[Chemical Knowledge]：The nature, use, upstream and downstream raw materials, storage methods of benzyl chloride, is benzyl chloride toxic?

Properties of benzyl chloride

Benzyl chloride (Benzyl Chloride), chemical formula C7H7Cl, is a colorless to pale yellow liquid with a pungent odor. The melting point of benzyl chloride at room temperature is -39°C, the boiling point is 179°C, the density is 1.1g/cm³, and the flash point is 67°C. It is insoluble in water, but can be miscible with ethanol, ether and other organic solvents. Benzyl chloride is easy to decompose under light, so it needs to be kept away from light. Benzyl chloride is highly corrosive and toxic, and has irritating effects on the skin, eyes and respiratory system. Long-term exposure may cause poisoning. Therefore, appropriate protective measures should be taken when using it.

Benzyl chloride uses

Benzyl chloride is widely used in industrial and chemical synthesis. It is mainly used in the manufacture of benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, benzoic acid and its esters, these compounds in the spices, dyes, pharmaceuticals and pesticides and other industries have an important role. For example, benzaldehyde is the main component of spices and flavors, while benzoic acid is widely used as a food preservative. Benzyl chloride can also be used as intermediates in organic synthesis, such as the manufacture of dye intermediates and pharmaceutical intermediates. In recent years, benzyl chloride has also been used in the production of polymer materials and surfactants.

Benzyl chloride upstream and downstream raw materials

In the production of benzyl chloride, the main upstream raw materials are toluene and chlorine. There are two main production methods: direct chlorination and photochlorination. Direct chlorination method is the direct reaction of toluene and chlorine to generate benzyl chloride, and the law of light chlorination is the reaction of toluene and chlorine to generate benzyl chloride under light conditions. These two methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. The direct chlorination method has mild reaction conditions, but the product purity is low, while the photochlorination method has fast reaction speed and high product purity, but it needs to control the light intensity and reaction temperature.

The downstream products of benzyl chloride mainly include benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, benzoic acid and its derivatives, which are widely used in many industries. For example, benzyl alcohol can be used as a fragrance and solvent, benzaldehyde is a raw material for flavors and dyes, and benzoic acid and its esters play an important role in preservatives and plastic plasticizers.

Benzyl Chloride Production Process

The production of benzyl chloride is mainly achieved by chlorination reaction. In industrial production, the method of gas phase chlorination or liquid phase chlorination is usually used. Gas phase chlorination is a gas phase reaction of toluene and chlorine at high temperature. This method has fast reaction speed and high yield, but it needs to control the temperature and reaction time to avoid the formation of by-products. Liquid phase chlorination is carried out in the presence of a catalyst, the reaction conditions are more mild, the product purity is higher, but the reaction rate is slower. Either way, the product after the reaction needs to be separated and purified to obtain high purity benzyl chloride.

Benzyl Chloride Storage Method

Due to the strong chemical activity and toxicity of benzyl chloride, its storage requires special attention. Benzyl chloride should be stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated warehouse, avoid direct sunlight. Storage containers should be well sealed, preferably glass, iron drums or corrosion-resistant plastic drums. Since benzyl chloride is volatile, its storage area should be well ventilated to prevent vapor accumulation from causing poisoning or fire accidents. During transportation, severe vibration and collision should be avoided to prevent container damage.

Safety protection measures

Appropriate safety precautions must be taken when handling and using benzyl chloride. Operators should wear protective gloves, goggles and protective clothing to avoid skin and eye contact with benzyl chloride. In case of accidental contact, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical attention as soon as possible. The workplace should be well ventilated to prevent the accumulation of benzyl chloride vapor. In the event of leakage, it shall be treated with sand, vermiculite and other adsorbents in a timely manner, and the waste shall be properly disposed. Benzyl chloride should be kept away from fire and high temperature areas to avoid fire and explosion accidents.

Environmental protection measures

During the production and use of benzyl chloride, some waste gas, waste water and solid waste may be produced. If these wastes are discharged directly without treatment, they will pollute the environment. Therefore, enterprises should take effective environmental protection measures to reduce the impact of the production and use of benzyl chloride on the environment. For example, through the use of efficient waste gas treatment equipment to reduce the emission of benzyl chloride vapor; through the wastewater treatment system, purification of wastewater containing benzyl chloride; classification of solid waste collection and proper disposal, to avoid secondary pollution.

market prospect analysis

As an important organic synthesis intermediate, benzyl chloride is widely used in chemical industry, medicine, pesticide and other fields, and the market demand is large. With the development of the chemical industry and the growth of downstream product demand, the market prospect of benzyl chloride is relatively broad. Especially in the field of pharmaceuticals and pesticides, the demand for benzyl chloride will continue to grow. With the improvement of environmental protection requirements, enterprises will pay more attention to green production and waste treatment in the production process, which also provides opportunities for the upgrading of benzyl chloride production technology.

Conclusion

As an important chemical raw material, benzyl chloride has unique chemical properties and a wide range of uses. In the process of production and use, it is necessary to strictly control the reaction conditions and safety measures to avoid adverse effects on the environment and human health. With the progress of science and technology and the increase of market demand, the production technology and application fields of benzyl chloride will continue to expand, providing new impetus for the development of chemical industry. Enterprises in the pursuit of economic benefits should also pay attention to environmental protection and safety, and promote the sustainable development of the chemical industry.