Chloroethene from Ethane

Ethane to chloroethene
The chloroethene monomer can also be made from ethane, a much cheaper material than ethene. The high temperatures needed (more than 500°C) would result in too much corrosion in an industrial plant, however, and so it has not been used.

European Vinyls Corporation (EVC) is developing a new process using specialised catalysts that will allow the reaction to be carried out below the critical 500°C.

If the process can be introduced the advantages will be:

  • The process is 22% cheaper
  • The carcinogenic intermediate, dichloroethane, is no longer produced, reducing hazards for workers
  • Energy use is lower

diagram: chloroethene from ethane

chemical equation

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