Process for the manufacture of 1,2-dichloroethane

In a process for the manufacture of 1,2-dichloroethane by chlorination of ethylene at 180.degree. to 300.degree. C. and 0.09 to 1.1 MPa in the presence of a solid fluidized catalyst containing a copper salt, removing the heat formed in the reaction space by indirect cooling and recovering 1,2-dichloroethane from the reaction products after having removed said products from said reaction space,

• the improvement which comprises introducing separately or at least partially separated from one another hydrogen chloride, ethylene, and an inert gas containing oxygen at one end of a tubular reactor, introducing chlorine into the same reactor at a distance of 40 to 85% of the total reaction space from the last of the gas inlets for the hydrogen chloride, ethylene or oxygen-containing inert gas in the direction of flow of the gas, and the reaction products are removed at the other end of the reactor, and
• wherein the molar proportions are 2 moles of hydrogen chloride, 1.01 to 3 moles of ethylene, at least 0.5 mole or oxygen and 0.009 to 2 moles of chlorine with the quantity of chlorine being adjusted such that less than 0.001% by weight of free elementary chlorine is found in the mixture of gases leaving the reaction space.