KINETICS AND MECHANISM OF CLEANER PRODUCTION OF EPICHLOROHYDRIN

Abstract

Epichlorohydrin is an important petrochemical which is a base material in the manufacture of epoxy resins. Epoxy resins have become firmly well established in countless applications and techniques. Currently, epichlorohydrin is produced by chlorohydrination of allyl chloride, derived by chlorination of propylene but the yield is limited to 60-65%. The process also releases chlorine causing air pollution problems in the area. This paper presents another alternative method of production of epichlorohydrin from allyl chloride using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant and sodium tungstate or sodium molybdate as catalysts. This process will be environmentally safer and a cleaner process. The kinetics and mechanism of this process have been studied. The reaction is first order with respect to allyl chloride and catalyst (sodium tungstate or sodium molybdate) but zero order with respect to hydrogen peroxide. The energy of activation has been determined. A reaction mechanism has also been proposed.