Inventors:
Albert E. Schweizer - Midland MI
Mark E. Jones - Midland MI
Daniel A. Hickman - Midland MI
Assignee:
Dow Global Technologies Inc. - Midland MI
International Classification:
C07C 1715
US Classification:
570223, 570243, 570245, 570254, 568893, 562520, 585324, 585642
Abstract:
An oxidative halogenation process involving contacting a reactant hydrocarbon selected from methane, a halogenated C hydrocarbon, or a mixture thereof with a source of halogen and, preferably, a source of oxygen in the presence of a rare earth halide or rare earth oxyhalide catalyst, so as to form a halogenated C hydrocarbon having a greater number of halogen substituents as compared with the reactant hydrocarbon. Preferably, the product is a monohalogenated methane, more preferably, methyl chloride. The oxidative halogenation process to form methyl halide can be integrated with downstream processes to produce valuable commodity chemicals, for example, methyl alcohol and/or dimethyl ether; light olefins, including ethylene, propylene, and butenes; higher hydrocarbons, including gasolines; vinyl halide monomer, and acetic acid. Hydrogen halide, which is a co-product of these downstream processes, can be recycled to the oxidative halogenation process.