ABSTRACT
Vinyl chloride (VCl), one of the major intermediates used in the petrochemical industry, has a single important end use – as monomer in the production of Polyvinylchloride polymers and vinyl copolymers. VCl can be recovered from chloroethanes by catalytic dehydrochlori-nation or direct catalytic dechlorination with ethylene. Most VCl plants are adjacent to the ethylene dichloride facility and to sources of ethylene and chlorine so that the processes can be fully integrated, thus avoiding the difficult and expensive shipping of ethylene dichloride. VCl obtained from the top of the second distillation column is washed with dilute sodium hydroxide before being purified by extractive distillation with acetonitrile. Two processes for the recovery of VCl from trichloroethanes are in use: either direct catalytic dehydrochlorination or catalytic dechlorination with ethylene. VCl gas is irritating to eyes and skin. VCl is stable if stored in closed, air-tight, pressurized containers at room temperature in a well ventilated area.
