Integrated process for producing 1,2-dichloroethylene

An integrated process for preparing 1,2-dichloroethylene comprising:

• (a) providing a first oxychlorination reaction zone and a second reaction zone,
• (b) introducing organic feed comprising primarily aliphatic hydrocarbons containing 2 carbon atoms and chlorinated derivatives thereof, oxygen-containing gas and chlorinating agent into said first reaction zone, thereby to produce a first product effluent comprising trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene,
• (c) removing vaporous first product effluent from the first reaction zone and forwarding first product effluent to said second reaction zone, said forwarded first product effluent having a heat content at least sufficient to cause thermal dehydrochlorination of trichloroethane in said second reaction zone,
• (d) introducing trichloroethane into the second reaction zone and into heat exchange contact with first product effluent forwarded from the first reaction zone, thereby to convert at least a portion of said trichloroethane to 1,2-dichloroethylene, and
• (e) removing second product effluent comprising trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene and thermal dehydrochlorination products of trichloroethane from the second reaction zone, wherein the thermal dehydrochlorination products of trichloroethane include 1,2-dichloroethylene.