Process for recovering methylene chloride

A process for improving the reclaim efficiency of methylene chloride from a mixture including water and methylene chloride, said process comprising:

• providing a system including (i) a distillation unit having an inlet and an outlet, (ii) a plurality of selectively positionable control valves, each having an inlet and an outlet, one of said outlets being in communication with said inlet of said distillation unit, (iii) a plurality of temperature sensors and means for providing a control signal corresponding to sensed temperatures, and (iv) a controller in communication with said temperature sensors and said control valves;
• directing said mixture including water and methylene chloride to said inlet of said distillation unit;
• operating said distillation unit to produce a product stream at said outlet of said distillation unit;
• measuring the temperature of said product stream and at a lower region of said distillation unit with said temperature sensors;
• providing said control signal from said temperature sensors to said controller;
• operating said controller to selectively position said control valves based upon said control signal;
• whereby upon measuring the temperature of said product stream to be greater than 1.05° F. and the temperature at said lower region of said distillation unit to be greater than or equal to 104.5° F., said controller positions said control valves to direct said product stream to said inlet of said distillation unit.