Chapter: 3

VINYL CHLORIDE MONOMER

3.1 INTRODUCTION:

Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), also known as chloroethene or

monochloroethylene, is a tintless gas with a faint odor. It's a reactive
organochloride emulsion with the formula CH2 = CHCl. VCM is primarily
used in the product of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a protean plastic with a wide
range of operations. About 98 of VCM product is devoted to PVC
manufacturing. VCM is considered a dangerous substance due to its
carcinogenic parcels. It's classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

3.2 PRODUCTION PROCESS:

Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) or (CH2 = CHCL) process is involved 3

sections which response section, separation section and sanctification section.
For response section, the process that involved is recovery of HCl with
oxychlorination Process and direct chlorination process. In separation process
is thermal cracking (Pyrolysis) process and sanctification section is VCM
sanctification. For this exploration only Oxychlorination process in response
section been focus where 85 of quantum 1, 2 – ethylene Dichloride (EDC)
produce from this process. The three main way process are explained
compactly below.
  Direct chlorination of ethylene to 1, 2 - ethylene dichloride (EDC):

C2H4 + Cl2→C2H4Cl2 + 218 kJ/mol

 Thermal cracking (pyrolysis) of EDC to VCM:

C2H4Cl2→C2H3Cl +HCl − 71kJ/mol

 Recovery of HCl and oxychlorination of ethylene to EDC:

C2H4 + 2HCl + 0.5O2→C2H4Cl2 +H2O+ 238 kJ/mol

Hence, an ideal balanced process can be described by the overall equation:

C2H4 + 0.5Cl2 + 0.25O2→C2H3Cl + 0.5H2O+ 192.5kJ/mol

3.3 PROCESS DESCRIPTION:

Ethylene is converted into vinyl chloride in two steps.

• To create ethylene dichloride, ethylene first interacts with chlorine.

• Vinyl chloride is created by selectively breaking the refined ethylene

dichloride.

Direct chlorination:

EDC (ethylene dichloride) is prepared by reacting ethylene and chlorine In the

presence of

Iron (III) chloride as a catalyst, these compounds react exothermically:

 CH2=CH2 + Cl2 → ClCH2CH2Cl

This process results in high chastity EDC and high yields. Dissolved catalyst
and humidity must be removed before EDC enters the vinyl chloride product
process.C2H4 and Cl2 are mixed and transferred to the Direct Chlorination
reactor. The conversion in the Direct Chlorination Reactor is assumed to be
100, while that in pyrolysis reactor is only 60.farther both the columns are
assumed to carry out perfect separations, with outflow and bottoms
temperatures reckoned grounded on dew- and bubble- point temperatures,
independently. The products from the pyrolysis furnace are cooled and
transferred to HCL column where HCL is removed as overhead product and
the bottoms, which include Vinyl Chloride and 1,2- dichloromethane are
transferred to the alternate distillation column. The vapor product from the VC
column is Vinyl Chloride and the bottoms are 1, 2- dichloroethane and is
transferred for reclaim to increase the product.
3.4 SUSTANIBILITY PROCESS:

Using both direct and oxychlorination for EDC conformation, balanced units
give a high position of chlorine consumption without yielding HCl as a
derivate. Also, the connected VCM product may use the heat gain from both
largely exothermic chlorination processes, reducing the total energy needed
for the EDC/ VCM/ PVC conflation. This is assuming that 100% of the
chlorine input into EDC is absorbed inside a balanced unit.

3.5 USES AND APPLICATIONS OF VINYL CHLORIDE MONOMER:

The use and operations of VCM include:

• VCM undergoes a polymerization process to form PVC, which takes on the
asked parcels depending on complements and processing ways.
• VCM can be used as a starting material for other chemicals like vinyl acetate
and 1, 1- dichloroethane.
• PVC is a veritably stable, on-flammable, feather light, and durable plastic
that's used considerably in sewage pipes due to its low cost, chemical
resistance, and ease of jointing.
• Before the 1970s, VCM was used as an aerosol fuel and refrigerant. In terms
of its significance in different diligence and its part in ultramodern society,
VCM is primarily used in the product of PVC, which is used in a variety of
operations similar as:
• PVC is used in the construction assiduity for pipes, window frames, roofing,
and flooring.
• PVC is used in the healthcare assiduity for medical tubing, blood bags, and
IV bags. Automotive PVC is used in the automotive assiduity for auto innards,
seat covers, and door panels.
• PVC is used in the packaging assiduity for shrink serape, fester packs, and
clamshell packaging.
• VCM is also used in the product of other chemicals similar as chlorinated
detergents, which are used in the dry cleaning assiduity.
3.6 SAFETY CONCERNS AND HAZARDS:

Storage Concerns:

Keep away from heat, sparks and honey. Avoid contact with eyes. Don't
breathe vapor. Use with acceptable ventilation. Keep vessel closed. No
smoking, open dears or sources of ignition in running and storehouse area.
Electrically bond and ground all holders, labor force and outfit before transfer
or use of material. Use of non-sparking or explosion- evidence outfit may be
necessary, depending upon the type of operation. Keep down from heat, sparks
and honey. Avoid contact with eyes. Don't breathe vapor. Use with acceptable
ventilation. Keep vessel closed. No smoking, open dears or sources of ignition
in running and storehouse area. Electrically bond and ground all holders, labor
force and outfit before transfer or use of material. Use of non-sparking or
explosion- evidence outfit may be necessary, depending upon the type of
operation.

