GB1099878A - Chlorination process - Google Patents

Abstract

Aliphatic unsaturated and saturated chlorinated hydrocarbons are prepared by contacting aliphatically unsaturated hydrocarbons or chlorohydrocarbons at a temperature of 90 DEG to 200 DEG C. with an acidic homogeneous liquid catalyst which consists substantially of water, copper chloride and additional chloride, said additional chloride being HCl, NH4Cl, an alkali metal chloride and/or analkaline earth metal chloride said catalyst containing per litre, a total of 7 to 11 gram atoms of copper of which 10 to 90% is cuprous and the remainder is cupric, the ratio of total gram atoms of additional chloride to total gram atoms of copper being in the range of 0.01 to 0.80, and less than 0.50 where the total gram atoms of chloride per litre are above 15, said temperature being not above the boiling point of the mixture so as to maintain the catalytic solution homogeneously liquid. Pressures suggested range from below 50 p.s.i.g. to 500 p.s.i.g. Low cuprous content in the catalyst favours conversion to more highly chlorinated products.ALSO:A hydrocarbon chlorination catalyst comprises a liquid, homogeneous between 90 DEG and 200 DEG C and consisting substantially of water, copper chloride and additional chloride with 7 to 11 gm. atoms/litre of copper of which 10 to 90% is cuprous with the remainder cupric and the ratio of additional chloride in total gm. atoms to copper in total gm. atoms is 0.01 to 0.8 and less than 0.5 where the total gm. atoms of chloride/litre are above 15. The additional chlorides are HCl, NH4Cl, alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal chlorides. Regeneration of used catalyst is with acidification and then oxidation with air, oxygen, chlorine or mixtures of these gases.