32). Chlorinolysis and high temperature oxidation units of chlorinated compounds can be fed with organic products from other manufacturing units than those mentioned. The dichloropropanol production unit can be fed with hydrogen chloride and / or hydrochloric acid from manufacturing processes other than those mentioned above. The benefits of this scheme include:

(a) An interesting valuation of acids and organic products co-produced in the various manufacturing processes,

(b) Restriction of the transport of dangerous goods with removal of costs related to such transport,

(c) A sharing of facilities between the two epichlorohydrin synthesis processes, for example the dehydrochlorination step,

(d) A reuse of process water contaminated by organic or riffle water from these facilities either to the hypochlorination unit of allyl chloride in dichloropropanol (19) or to the dehydrochlorination unit (1). ). Process water is, for example, water from pumps or ejectors used to maintain the vacuum in the facilities. It can also be water obtained after decantation of organic.

Claims

A process for the production of a chlorohydrin from a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, or a mixture thereof, and a chlorinating agent, chlorinating agent containing at least one of nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, chlorine, a hydrocarbon organic compound, a halogenated organic compound, an oxygenated organic compound and a metal.

2. Process according to claim 1, in which the hydrocarbon-based organic compound is chosen from aromatic, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon hydrocarbons, and mixtures thereof.

3. A process according to claim 2 wherein the unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon is selected from acetylene, ethylene, propylene, butene, propadiene and methylacetylene, the saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon is selected from methane, ethane, propane and butane and the aromatic hydrocarbon is benzene.

4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the halogenated organic compound is a chlorinated organic compound selected from chloromethanes, chloroethanes, chloropropanes, chlorobutanes, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, monochloropropenes. , perchlorethylene, trichlorethylene, chlorobutadiene, chlorobenzenes and mixtures thereof.

5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the halogenated organic compound is a fluorinated organic compound selected from fluoromethanes, fluoroethanes, vinyl fluoride, vinylidene fluoride, and mixtures thereof.

6. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the oxygenated organic compound is selected from alcohols, chloroalcohols, chloroethers and mixtures thereof

7. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the metal is selected from alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, iron, nickel, copper, lead, arsenic, cobalt, titanium, cadmium, antimony, mercury, zinc, selenium, aluminum, bismuth and mixtures thereof.

8. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the chlorinating agent is derived at least partially from a process for producing allyl chloride and / or a process for the manufacture of chloromethanes and / or a chlorinolysis process and / or a process for the oxidation of chlorinated compounds at a temperature greater than or equal to 800 ° C.

9. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the chlorinating agent contains hydrogen chloride.

The process according to claim 9, wherein the hydrogen chloride is a combination of gaseous hydrogen chloride and an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride, or an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride.

11. The method of claim 9 or 10 wherein the hydrogen chloride is gaseous hydrogen chloride containing not more than 15% vol water and not more than 5% nitrogen, and contains at least one of the following substances in content in the chlorinating agent, ignoring water and nitrogen in the chlorinating agent:

(a) Oxygen at a level not exceeding 5% vol

(b) hydrogen at a level not exceeding 0.1% vol

(c) chlorine in a content of less than or equal to 2000 ppm

(d) methane in a content of not more than 10 000 ppm vol

(e) carbon monoxide up to and including 10,000 ppm vol

(f) carbon dioxide at a level not exceeding 10,000 ppm vol

(g) hydrocarbon organic products in an amount not exceeding 50 000 ppm vol

(h) chlorinated organic products at a level not exceeding 50,000 ppm vol (i) fluorinated organic products in an amount not exceeding 50 000 ppm vol

(j) oxygenated organic products in an amount equal to or less than 50 000 ppm

(k) Propylene at a level not exceeding 10,000 ppm vol

(1) monochloropropenes in a content of not more than 15 000 ppm vol

(m) chloropropane in a content not exceeding 10,000 ppm vol

(n) oxygenated organic compounds in a content of 5,000 ppm or less

The process according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the hydrogen chloride is an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride and contains at least one of the following substances in content in the chlorinating agent while not taking into account the water in the chlorinating agent:

(a) Oxygen at a level not exceeding 5% vol

(b) hydrogen at a level not exceeding 0.1% vol

(c) chlorine in a content of less than or equal to 2000 ppm

(d) methane at a level not exceeding 10,000 ppm vol

(e) carbon monoxide up to and including 10,000 ppm vol

(f) carbon dioxide at a level not exceeding 10,000 ppm vol

(g) hydrocarbon organic products in an amount not exceeding 50 000 ppm vol

(h) chlorinated organic products at a level not exceeding 50,000 ppm vol

(i) fluorinated organic products in an amount not exceeding 50 000 ppm vol (j) oxygenated organic products in an amount not exceeding 50 000 ppm vol

(k) propylene at a content t less than or equal to 10,000 ppm vol

(1) monochloropropenes in a content of not more than 15 000 ppm vol

(m) chloropropane in a content not exceeding 10,000 ppm vol

(n) oxygenated organic compounds in a content of 5,000 ppm or less

(o) metals individually in a content of not more than 5 ppm by weight.

13. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 12 followed by an epoxide manufacturing.

14. The method of claim 13 followed by a method of manufacturing epoxy resins.

The process according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is selected from ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, chloropropanediol, glycerol and mixtures of two or more of them.

16. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 15, in which the chlorohydrin is chosen from chloroethanol, chloropropanol, chloropropanediol, dichloropropanol and mixtures of at least two of them.

17. A process according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the epoxide is selected from ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, glycidol, epichlorohydrin and mixtures of two or more of -them.

18. A process according to any one of claims 13 to 17 wherein the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is glycerol, the chlorohydrin is dichloropropanol and the epoxide is epichlorohydrin.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein epichlorohydrin is used in the manufacture of epoxy resins.

20. Installation for implementing an integrated process comprising:

(a) an allyl chloride production unit and / or a chloromethane production unit and / or a chlorinolysis unit and / or an oxidation unit of chlorinated compounds from which a chlorination agent containing chlorine chloride hydrogen

(b) a unit for producing a chlorohydrin by chlorinating a polyhydroxylated hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, or a mixture of them fed with the chlorinating agent of the unit (a) and out of which chlorhydrin

(c) a unit for producing an epoxide by dehydrochlorination of the chlorohydrin fed with chlorohydrin from the unit (b) and from which epoxide leaves.

The plant of claim 20 comprising:

(d) an epoxy-epoxy resin-producing unit of the unit (c).

22. Installation according to claim 21 wherein the manufacturing units (a), (b), (c) and (d) are located on the same site.

23. The plant of claim 21 or 22 wherein the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is glycerol, the chlorohydrin is dichloropropanol and the epoxide is epichlorohydrin.

24. Process for the production of chlorinated organic products comprising at least one process for producing dichloropropanol from glycerol and a chlorinating agent chosen from aqueous hydrochloric acid and preferably anhydrous hydrogen chloride, the manufacturing process dichloropropanol being fed at least partially with the chlorinating agent resulting from a process for producing allyl chloride and / or chlorinolysis and / or oxidation of chlorinated compounds at a temperature greater than or equal to 1000 ° C. .