Process for production of epichlorohydrin

Abstract

A process for producing epichlorohydrin comprising the steps of: (a) reacting allyl alcohol with chlorine at a temperature of -30.degree. C. to 20.degree. C. under a pressure of 0 to 10 atm (gauge) in an aqueous hydrogen chloride solution containing more than 45% but not more than 70% by weight of hydrogen chloride to form 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol; (b) separating at least a portion of the hydrogen chloride by heating the reaction mixture obtained at step (a) to recover the hydrogen chloride in the form of gas; (c) recycling the hydrogen chloride recovered at step (b) to step (a); (d) separating the resultant liquid mixture after recovering at least the portion of the hydrogen chloride at step (b) into an aqueous phase and an oil phase by cooling the resultant liquid mixture to a temperature of 40.degree. C. or less; (e) recycling at least a portion of the separated aqueous phase at step (d) to step (a); and (f) reacting the oil phase separated at step (d) directly or after increasing the purity of 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol contained in the oil phase by a separation operation with an aqueous alkaline solution or suspension at a temperature of 40.degree. C. to 110.degree. C. to form epichlorohydrin. According to this process, the desired epichlorohydrin can be industrially and advantageously produced at a high yield and selectivity.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.