Abstract: A process and apparatus are described for converting a feed that is substantially comprised of halogenated materials, and especially byproduct and waste chlorinated hydrocarbons as are produced from a variety of chemical manufacturing processes, to one or more higher value products via a partial oxidation reforming reaction step. These products can be in the form of a useful or salable acid product and/or a product synthesis gas comprised of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, or the reaction product including the same hydrogen halide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen components can be employed as a feed in the synthesis of a different useful or salable product.

Abstract: Alumina is used as a support for the CuCl2 catalyst and as a diluent in the oxychlorination of ethylene. When a low surface area alumina, e.g. high purity alpha-alumina, is used as diluent for the reaction, reduced oxidation and less chlorinated by-products are achieved. Alternatively, the alumina used as the catalyst support, e.g. a gamma-alumina which has a high surface area and higher amounts of impurities, can be used as diluent if it is impregnated with an alkali metal ion, e.g K+ ion, which is usually employed as a salt.

Abstract: A method for oxychlorinating ethylene to ethylene dichloride utilizing a two reactor oxychlorination system in which the oxygen and hydrogen chloride feeds are split between the reactors such that the volume ratio of HCl fed to the first reactor to the HCl fed to the second reactor, and the volume ratio of O.sub.2 fed to the first reactor to the O.sub.2 fed to the second reactor are both in the range of about 50:50 to about 99:1.