Process for the production of chlorinated methanes

Abstract

The present invention provides processes for the production of chlorinated methanes via the direct chlorination of methane. The processes include a dehydrochlorination and/or chlorination step that converts up to 100% of the higher chlorinated alkanes in a process stream from the methane chlorination reaction into more highly chlorinated alkanes. These more highly chlorinated alkanes can be easily removed from the process stream. The use of a cost effective feedstream of crude methane is thus rendered possible, without additional capital expenditure for the sophisticated separation equipment required to separate ethane and other hydrocarbon components from the methane feed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.