[Chemical Knowledge]：The nature, use, upstream and downstream raw materials, storage methods of epichlorohydrin, and what epichlorohydrin is used.

Properties of epichlorohydrin

Epichlorohydrin (Epichlorohydrin, ECH) is an important organic chemical raw materials, chemical formula is C3H5ClO. It has the following significant physical and chemical properties:

1. physical Properties: Epichlorohydrin is a colorless to light yellow liquid with a pungent odor. It has a boiling point of about 116°C and a density of 1.181g/cm³. It is easily soluble in organic solvents such as ethanol and ether, but its solubility in water is low.
2. Chemical properties: ECH molecule contains both epoxy and chlorine atoms, so it has high reactivity. It is easy to react with a variety of compounds, such as hydrolysis to generate glycerol, and amine reaction to generate amino alcohol. In addition, epichlorohydrin is easy to ring-opening reaction under heating or in the presence of acid or alkali, showing strong nucleophilicity.

Use of epichlorohydrin

epichlorohydrin is widely used mainly due to its active chemical properties and versatility. Its main uses include:

1. epoxy resin production: ECH is a key intermediate in the production of epoxy resins, and about 75% of ECH is used to make epoxy resins. Epoxy resins are widely used in coatings, adhesives, electronic component packaging materials and composite materials.
2. Water treatment agent: Epichlorohydrin can be used as raw materials for the production of water treatment agents, such as cation exchange resins and wet strength agents. These materials are used to improve the wet strength of paper and treat industrial wastewater.
3. Pharmaceutical and pesticide intermediates ECH is also used in the pharmaceutical and pesticide industries as an intermediate for the synthesis of some important drugs and pesticides. In addition, it can also be used in the manufacture of surfactants, plasticizers and stabilizers.

Upstream feedstock of epichlorohydrin

the main raw materials for the production of epichlorohydrin include propylene, chlorine and water. These raw materials produce ECH through a series of chemical reactions:

1. propylene: Propylene is the basic chemical raw material obtained from petroleum cracking or natural gas processing. It first produces 1,2-dichloropropane by chlorination.
2. Chlorine chlorine reacts with propylene to generate 1,2-dichloropropane, which is a necessary raw material for the production of epichlorohydrin.
3. Water: In the presence of water, 1,2-dichloropropane is epoxidized under alkaline conditions to eventually produce epichlorohydrin.

Downstream products of epichlorohydrin

the downstream products of epichlorohydrin cover a number of industries, including:

1. epoxy resin and its derivatives by reacting with bisphenol A, ECH can produce bisphenol A epoxy resins, which are used in coatings, adhesives and composites.
2. surface active agent ECH can react with fatty amines to generate a variety of surfactants, which are widely used in detergents, emulsifiers and lubricants.
3. Drugs and pesticides through further chemical modification, ECH can be used to synthesize a variety of biologically active compounds for pharmaceutical and pesticide applications.

Production process of epichlorohydrin

A typical process for the production of epichlorohydrin involves a two-step reaction:

1. chlorination reaction: Propylene reacts with chlorine to produce 1,2-dichloropropane. In this process, the reaction conditions are controlled to improve the selectivity of the target product.
2. epoxidation reaction1,2-Dichloropropane reacts with water under alkaline conditions to produce epichlorohydrin. The base used in this process is typically sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.

Storage method of epichlorohydrin

the storage of epichlorohydrin requires attention to the following aspects:

1. temperature control: ECH should be stored in a cool and ventilated warehouse, away from direct sunlight and high temperature environment. recommend storage temperature is 15-25°C.
2. Container Material: The storage container should be made of anti-corrosion materials, such as stainless steel or specially coated steel containers to prevent ECH from chemically reacting with the container.
3. Tightness: Because ECH is volatile and toxic, the storage container must be well sealed to avoid leakage and evaporation.
4. Safety measures: The storage area should be equipped with emergency shower and eye washing equipment to prevent accidental leakage from causing injury to personnel. In addition, adequate ventilation and fire protection are required.

Safety of epichlorohydrin

epichlorohydrin has certain toxicity and irritation, so special attention should be paid during use and handling:

1. toxicity inhalation or skin contact with ECH can cause poisoning, manifested as headache, dizziness, nausea and skin burns. Long-term exposure may lead to more serious health problems, such as liver and kidney damage and cancer risk.
2. Protective measures: When operating ECH, protective clothing, gloves and goggles must be worn. The operating place should be well ventilated to prevent vapor accumulation. In addition, regular occupational health monitoring is required to ensure the health of workers.

Environmental Problems of Epichlorohydrin

environmental pollution may occur during the production and use of epichlorohydrin, and effective measures need to be taken to control it:

1. waste water treatment: Wastewater containing chloride and organic pollutants will be produced in the process of producing ECH, which must be treated to meet the discharge standards before it can be discharged.
2. Exhaust gas treatment: ECH is highly volatile, and a certain amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) will be emitted during production and use, which need to be treated by adsorption, condensation and other methods.
3. solid waste treatment: Solid waste generated in the production process, such as waste catalyst and waste residue, also needs to be properly disposed of to avoid secondary pollution to the environment.

As an important organic chemical raw material, epichlorohydrin has broad application prospects, but the safety and environmental protection problems in its production and use also need to be paid attention. Through scientific management and strict control, it can effectively reduce its impact on human health and the environment.