Applications of Chlorine and Sodium Hydroxide

Chlorine is a fundamental building block of the chemical industry (Tables 6.19.3 and 6.19.4) and is used in over 50% of all industrial chemical processes, including 85% of pharmaceuticals and 96% of crop protection chemicals. The intermediates produced from chlorine mostly contain the element chlorine, but most end products do not (Table 6.19.3). 

Chlorine s co-product, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), also has a wide variety of applications (Table 6.19.5) and is used for production of pulp and paper, aluminum, and for petroleum and natural gas refining. It is also needed for pollution control to 

Ci-derivatives Trichloromethane Monochloromethane Tetrachloromethane Phosgene Hydrochloro-fluorocarbons Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Silicones, methylcellulose Industrial processes Polycarbonates, diisocyanates, polyurethanes 

C2-derivatives Trichloroacetic add Dichloroethane, vinyl chloride Ethyl chloride Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) Pharmaceuticals Ethyl-cellulose 

Cs-derivatives Allyl chloride Propylene oxide Flocculants Propylene glycol Epoxy resins, glycerols 

Worldwide, chlorine is mainly utilized in the manufacture of PVC, for pulp and paper bleaching, water treatment and 

More than 80% of chlorine is utilized for the manufacture of organic products 

A significant increase is expected in chlorine utilization in the manufacture of PVC and phosgenes for isocyanate manufacture. 

In the Federal Republic of Germany with its highly developed chemical industry, but relatively low PVC-production and virtually no pulp manufacture, utilization of chlorine in the manufacture of organic chemicals dominates. However, most of the end-products do not contain chlorine. 

Sodium hydroxide is utilized in a multiplicity of chemical processes, mainly for neutralization and as an alkaline reaction medium. In addition it is u.sed in large quantities in the pulp and paper industries and in the manufacture of aluminum. 

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