Oxychlorination is a process for making C-Cl bonds. In contrast with direct use of Cl2, oxychlorination uses hydrogen chloride in combination with oxygen. In oxychlorination, ethylene reacts with anhydrous HCl and either air or pure oxygen in a heterogeneous catalytic reaction to form EDC and water.The catalyst typically contains cupric chloride (CuCl2) as the primary active ingredient, impregnated on a porous support such as alumina, and may also contain numerous additives.
The reaction is as follows:
CH2=CH2 + 2 CuCl2 → 2 CuCl + ClH2C-CH2Cl
The copper(II) chloride is regenerated by sequential reactions of the cuprous chloride with oxygen and then hydrogen chloride:
½ O2 + 2 CuCl → CuOCuCl2
2 HCl + CuOCuCl2 → 2 CuCl2 + H2O
Chempack offer two types of the EOC catalyst for Fluid bed oxychlorination reactors typically are vertical cylindrical vessels equipped with a support grid and feed sparger system designed to provide good fluidization and feed distribution.
HyKat EO is a promoted copper chloride catalyst based on micro spherical alumina carrier, which exhibits good catalytic activity and selectivity, high HCl conversion rate, low by-products and low attrition.