Abstract: Chlorine can be efficiently produced at a low temperature and with a high hourly space velocity by oxidizing hydrogen chloride with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst obtained by calcining a compound, which has in turn been obtained by reacting chromium nitrate, chromium chloride, the chromium salt of an organic acid or the like with ammonia, or by calcining a mixture of the compound and a silicon compound, preferably, at a temperature lower than 800.degree. C.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for the production of chlorine. In a fluidized-bed reactor having a specific equivalent diameter and made of a material with a particular iron content, hydrogen chloride and oxygen are reacted in particular gas volumes and at specific molar ratio, superficial velocity, temperature and pressure in the presence of a catalyst composed principally of a chromium oxide and having a specific particle size distribution. The catalyst is filled in a specific amount in terms of catalyst layer height at rest. The catalyst can retain its high activity.

Abstract: Chlorine is produced by oxidizing byproduced hydrogen chloride. An offgas containing hydrogen chloride as a byproduct is reacted with oxygen at 300.degree.-500.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst which contains chromic oxide (Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3) as a principal component. The resulting gas is cooled rapidly and then washed with water to recover vaporized chromium. The hydrogen chloride is then absorbed in water to recover it as an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution. The still remaining portion of the resultant gas is washed with sulfuric acid to remove water from the same, followed by compression and cooling. The resulting liquefied chlorine is separated. The still remaining gas composed principally of oxygen is thereafter returned to the oxidation step.