Efficient method for the chemical production of chlorine and the

Abstract

A process for the efficient production of Cl.sub.2 from gaseous HCl, using a catalyst containing a transition metal oxide, an alkali metal chloride, and, optionally, a trivalent rare earth chloride, operates efficiently at moderate temperatures and without volatilization of the catalyst. The process comprises two steps: (1) a chloridizing step in which the HCl is contacted with the catalyst at an elevated temperatures, converting the transition metal oxide to a transition metal chloride with elimination of water; and (2) an oxidizing step in which the transition metal chloride produced in the first step is contacted with a source of oxygen at a temperature at least about 300.degree. C. but less than 400.degree. C. and sufficiently high that Cl.sub.2 is evolved and the transition metal chloride is reconverted to a transition metal oxide. The temperature of the oxidizing step is increased over that of the chloridizing step. Preferably, the transition metal oxide is MnO.sub.2, in which case the MnO.sub.2 is converted to MnCl.sub.2 in the first step with the release of Cl.sub.2. The transition metal oxide can also be Co.sub.2 O.sub.3, Co.sub.3 O.sub.4, Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, NiO, Ni.sub.2 O.sub.3, Mo.sub.2 O.sub.3, or CuO.