| abstract |
The preparation of vinyl chloride involves the thermal decomposition of 1,2-dichloroethane into three distillation columns, first distilling hydrogen chloride, then vinyl chloride and finally hydrogen chloride with vinyl chloride. When at the last stage the entrained water is not released through the product from the bottom, it returns with the fraction from the top back to the first column and causes corrosion. Removal of water at the top of the third distillation column, preferably by drying, prevents corrosion. |