Developments on the Synthesis of Dichlorohydrin from Glycerol

Glycerol can be chlorinated with hydrogen chloride or hydrochloric acid to synthesize dichlorohydrin.The mechanism,research history,latest advances and industrial application of the process are introduced.In the old research,catalysts such as acetic acid,propyl acid,succinic acid,phenyl acids and esters of organic acids etc.have been utilized to enhance the velocity of the process.The crude production can be purified by extraction with organic solvents such as benzene,trichlorobenzene,butyl ether,butyl chloride etc.to obtain pure dichlorohydrin.At present,lots of continuous processes have been investigated by adopting catalysts which boiling temperature is high,including carboxylic acids,carboxylic acids anhydride,esters of organic acids,nitriles and so on.The production can be distilled under reduced pressure to obtain dichlorohydrin which total yields is more than 90%.This technique has been used in the modern industry in the world to produce epichlorohydrin.