Abstract: Liquid phase chlorination in an evaporatively cooled reactor of 1,3-butadiene to 3,4-dichlorobutene-1 and 1,4-dichlorobutene-2 by contacting 1,3-butadiene and elemental chlorine in a solvent at a temperature of 25.degree.-100.degree. C. said solvent being butane or pentane or a fluorinated solvent of the formula (CR.sub.3)(CR'.sub.2).sub.m (CR".sub.2).sub.n R where R is independently hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine or bromine, R' is hydrogen, R" is independently fluorine, chlorine or bromine, m and n are 0-3 with the proviso that terminal carbon atoms are independently perhalogenated or fully hydrogenated, the solvents boil at -15.degree. C. to 40.degree. C. at atmospheric pressure, and the solvent to dichlorobutene ratio is from 2.0:1 to 11:1. The heat of reaction is removed by vaporization of solvent and 1,3-butadiene and returning the ingredients to the reactor.

Abstract: Formation of solid and/or high boiling residues during the isomerization of one of 1,4-dichlorobutene-2 and 3,4-dichlorobutene-1 into each other in the presence of a cuprous chloride catalyst is inhibited by the addition to the isomerization reaction of a small amount of a hydroxylamine salt.

Abstract: Chlorinated organic compounds from the aqueous waste streams from a process for manufacturing and isomerizing dichlorobutenes and dehydrochorinating 3,4-dichlorobutene-1 to chloroprene, which is the principal monomer in the manufacture of neoprene rubber, are removed by means of a process, wherein the aqueous waste from the dichlorobutene-isomerization step and brine formed in the dehydrochlorination step are combined to produce an aqueous solution containing about 1-5% sodium chloride and the solution, while maintained at a pH of less than about 6, is extracted with a small amount of a liquid hydrocarbon. The liquid hydrocarbon extract is then incinerated, while the extracted aqueous solution is discharged into a natural body of water. In this way, the level of 1,4-dichlorobutene-2, which is toxic to fish, in the natural body of water can be maintained at a safe level.

Abstract: Molecular chlorine level in flue gases from incineration of chlorinated organic materials is reduced by injecting into the incinerator's quench zone an amount of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 hydrocarbon which depends on the amount of air fed into the combustion zone, the amount of air being such that there is a 1-40 % excess of oxygen. When the wall temperature of the combustion zone is about 800.degree.-1500.degree. C., the temperature at which the hydrocarbon is added to the quench zone is about 450.degree.-1000.degree. C. Hydrogen chloride, which is formed from molecular chlorine and hydrocarbon, is more readily water-scrubbed than chlorine, so that less polluting flue gases are obtained.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of chloroprene, which is the critical monomer constituent of neoprene rubbers, and of 2,3-dichlorobutadiene-1,3, which often is copolymerized with chloroprene to provide better low temperature properties of the resulting elastomer, involves dehydrochlorination of a chlorinated hydrocarbon such as 3,4-dichlorobutene-1, 2,3,4-trichlorobutene-1, or 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorobutane, with an aqueous mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium chloride having the composition of chlor/alkali cell liquor; separation of the organic phase from which the desired product, chloroprene or 2,3-dichlorobutadiene-1,3, is recovered by distillation; and recirculation of the aqueous (brine) phase to the electrolysis apparatus, from which the sodium hydroxide-sodium chloride liquor is returned to the dehydrochlorination step.