Cradle to Gate
Identity ID
7864359d-8c52-49d2-a800-33a0b16bd08d
Materials
Associated ID
07ae9b2c-deb1-4e82-9837-302ef163753a
Included activities starts
Included activities ends
Description
Monochloroacetic acid is widely used in fields such as fine chemical synthesis, pesticides and pharmaceuticals, dyes, surfactants, organic synthesis catalysis, the preparation of fabric finishing agents, and metal cleaning agents. Monochloroacetic acid is modelled as a pure substance; when modelling this substance, the user is required to add a solvent of their choice in the model. The dataset includes the main raw and auxiliary materials, energy, wastewater and atmospheric emissions of the production process, in which the waste-gas treatment process is included within the dataset boundary, while infrastructure such as the manufacture of production equipment and plant construction is not included within the dataset boundary; the data inventory is formed by merging data from multiple sources; the production activities of this product include liquid-chlorine gasification, chlorination reaction, crystallization, centrifugation and other process steps. Dichloroacetic acid mother liquor and hydrochloric acid are by-products of this production process, allocated according to economic value.
Activity Description
The production activities of this product include liquid chlorine gasification, chlorination reaction, crystallization, centrifugation and other processes.
Process Description
Monochloroacetic acid (MCA for short) has the chemical formula C2H3ClO2 and CAS number 79-11-8. It is a colorless or light yellow crystalline powder under normal temperature and pressure. It has a strong pungent odor. Its melting point is about 63°C and its boiling point is about 189°C. It is easy to deliquesce and decompose when heated to produce toxic hydrogen chloride gas. It is easily soluble in water and miscible with most organic solvents such as ethanol, ether, and acetone. It has active chemical properties and has the dual characteristics of carboxylic acid and halogenated hydrocarbon. It can undergo various reactions such as esterification, amidation, and substitution. It is more acidic than acetic acid, is corrosive, and is a hazardous chemical. Industrially, it is mainly used in fine chemical synthesis, pesticide and pharmaceutical industries; it is also used in dyes and surfactants, organic synthesis catalysis (as a catalyst for esterification reactions, or for the preparation of other halogenated carboxylic acid derivatives), and can also be used to prepare fabric finishing agents, metal cleaning agents, etc.
Time period
2017
2026
Geography
China
Macroeconomic value
Business-as-Usual
Data validation
Yes
Technology
Current Technology
Technology comment
The acetic acid chlorination method is the leading technology for the production of monochloroacetic acid. It is produced by chlorinating acetic acid with chlorine under the action of a catalyst. The process is mature and low-cost. It accounts for more than 95% of the total monochloroacetic acid production in the country. This data set represents the mainstream technology: using liquid chlorine and glacial acetic acid (acetic acid) as the main raw materials, using acetic anhydride as the catalyst to produce chloroacetic acid, the by-product dichloroacetic acid mother liquor is sold externally, and the tail gas is absorbed as the by-product hydrochloric acid:
1. Liquid chlorine gasification: The liquid chlorine coming out of the liquid chlorine storage tank is vaporized through the pipe-type vaporizer. The vaporizer is heated by hot water, and the temperature of the hot water is controlled below 40°C.
2. Chlorination process: Pour chlorine gas into the main kettle, control the pressure inside the kettle to not exceed 0.1MPa, and start the reflux reaction at a temperature of 80°C. The chlorine gas is evenly distributed in the kettle. As the reaction proceeds, the material temperature gradually increases and is controlled within 100°C.
3. Crystallization process: After the reaction in the main chlorination kettle is completed, the temperature is lowered to between 95°C and 90°C. 2000L of mother liquor is added to the crystallization kettle in advance, and the temperature is raised until the crystals on the kettle wall melt. Then vacuum the chlorinated material into the crystallization kettle, stir to cool down, and vent.
4. Centrifugation: Place the wet chloroacetic acid product in a closed centrifuge for centrifugation. During this process, the acetyl chloride in the wet chloroacetic acid product is hydrolyzed to generate acetic acid and hydrogen chloride.
Main reaction formula: CH3COOH + Cl2 → ClCH2COOH + HCl↑