Chlorine Economic data

Table 11.4 lists economic data on the main methods for produdng ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride. Table 11.5 gives data on the three main types of process for manufacturing chlorine by the electrolysis of sodium chloride. 

Chlorine production by sodium chloride electrolysis. Economic data. (France conditions mid-1986)... 

On the basis of the pressure and temperature limits thus specified the number of hydrating agents which have any reasonable chance of becoming important can be reduced to about 12, shown in Table I. Further work has been reported on F-31, methyl bromide, and F-21 (2) and on propane (6) and this paper presents thermodynamic data on F-142b and F-12B1. Except for chlorine, similar data can probably be predicted for the remaining six agents with sufficient accuracy for economic evaluation studies (1). 

Hydrogen chloride formed during the chlorination of methane must be oxidized to chlorine, either in the oxychlorination of methane478 or in a separate Deacon-type operation to allow the process to become economical. This is still difficult to achieve. Existing data also show that formation of higher chlorinated methane derivatives is often also a difficulty of the reaction.479-481 These difficulties can be minimized by using bromine in the catalytic oxidative conversion process. 

Chlorine and sodium hydroxide are made by the electrolysis of brine using membrane cells. Conventional and improved membrane cell arrangements are described in U.S. 4,391,693, assigned to Dow Chemical. U.S. 4,470,889 (also to Dow) gives data on membrane materials and performance. What price of electricity is needed for it to be economical to produce chlorine from sea water (3.5 wt% NaCl) ... 

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