Hooker Electrochemical

Chlorobenzenes were first synthesized around the middle of the nineteenth century the first direct chlorination of benzene was reported in 1905 (1). Commercial production was begun in 1909 by the former United Alkali Co. in England (2). In 1915, the Hooker Electrochemical Co. at Niagara EaUs, New York, brought on stream its first chlorobenzenes plant in the United States with a capacity of about 8200 metric tons per year. 

The first systematic study of the reaction of chlorine with toluene was carried out in 1866 by Bedstein and Geitner. During the next 40 years, many studies were performed to isolate and identify the various chlorination products (1). During the early 1930s, Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Hooker Chemicals Plastics Corp.) and the Heyden Chemical Corp. (Tenneco) began the manufacture of chlorotoluenes. Hooker Electrochemical Co. was later acquired by Occidental Petroleum Corp. and became the Occidental Chemical Corp. In the mid-1970s, Heyden exited chlorotoluenes production Occidental thus is the sole U.S. producer of chlorotoluenes. 

A sample of this compound was obtained from Hooker Electrochemical Co. and used without further purification. 

The first fire retardant polyester containing a reactive fire retardant monomer was introduced by the Hooker Electrochemical Corporation in the early 1950 s containing chlorendic acid as the reactive monomer (6). This pioneering development rapidly led to the introduction of variety of reactive halogen and phosphorus containing monomers, such as tetrabromophthalic anhydride, chlorostyrene and tetrabromobisphenol A, which found application in a wide variety of condensation polymer systems. 

The submitters used thionyl chloride from Hooker Electrochemical Company. It was distilled and collected over a 1° range (78-79°). The first few drops of thionyl chloride are added cautiously as the initial reaction may be quite vigorous. Recovered thionyl chloride may be used for subsequent runs. 

Pemert A process for making perchloric acid by reacting sodium perchlorate with hydrochloric acid. Invented by J. C. Pemert in 1946 and operated by the Hooker Electrochemical Company at Niagara Falls. 

The submitters used Eastman Kodak Company white label thionyl chloride. The checkers purified commercial thionyl chloride (Hooker Electrochemical Company, refined grade) by the method of Cottle.3... 

Merck s reagent grade of sodium sulfide nonahydrate was used. Since sodium sulfide decomposes on contact with air, a freshly opened bottle should be employed. Sodium Sulfhy-drate (Hooker Electrochemical Company hydrated sodium hydrosulfide) is also satisfactory the amount should be based upon the formula NaHS 2H20, and an equivalent amount of sodium hydroxide in excess of the 27 g. is required. 

A semicommerdal plant based on this process was built and operated for the Manhattan I oject by the Standard Oil Company of Indiana [C4]. In 1953, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission authorized construction of a larger plant at Niagara Falls, New York, with the Hooker Electrochemical Company as operating contractor [M3]. This plant produced 460 kg/year of B at an enrichment of 92 a/o B. The plant was shut down in January 1958. Eagle Picher Industries, Inc., has been producing 6 at Quapaw, Oklahoma, by this process since 1973 and is expanding capacity to 1000 kg/year. The cost is from 5 to 15/g. 

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