ABSTRACT
Phosgene (carbonyl chloride) is manufactured from the reaction of carbon monoxide and chlorine gas in the presence of activated charcoal as a catalyst. It is utilized across numerous industries for legitimate chemical synthetic processes. Wherever it is technically feasible, phosgene is processed using an on-demand production strategy, that is, phosgenation reactions are executed at low stationary levels so transportation and storage are abandoned at chemical plants that keep abreast of progress in engineering technology. It is an essential high-production-volume intermediate in the manufacture of building blocks of various types of plastics and of products used in everyday life, including exible foam in upholstered furniture, rigid foam insulation in walls and roofs, and thermoplastic polyurethane used in medical devices and footwear. Phosgene is a raw material used primarily in the production of other important chemicals, such as methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and toluene diisocyanate (TDI). Phosgene is also important in the manufacture of coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers used on oors and automotive interiors, and it is used to make polycarbonate plastics, as well as a wide variety of pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, and specialty chemical intermediates. The global consumption of phosgene was about 5 million metric tons in 2006 (Market Research Estimate of Chemical Industry).
