E.i. Dupont De Nemours and Company

Joseph F Englert, Jr

Clare A Stewart

Louis J Maurin, Iii

Willie Harrison, Jr

Quaternary ammonium phase transfer catalyst is removed from the dehydrochlorination product of 3,4-dichlorobutene-1 by treatment of the organic, chloroprene-containing phase with an oxy acid which combines with the catalyst to form a separate phase.

Removal of catalyst from chloroprene by treatment with oxy acid

An improved process for the catalytic dehydrochlorination of 3,4-dichlorobutene-1 with aqueous alkali, wherein the effluent from the dehydrochlorination reactor is separated into phases, and the organic phase is steam-stripped at low temperature (below about 80.degree. C.) to recover chloroprene product, while the steam stripper heels are returned to the dehydrochlorination reactor. A small portion of the heels are purged prior to being recycled. Most of the catalyst is recovered and returned to the reaction, but a small amount of make-up catalyst is added. Chloroprene made in this process is a valuable monomer which finds use in the manufacture of a broad line of synthetic elastomers of considerable industrial interest.

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La Place, LA, United States of America

Joseph F Englert, Jr