Method for recovering ethylene values

In a process for preparing ethylene dichloride by oxychlorinating ethylene in which ethylene, hydrogen chloride and an oxygen containing gas are reacted in the presence of an oxychlorination catalyst and where unreacted ethylene values are present in the oxychlorination off-gas;

• the improvement which comprises recovering the unreacted ethylene values in the oxychlorination process off-gas by the steps of:
• a. cooling the off-gas to condense at least part of the water in the off-gas to form a condensed phase and a gaseous phase;
• b. separating the condensed phase from the gaseous phase thereby providing a partially dried gaseous phase;
• c. contacting the partially dried gaseous phase with ethylene dichloride to further reduce the water content of the partially dried gaseous phase and separating the gaseous phase from the ethylene dichloride;
• d. reacting the ethylene in the gaseous phase from step c) with chlorine in the presence of a non-reactive liquid to form ethylene dichloride;
• and
• e. recovering the ethylene dichloride;
• the water content of said off-gas
• being reduced by said cooling, separating and contacting steps to a level such that the water content of the non-reactive liquid is maintained below about 50 parts per million by weight.