[Chemical Knowledge]：The nature, use, upstream and downstream raw materials, storage methods, chloromethane alias.

CHLOROMETHANE PROPERTIES

Methyl chloride (Chloromethane), chemical formula CH3Cl, also known as methyl chloride, is an organic halide. It is a colorless gas at room temperature and pressure, with a faint sweetness and narcotic. It has a melting point of -97.4°C, a boiling point of -24.2°C and a density of 0.91g/cm³. Because of its low boiling point, monochloromethane is highly volatile at room temperature. It has a medium polarity, soluble in ethanol, ether and other organic solvents, but the solubility in water is low. Chemically, monochloromethane is relatively stable, but it will decompose to produce hydrogen chloride and methyl radicals under high temperature or light conditions.

Methane Chloride Uses

Methane chloride is widely used in industrial production. It is an important intermediate in organic synthesis and can be used to produce compounds such as dichloromethane, chloroform (chloroform) and carbon tetrachloride. Chloromethane is also an important raw material for the production of silicone rubber and silicone resins. In the pharmaceutical industry, methyl chloride is used in the production of anesthetics, analgesics and antibacterial drugs. In agriculture, it is used in the manufacture of pesticides, herbicides and plant growth regulators. Due to its low boiling point and high volatility, monochloromethane is also used in the fields of refrigerants and propellants.

Upstream raw materials

The production of monochloromethane mainly depends on two upstream raw materials, methanol and chlorine. Methanol (CH3OH) is an important basic chemical raw material, which is widely used in the production of formaldehyde, acetic acid and various organic compounds. Chlorine (Cl2) is produced by electrolysis of sodium chloride solution in the chlor-alkali industry and is a key raw material for the production of a variety of chlorinated organics. In the production process, methanol and chlorine react with the action of catalyst to produce monochloromethane, and the reaction formula is CH3OH Cl2 → CH3Cl HCl. The reaction is usually carried out under high temperature conditions and requires a suitable catalyst to increase the reaction rate and yield.

Downstream Products

There are many kinds of downstream products of methyl chloride, including dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), chloroform (CHCl3) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Dichloromethane is a widely used organic solvent, especially in the coatings, pharmaceutical and food industries. Trichloromethane, commonly known as chloroform, was once widely used as an anesthetic and is now mainly used to produce freon and other chlorinated organics. Carbon tetrachloride is used in the manufacture of refrigerants and fire extinguishing agents. In addition, methyl chloride is also an important raw material for the synthesis of silicone resin, silicone rubber and other polymer materials.

Production process

There are two main production processes for monochloromethane: direct chlorination and methanol chlorination. The direct chlorination method is a direct reaction of methane and chlorine gas at high temperature to produce monochloromethane, which is suitable for large-scale industrial production, but there are many by-products. Methanol chlorination law is the reaction of methanol and chlorine in the presence of a catalyst to generate methyl chloride, which is widely used because of its high yield and less by-products. In actual production, it is also necessary to be equipped with tail gas absorption and waste liquid treatment devices to reduce environmental pollution.

Safety and Environmental Impact

Methyl chloride has a certain toxicity, inhalation of high concentrations of methyl chloride gas can cause headache, dizziness, nausea and other symptoms of poisoning, and even life-threatening. Therefore, in the process of production and use, strict safety measures must be taken to prevent leakage and personnel poisoning. Methyl chloride is a greenhouse gas, which has a certain negative impact on the atmospheric environment. To this end, the relevant enterprises need to be equipped with waste gas treatment devices and comply with relevant environmental regulations to reduce environmental pollution.

storage method

Due to the flammable and explosive nature of monochloromethane, its storage requires special attention. Typically, monochloromethane is stored in a pressure vessel in a cool, ventilated place away from sources of ignition. Tanks shall be made of corrosion resistant materials and inspected regularly to prevent leakage. The storage area should be equipped with fire fighting equipment and leak detection devices, and have strict operating procedures. Methyl chloride should be stored in isolation with oxidants, strong acids and other chemicals to avoid dangerous reactions. In the process of transportation, special tankers shall be used to ensure the tightness and safety of transportation tools.

Market Prospects

With the development of industry and agriculture, the market demand for monochloromethane is increasing. Especially in the fields of electronics, pharmaceuticals and agrochemical, its application prospects are broad. Restricted by environmental protection regulations and safety production requirements, enterprises need to continuously improve the process in the production process to reduce energy consumption and pollutant emissions. With the development of new materials and new processes, the downstream product types and application fields of monochloromethane are also expanding, adding more possibilities to its market prospects.

Conclusion

As an important organic chemical raw material, monochloromethane has a wide range of applications and good market prospects. Its production relies on methanol and chlorine, involving complex chemical reactions and tight safety controls. Although monochloromethane has certain toxicity and environmental impact, its risk can be effectively reduced by improving the production process and strict management measures, and its application and development in various fields can be promoted.