Chlorine from Hydrogen Chloride by Oxidation

Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals has developed a chromium-based catalytic oxidation technology, that recovers chlorine from anhydrous hydrogen chloride through a gas phase fluidized-bed oxidation reaction. The company has commercialized the technology and has designated it as the MT-Chlor process.

In this review, SRI evaluates the MT-chlor process and compares its economics with those of a similar commercial process, the Kel-Chlor I process, which is licensed by Kellogg Co. SRI's analysis concludes that, on the basis of an equal chlorine production capacity, the MT-Chlor process has only a marginal economic advantage. On the basis of an equal amount of HCI feedstock, the Kel-Chlor I process has an economic advantage because of its high chlorine yield. Our preliminary economics show that either process could be attractive for a large, centralized chlorine recovery plant at certain chlorine price levels.