Abstract: A cyclic process having reduced hydrocarbon emission is provided for oxyhydrochlorination of ethylene to produce ethylene dichloride employing substantially pure oxygen as feed to the oxyhydrochlorination unit and recycling a major portion of the residual gas stream from which ethylene dichloride has been recovered as condensate, wherein reactant feed rates are adjusted to maintain recycle gas stream composition within specified limits.

Abstract: Process is provided for removal of chloroprenes as impurities from ethylene dichloride streams formed in the production of vinyl chloride by the thermal cracking of ethylene dichloride. The ethylene dichloride stream is subjected to distillation in a distillation zone to which free chlorine gas is introduced, thereby chlorinating the chloroprenes contained therein and forming higher boiling chlorocarbons as reaction products. The higher boiling chlorocarbons, together with ethylene dichloride, may be removed as bottoms and passed to a second distillation zone for separation of ethylene dichloride from the higher boiling impurities, thereby producing a substantially pure ethylene dichloride which may be recycled to the cracking step.

Abstract: A process is provided for removing vinyl chloride from gaseous streams containing the same wherein the gaseous vinyl chloride stream is contacted with a hypochlorous acid solution for substantially complete absorption and reaction of the vinyl chloride, thereby minimizing the hazards associated with passage of vinyl chloride monomer to the atmosphere.