Process for producing 1,2-dichloroethane

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to the production of 1,2-dichloroethane. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the present invention relates to the production of 1,2-dichloroethane by direct chlorination of ethane with chlorine gas in the presence of a copper containing catalyst.

#2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

#170 grams of a cupric chloride on alumina catalyst in the form of 1/8 inch pellets was charged to a Pyrex glass reactor having the dimensions of 250 mm .times. 50 mm. The reactor was heated until the temperature of the catalyst reached 300.degree. C. Chlorine, ethane, and nitrogen were mixed in ratios of 1:3:12 and passed through the reactor and thus, in contact with the catalyst which was maintained at a temperature of about 300.degree. C. The total flow rate of the gases was about 1.3 liters per hour. The effluent from the reactor was then collected in a dry ice-isopropanol trap and analyzed by gas chromatography. The analysis confirmed that 50% of the ethane had been converted to 1,2-dichloroethane. Further, the analytical data illustrated that ethane can be directly chlorinated to 1,2-dichloroethane in the presence of a copper containing catalyst with a selectivity for the 1,2-dichloroethane of over 95%.