Phosgene

A possible new route to phosgene has been opened up by the discovery that certain phosphine chlorides catalyze the reaction between chlorine and carbon monoxide in an inert solvent. The reaction is rapid and quantitative and the resultant phosgene solution is chlorine free. SRI International has developed the production economics of this process for a 150 million lb/yr facility. SRI has also developed the economics for a modern 150 million lb/yr facility using the conventional active carbon catalyzed process. On a directly comparable basis, the conventional process gives a product lower in cost.