1. Process route

Chlorohydrin process: 

High-temperature chlorination of propylene to produce chloropropene, hypochlorination of chloropropene to produce dichloropropanol, and cyclization of dichloropropanol to synthesize epichlorohydrin.

[Note: The "Guiding Catalogue for Industrial Structure Adjustment (2019 edition)" has listed the chlorohydrin method as a restricted process, while the "Guiding Catalogue for Industrial Structure Adjustment (2023 edition, draft for soliciting opinions)" has listed the calcium method saponification chlorohydrin method as an eliminated process.]

Glycerol method (calcium method/sodium method) process: 

Glycerol and hydrogen chloride undergo chlorination reaction under the action of a catalyst to produce dichloropropanol. dichloropropanol removes one molecule of hydrogen chloride under the action of alkaline solution, and cyclizes to produce epichlorohydrin.

Oxidation process: 

Using reaction controlled phase transfer catalysis, the epoxidation reaction between hydrogen peroxide and chloropropene is directly carried out under solvent-free conditions to synthesize epichlorohydrin.

2. Process flow

Chlorohydrin method: 

Synthesis of chloropropene → synthesis of dichloropropanol → production of epichlorohydrin

Glycerol method: 

Glycerol chlorination → Dichloropropanol cyclization

Oxidation method: 

Epoxidation reaction → oil-water separation → finished product distillation

3. Technical advantages

Shandong Catech Technology Co., Ltd. has three production process packages: chlorohydrin method, glycerol method, and direct oxidation method, and has many project achievements. The variety of process packages is complete, and the Kaitai expert team can provide reasonable suggestions for customers under different conditions.

Among them, the new technology of direct oxidation of chloropropene with hydrogen peroxide to produce epichlorohydrin can solve the pollution problem in the traditional process route in the past, which is in line with the policy requirements of national energy conservation and emission reduction, and the transformation of economic development mode. It is the development direction of the epichlorohydrin industry and has broad prospects for industrial promotion. It has good social and economic benefits, significant energy-saving and emission reduction benefits, and good social benefits. The 80000 ton/year propylene epoxide chloropropane process package (50000 ton oxidation method+30000 ton glycerol method) developed by Kaitai Technology has established a new model for the development of circular economy, realizing the resource utilization of high salt wastewater and waste hydrochloric acid, completely solving the problem of serious production balance constraints caused by a large amount of by-product acids, thereby improving the economic and environmental benefits of the enterprise, and achieving the goal of circular economy.

4. Downstream direction

Epichlorohydrin (abbreviated as ECH) is an important organic chemical raw material and fine chemical product with a wide range of applications. The epoxy resin prepared from epichlorohydrin as raw material has the characteristics of strong adhesion, corrosion resistance to chemical media, good chemical stability, low shrinkage rate, high impact strength, and excellent dielectric properties. It has a wide range of applications in industries such as coatings, adhesives, reinforcement materials, casting materials, and electronic laminated products. Chlorohydrin rubber produced by homopolymerization of epichlorohydrin or dimerization with ethylene oxide, epichlorohydrin, or trimerization has properties such as heat resistance, oil resistance, ozone resistance, weather aging resistance, flame resistance, and good breathability. Its comprehensive performance is superior to nitrile rubber, chloroprene rubber, and butyl rubber, and it is widely used as a sealing material and oil hose in the automotive and aviation industries. Glycidyl ether products can be prepared by condensation reaction of epichlorohydrin and alcohol under the action of a catalyst, followed by dehydrochlorination with sodium hydroxide. They are mainly used as reactive diluents for epoxy resins, which can improve their processing performance, make them easy to cast, seal, and coat, and improve their processing performance. They can also be used to prepare solvent-free paints and modified resins, Used as a bonding agent and other products in the electronics industry. In addition, epichlorohydrin can also be used to synthesize various products such as nitroglycerin explosives, fiberglass, electrical insulation products, surfactants, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, coatings, adhesives, ion exchange resins, plasticizers, etc. It is used as a solvent for cellulose esters, resins, cellulose ethers, and in the production of chemical stabilizers, dyes, and water treatment agents.