The Vinyl Chloride Production by the Direct Chlorination of Ethylene
Students Name: Lystopadnyi Vitalii Volodymyrovych
Qualification Level: magister
Speciality: Chemical Technologies of Organic Substances
Institute: Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies
Mode of Study: full
Academic Year: 2024-2025 н.р.
Language of Defence: ukrainian
Abstract: The master’s thesis consists of an abstract, table of contents, introduction, three chapters, conclusions, a list of references, and appendices. The primary aim of the diploma project is to determine optimal conditions for improving the technology of direct chlorination of ethylene, a process critical to vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) production. The study employs mathematical modelling, comparative analysis, economic evaluation, and static methods to achieve its objectives. Ethylene serves as the research object, while the chlorination technology itself forms the subject of the investigation. 7 The stable growth in vinyl chloride production is largely attributed to its derivatives’ wide range of applications, owing to their advantageous properties, such as chemical resistance, weather resilience, and non-flammability, coupled with relatively low production costs. This versatility has necessitated continuous improvement in production technologies and scaling up capacity to meet global demands. The first chapter of the thesis examines the scientific principles of ethylene chlorination, providing a comparative analysis of various methods, along with a detailed characterization of raw materials, auxiliary materials, and energy resources. The second chapter focuses on presenting an improved technological scheme, calculations for required raw materials, and the selection of equipment necessary for optimized production. Finally, the third chapter evaluates the economic feasibility of the proposed technological improvements. Within the scope of the project, titled "Technology of Direct Chlorination of Ethylene," several methods of ethylene chlorination are discussed, highlighting the role of catalysts and catalytic systems. Particular attention is given to catalytic processes involving classical and organic additives, aiming to optimize reaction conditions to enhance target product yield and minimize by-product formation. The process operates by passing gaseous reactants through a liquid medium, where interactions occur. Earlier methods employed lower temperatures (30–40°C) to suppress undesirable substitution reactions, but these methods faced limitations due to ineffective heat removal, impacting production efficiency and economic viability. The updated process, however, employs higher temperatures (70–100°C) and introduces oxygen as both an inhibitor and a catalyst to suppress substitution reactions while enhancing process stability. Ferric chloride (FeCl?) serves as a key catalyst, either specially prepared or generated in situ from cast iron under chlorine exposure. A nearly stoichiometric ratio of ethylene to chlorine, with a slight excess of organic material (approximately 5%), ensures efficient chlorine utilization. Oxygen, present as a minor component in electrolytic chlorine gas (about 1% by volume), further acts as a reaction inhibitor, reducing chain reactions and enhancing product selectivity. 8 The innovative improvements explored in this project demonstrate the potential for increasing the efficiency and sustainability of ethylene chlorination. By leveraging catalytic systems and optimizing reaction parameters, the process achieves higher yields of target products while minimizing environmental impact and reducing production costs. These advancements are particularly relevant in the context of scaling industrial operations to meet the rising demand for PVC derivatives. Key words: ethylene chlorination, catalytic system, material balance, heat management, vinyl chloride monomer, reaction optimization. List of used literary sources. 1. Melnyk S.R., Melnyk Y.R., Pikh Z.G., Design and calculation of technological processes of organic synthesis. Tutorial. - Lviv. NULP Publishing House, 2006. – 448 p. 2. Technological regulations of the workshop for the production of chlorovinyl of Karpatnaftohim LLC, 2006. 3. Taylor W.F. The catalysis by liquid phase oxidation. II. The kinetic of oxidation of the tetraline catalyzed by polytetrafluorethylene // J. Phys. Chem. - 1970.- No. 11. - P. 2250–2256. 4. Ludin A. M. Methodical instructions for graphic and calculation work. – L.: Department of TOP, NU "Lviv Polytechnic". 5. Staszak, Katarzyna, Wieszczycka, Karolina and Tylkowski, Bartosz. Chemical Technologies and Processes, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110656367 6. M. Shpariy. Extraction of iron-containing catalyst from chlororganic wastes generation by ethylene chlorination / M. Shpariy, V. Starchevskyy, Z. Znak, R. Mnykh, I. Poliuzhyn // Easter-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies. – 2020 .- 2/10 (104).- P.19-26. 9 7. M.V. Shpariy. The influence of the modifier on the selectivity of the reaction of chlorination of ethylene to 1,2-dichloroethane in industrial conditions / Shpariy M.V., Starchevskyi V.L., Grynchuk Yu.M. No. 4. - P. 109-113