Process for producing a chlorinated alkane

A process for producing a chlorinated alkane in which an alkene or an alkane feedstock is contacted with chlorine in a chlorination zone to produce a reaction mixture containing the chlorinated alkane, wherein the chlorine supplied into the chlorination zone has an oxygen content of less than about 2000 ppmv and wherein:

• the chlorination zone is closed to the atmosphere, and/or
• the chlorination zone is operated under atmospheric or superatmospheric pressure, and/or
• the chlorination zone is operated under an inert atmosphere, and/or
• the content of dissolved oxygen in the alkene or alkane feedstock is less than 2000 ppm;
• and wherein the reaction mixture is extracted from the chlorination zone and the extracted reaction mixture is subjected to one or more distillation steps;
• and wherein a distillation apparatus employed in the one or more distillation steps which would come into contact with a distillate or process fluid in use of the distillation apparatus is free of components which comprise about 10% or more, about 5% or more, about 2% or more or about 1% or more of iron.