Abstract: An improved process for the continuous chlorination in vapor phase of butadiene to a mixture of dichlorobutenes at a temperature about 90.degree.-250.degree. C., wherein chlorine is premixed with a portion of butadiene and introduced at one end of a tubular reactor, while the remainder of the butadiene, which is used in a large excess, is introduced at one or more points downstream from the point of introduction of the chlorine-butadiene mixture, the temperature and volume of this additional butadiene being sufficient to effectively cool the reacting mixture so that the maximum temperature in the reactor does not exceed about 250.degree. C. but does not fall downstream from the butadiene injection point below about 130.degree. C.

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.