Abstract: An improved process for removal of chloroprene from 1,2-dichloroethane recovered unconverted from the effluent of 1,2-dichloroethane pyrolysis. The chloroprene is chlorinated with chlorine in the presence of o- or m-cresol or a chlorinated derivative thereof, and the excess chlorine from this step is removed by reaction with ethylene.

Abstract: A process for separating lower-boiling chlorohydrocarbons and water from neutralized crude chlorohydrocarbons having at least two carbon atoms, which comprises fractionally distilling the crude chlorohydrocarbons in a fractionating column, thereby obtaining a fraction A containing the desired product which is withdrawn at the bottom of the column practically free of impurities, and a fraction B, comprising water, impurities having a lower boiling point, and entrained amounts of the desired chlorohydrocarbon, withdrawing said fraction B from the top of the column and, while still in gaseous state, neutralizing fraction B with an aqueous solution of a mixture of basic compounds, thereby avoiding corrosion of the apparatus, and thereafter subjecting the gaseous fraction to stepwise condensation with recovery of the entrained portions of said chlorohydrocarbon by returning them to the fractionating column, while separately removing water and undesirable impurities.