In chemistry, oxychlorination is a process for generating the equivalent of chlorine gas (Cl2) from hydrogen chloride and oxygen.
[2] The reaction is usually initiated by copper(II) chloride (CuCl2), which is the most common catalyst in the production of 1,2-dichloroethane.
Aside from silica, a variety of supports have also been used including various types of alumina, diatomaceous earth, or pumice.
Because this reaction is highly exothermic (238 kJ/mol), the temperature is monitored, to guard against thermal degradation of the catalyst.
As can be seen in the following reaction, 1,2-dichloroethane is cracked: The HCl from this cracking process is recycled by oxychlorination in order to reduce the consumption of raw material HCl (or Cl2, if direct chlorination of ethylene is chosen as main way to produce 1,2-dichloroethane).