# US 5,705,720 A · Continuous process for cracking 1,2-dichloroethane

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- Number: US 5,705,720 A
- Document ID: US5705720A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/475,832
- Filed: 1995-06-07
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1985-03-20
- Assignees: Atochem
- Inventors: Claude Demaiziere; Jean Lesparre; Yves Correia
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5705720A

## CPC

- C07C 17/25: by splitting-off hydrogen halides from halogenated hydrocarbons
- C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS

## Abstract

A thermal process for cracking 1,2-dichloroethane to form vinyl chloride comprising heating 1,2-dichloroethane in a reaction zone at a temperature between 300.degree. and 650.degree. C. under an absolute pressure between 1 and 40 bars; said heating being conducted in the presence of hydrochloric acid.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for the preparation of vinyl chloride from 1,2-dichloroethane, comprising (a) continuously introducing a feedstream of 1,2-dichloroethane and HCl into an empty reactor thus obtaining a reactor containing said feedstream, wherein such feedstream the molar ratio of HCl to 1,2-dichloroethane ranges from 0.1 to 1.8, (b) continuously noncatalytically thermally cracking said feedstream into vinyl chloride within said reactor containing said feedstream, in vapor phase, at a temperature ranging from about 300.degree. to 650.degree. C. and under an absolute pressure ranging from 1 to 40 bars, and (c) continuously recovering vinyl chloride, as it is formed, from said reactor containing said feedstream,
wherein said process is carried out at a conversion rate of 95% or higher and without carbonaceous build-up.

### Claim 2

A process for thermally cracking 1,2-dichloroethane to produce vinyl chloride, said process comprising the steps of:
(a) feeding 1,2-dichloroethane and hydrogen chloride into an empty reactor; and
(b) thermally cracking said 1,2-dichloroethane in the presence of said hydrogen chloride to form vinyl chloride.

### Claim 3

A process for cracking 1,2-dichloroethane to produce vinyl chloride, said process comprising the steps of:
(a) feeding 1,2-dichloroethane and hydrogen chloride into a reactor; and
(b) heating said 1,2-dichloroethane in the presence of said hydrogen chloride and in the absence of a solid catalyst at conditions effective to crack said 1,2-dichloroethane to vinyl chloride.

### Claim 4

A process for the preparation of vinyl chloride from 1,2-dichloroethane, consisting essentially of (a) continuously introducing a feedstream of 1,2-dichloroethane and HCl into an empty reactor thus obtaining a reactor containing said feedstream, (b) continuously thermally cracking said feedstream into vinyl chloride within said reactor containing said feedstream, in vapor phase, at a temperature ranging from about 300.degree. to 650.degree. C. and under an absolute pressure ranging from 1 to 40 bars, and (c) continuously recovering vinyl chloride, as it is formed, from said reactor containing said feedstream,
wherein said process is carried out at a conversion rate of 95% or higher and without carbonaceous build-up.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The process as defined by claim 4, wherein such feedstream the molar ratio of HCl to 1,2-dichloroethane ranges from 0.1 to 1.8.

### Claim 6

A process for the preparation of vinyl chloride from 1,2-dichloroethane, comprising (a) introducing feedstream of 1,2-dichloroethane and HCl into an empty reactor thus obtaining a reactor containing said feedstream, (b) thermally cracking said feedstream into vinyl chloride within said reactor containing said feedstream, in vapor phase, at a temperature ranging from about 300.degree. to 650.degree. C. and under an absolute pressure ranging from 1 to 40 bars, and (c) recovering vinyl chloride, as it is formed, from said reactor containing said feedstream,
wherein said process is carried out at a conversion rate of 95% or higher and without carbonaceous build-up.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The process as defined by claim 6, said feedstream further comprising a free radical-generator.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The process as defined by claim 7, said free radical-generator comprising Cl.sub.2, CCl.sub.4 or C.sub.2 Cl.sub.6.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The process as defined by claim 6, wherein such feedstream the molar ratio of HCl to 1,2-dichloroethane ranges from 0.1.to 1.8.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The process as defined by claim 6, said empty reactor comprising a multitube furnace.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The process as defined by claim 6, said empty reactor comprising a coil furnace.