Epichlorohydrin (ECH) is an organochlorine compound and an epoxide with the molecular formula C3H5ClO. It is a colorless liquid with a pungent, garlic-like odor, moderately soluble in water, but miscible with most polar organic solvents. It is a highly reactive compound, and can be used for the production of glycerol, plastics, epoxy glues and resins, and elastomers.
Glycerol production
One of the major applications of ECH is the synthesis of glycerol, which is an important raw material for various industries such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food, and biodiesel. ECH can be converted to glycerol by hydrolysis in the presence of a base or an acid catalyst. The reaction is as follows:
ECH + 3 H2O -> glycerol + 3 HCl
The hydrochloric acid produced can be recycled to make more ECH from allyl chloride.
Epoxy resins
Another important application of ECH is the production of epoxy resins, which are widely used as adhesives, coatings, paints, and composite materials. ECH can react with bisphenol A or other phenolic compounds to form epoxy resins with different properties and molecular weights. The reaction is as follows:
n ECH + m bisphenol A -> epoxy resin + n HCl
The epoxy resin can be cured by adding a hardener such as an amine or an anhydride.
Other applications
ECH can also be used to make other products such as plasticizers, dye stuffs, lubricants, pharmaceuticals, and oil emulsification products. For example, ECH can react with ethylene glycol to form glycidyl ether, which is a plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) . ECH can also react with ammonia to form ethylenimine, which is a precursor for many drugs and pesticides.
Table 1: Some products derived from ECH
| Product | Reaction | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Glycidyl ether | ECH + ethylene glycol -> glycidyl ether + HCl | Plasticizer for PVC |
| Ethylenimine | ECH + NH3 -> ethylenimine + HCl | Precursor for drugs and pesticides |
| Epichlorohydrin rubber | ECH + polyamine -> epichlorohydrin rubber | Elastomer for hoses and seals |
| Glycidyl methacrylate | ECH + methacrylic acid -> glycidyl methacrylate + HCl | Monomer for polymerization |
| Glycidamide | ECH + NH2OH -> glycidamide + HCl | Intermediate for organic synthesis |
Extended Reading
What is epichlorohydrin used for?
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The price of epichlorohydrin
Separation method of epichlorohydrin
Epichlorohydrin wastewater treatment process
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