Methods for liquid-phase reactions

A method for improving the reaction kinetics of, conserving reactants utilized in, and/or producing a more pure reaction product of, a liquid-phase hydrochlorination reaction of methanol to provide a gaseous product stream comprising methyl chloride, the method comprising:

• Providing a reaction zone and at least a first absorption zone and a second absorption zone;
• Splitting a portion of a liquid from the reaction zone into at least a first liquid stream and a second liquid stream and adjusting the temperature of at least one of the liquid streams so that the temperature of the first liquid stream is higher than the temperature of the second liquid stream;
• Directing the first liquid stream to the first absorption zone, and the second liquid stream to the second absorption zone;
• and
• Causing at least a portion of the gaseous product stream leaving the reaction zone and at least a portion of the first liquid stream to come into contact within the first absorption zone and at least a portion of the gaseous product stream and at least a portion of the second liquid stream to come into contact within the second absorption zone;
• wherein the splitting consists of splitting the liquid via a bifurcated conduit or multiple conduits operably disposed relative to the reaction zone and wherein at least a portion of any methanol, hydrogen chloride and/or water within the gaseous reaction stream are absorbed into the first and/or second liquid streams from the reaction zone.