GB819247A - Manufacture of ethyl chloride and higher chlorinated ethanes - Google Patents

Abstract

Ethyl chloride is prepared, with or without higher chlorinated ethanes (e.g. 1 : 1- and 1 : 2-dichloroethane), by a combined hydrochlorination of ethylene and chlorination of ethane in which the hydrogen chloride formed in the latter step is employed in the former, the amount of ethane used being in excess of that theoretically required for the chlorination and the amount of chlorine fed to the chlorination reactor being so adjusted that the amount of hydrogen chloride developed therein and fed to the hydrochlorination reactor is in 1-15 per cent excess over that theoretically required for the hydrochlorination of the ethylene present in that particular feed. Advantageously a gaseous stream of hydrocarbon containing ethane and ethylene is fed via a purification tower (wherein it is freed from lighter hydrocarbons) into the hydrochlorination reactor, wherein it is treated with ethane and hydrogen chloride from the chlorination reactor, the material (predominantly ethyl chloride and ethane) flowing from the hydrochlorination reactor is (preferably after removal of the ethyl chloride in a separating tower) recycled in its entirety to the chlorination reactor, or part only is so recycled and the remainder recycled via the tower to the hydrochlorination reactor and/or discharged from the system. Alternatively two gaseous streams of hydrocarbon, one containing predominantly ethane and the other predominantly ethylene, are introduced through separate purification towers, or the two streams may even consist of substantially pure ethane and ethylene respectively, the purification towers being dispensed with. When a product which is predominantly ethyl chloride is desired, the molar ratio of chlorine:ethane should be maintained between 0.2 and 0.5. Suitable arrangements of apparatus are described with the aid of drawings, and detailed examples are given. Specification 778,029 is referred to.