Handling Concerns:

Keep away from heat, sparks and honey. Avoid contact with eyes. Don't
breathe vapor. Use with acceptable ventilation. Keep vessel closed. No
smoking, open dears or sources of ignition in running and storehouse area.
Electrically bond and ground all holders, labor force and outfit before transfer
or use of material. Use of non-sparking or explosion- evidence outfit may be
necessary, depending upon the type of operation. Vapors are heavier than air
and may travel a long distance and accumulate in low lying areas. Ignition and
or flash reverse may do. No way use air pressure for transferring product.
Containers, indeed those that have been voided, can contain vapors. Don't cut,
drill, grind, weld, or perform analogous operations on or near empty holders.

3.7 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:

Vinyl chloride has been detected in environmental samples including air,

water, and soil, but the main way people are exposed to vinyl chloride is by
breathing polluted air. Manufacturers of vinyl chloride and PVC release vinyl
chloride into air and wastewater, putting people at threat of exposure to this
dangerous chemical through a variety of different ways which include:
. • Air vinyl chloride is detected in air near vinyl chloride manufacturing and
processing shops, dangerous waste spots, and tips. Breathing in polluted air is
one of the primary ways people are exposed to vinyl chloride.

. • Water vinyl chloride has been detected in groundwater, face water, and
drinking water, frequently near product spots and tips. Water defiled with
vinyl chloride can also pollute inner air when the water is used for raining,
cooking, or laundry.

• Consumer products vinyl chloride can be emitted from PVC/ vinyl

products. For illustration, elevated situations of vinyl chloride have been
measured inside of new buses with vinyl innards. Vinyl chloride is also known
to leach from PVC bottles or food- contact accoutrements.

Strategies for Reducing VCM Environmetal Footprint:

• Recycling PVC products can help reduce the quantum of VCM that's
released into the terrain.

• Reducing the quantum of PVC waste that's generated can also help reduce
the environmental impact of VCM.

• Using indispensable accoutrements to PVC, similar as polyethylene or

polypropylene, can help reduce the demand for VCM.

• Governments can regulate the use of VCM to insure that it's used safely and
responsibly.

• Exploration and development sweats can concentrate on chancing safer and

further sustainable druthers to VCM and PVC.

3.8 OPTIMIZATION RECOMMENDATIONS:

Process Optimization:

• Optimize the response conditions (temperature, pressure, catalyst

composition, etc.) to maximize VCM yield and minimize the conformation of
derivations.

• Apply advanced cracking technologies (e.g., fluidized bed reactors) for

advanced VCM selectivity and energy effectiveness.
• Use waste heat from colorful process stages to reduce overall energy
consumption.

Catalyst Optimization:

• Exploration and develop new catalyst systems with advanced exertion,

selectivity, and stability for both oxychlorination and cracking processes.
• Modify the composition of being catalysts and explore indispensable
support accoutrements to enhance their performance.
• Develop effective and cost-effective styles for regenerating spent catalysts
to extend their lifetime.

Feedstock Optimization:

• Minimize contaminations in the feedstock to help poisoning of catalysts and

enhance VCM yield.

• Probe the use of renewable or unconventional feedstocks as implicit reserves

for traditional fossil energies.

• Develop and apply pretreatment technologies to remove contaminations and

enhance the quality of the feedstock for VCM product.

Integration with Other Processes:

• Integrate VCM product with other processes to use waste heat for power
generation and ameliorate overall energy effectiveness
. • Explore the integration of VCM product with memoir refineries for the
product of bio-based VCM and other precious products.
 REFRENCES:
https://dwsim.fossee.in/flowsheeting-project/download/project-file/169

https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/159182159.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinyl_chloride
https://www.e-consystems.com/blog/camera/technology/how-liquid-lens-
cameras-work-the-ultimate-guide/
https://www.goldstandard.org/our-story/vcm-transition-framework
https://toxicfreefuture.org/toxic-chemicals/vinyl-chloride/

https://group.met.com/en/mind-the-fyouture/mindthefyouture/ecological-
footprint

https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/159182159.pdf

 Multi-objective Optimization: Techniques and Applications in

Chemical Engineering" by Ghasem R. Zarghami, Mohammad Reza
Yousefi, and Amir H. Zahedi (2018).
 "Integrated Bio refineries: Design, Analysis, and Optimization" by
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