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Product: Ethylene Dichloride

Product Categories, Description and Properties

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Chemicals

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Functional Organic Products

Sub-Family

Organic Chlorides

Description

The chemical compound 1,2-Dichloroethane, commonly known as Ethylene Dichloride (EDC), is a chlorinated hydrocarbon with the chemical formula CH₂Cl-CH₂Cl. It is a colourless liquid with a Chloroform-like odour. The most common use of 1,2-Dichloroethane is in the production of Vinyl Chloride.

1,2-Dichloroethane production is primarily achieved through the Iron(III) Chloride-catalysed reaction of Ethylene and Chlorine (Ethylene Chlorination):

H₂C=CH₂ (g) + Cl₂ (g) → ClC₂H₄Cl (l) (ΔH^⊖_r = −218 kJ/mol)

1,2-Dichloroethane is also generated by the Copper(II) Chloride-catalysed oxychlorination of ethylene:

H₂C=CH₂ + 2 HCl + 1/2 O₂ → ClC₂H₄Cl + H₂O

Approximately 95% of the World's Production of 1,2-Dichloroethane is used in the production of Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM, Chloroethene) with Hydrogen Chloride as a byproduct. VCM is the precursor to Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC).

ClC₂H₄Cl → H₂C=CHCl + HCl

The hydrogen chloride can be re-used in the production of more 1,2-Dichloroethane via the oxychlorination route described above.

Source: Wikipedia, 1,2-Dichloroethane.

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