Technology for the production of epichlorohydrin (EPC) from dichloropropanols (DCP)

A mixture of 1,3 and 2,3-dichloropropanols obtained by chlorination of glycerin with gaseous hydrogen chloride is an intermediate product in the production of epichlorohydrin. The reactor product is sent to the stripper. The process consists in dehydrochlorination of dichloropropanols to epichlorohydrin in a stripper. The resulting epichlorohydrin is stripped off with water vapor under reduced pressure. The distillate of this column is crude epichlorohydrin containing approximately 85% of the main component. The end product is isolated by rectification in a series of subsequent columns.

Advantages of the technology compared to the classic technology of EPC production from propylene and chlorine:

• the use of a renewable raw material (glycerin for the production of DPC),
• utilization of gaseous hydrogen chloride, which is a waste product in the processes of hydrocarbon chlorination,
• low consumption rates of raw materials,
• significant reduction of energy factors (steam, energy),
• purity of epichlorohydrin 99.5%.

The technology of producing EPC from DPC with an increased concentration ensures a significant reduction in the amount of waste products in the form of organochlorine compounds and a radical reduction in the amount of wastewater.