GB1114612A - Process for the manufacture of chlorinated hydrocarbons - Google Patents

Abstract

Chlorine-substituted hydrocarbon products are prepared by treating low molecular weight aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic saturated or unsaturated C6-C715 hydrocarbons and/or high molecular weight hydrocarbons of 715-143,000 carbon atoms, corresponding approximately to a molecular weight of 10,000 to 2,000,000, or a partially chlorinated product of one or more of said hydrocarbons, with an excess of liquefied chlorine in the presence of water or an aqueous electrolyte solution (e.g. hydrochloric acid) at 10 DEG -140 DEG C. and, after terminating chlorination, isolating the chlorination product, which is substantially or completely dissolved in the excess of chlorine, by evaporating the latter. High molecular weight starting materials specified are high and low pressure polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene-1, crystalline or amorphous ethylenepropylene copolymers, polystyrene, polybutadiene, polyisoprene and styrene-butadiene copolymers, and partially chlorinated derivatives thereof having a chlorine content of 40-70% by weight. A solvent is not normally necessary but may be present in the process if desired; suitable solvents include carbon tetrachloride, chloroform and tetrachloroethylene. A catalyst for chlorination may also be included, e.g. benzoyl, t-butyl, cumyl or trichloroacetyl peroxide, azodiisobutyronitrile, short-wave-length light or radioactive radiation. The chlorination process can be operated continuously.ALSO:Chlorine-substituted hydrocarbon products are prepared by treating low molecular weight aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic saturated or unsaturated C6-C715 hydrocarbons and/or high molecular weight hydrocarbons of 715-143,000 carbon atoms, corresponding approximately to a molecular weight of 10,000 to 2,000,000, or a partially chlorinated product of one or more of said hydrocarbons, with an excess of liquefied chlorine in the presence of water or an aqueous electrolyte solution (e.g. hydrochloric acid) at 10-140 DEG C. and, after terminating chlorination, isolating the chlorination product, which is substantially or completely dissolved in the excess of chlorine, by evaporating the latter. Low molecular weight starting materials specified are C18-C70 paraffins, alkyl benzenes, naphthalene and its hydro- and alkyl-derivatives, diphenyl and its alkyl-derivatives and oligomers of C2-C4 olefins, and partially chlorinated derivatives thereof, having a chlorine content of 40-70% by weight. A solvent is not normally necessary but may be present in the process if desired; suitable solvents include carbon tetrachloride, chloroform and tetrachloroethylene. A catalyst for chlorination may also be included, e.g. benzoyl, t-butyl, cumyl or trichloroacetyl peroxide, azodiisobutyronitrile, short-wavelength light or radioactive radiation. The chlorination process can be operated continously.