| abstract |
The present invention relates to a process for producing vinyl chloride from an ethylene containing feed, an oxygen source and a chlorine source in the presence of a catalyst. Vinyl chloride is produced directly in a single reactor system by this process, and ethane, also used as C 2 hydrocarbon, recycles ethylene from the product stream to make up the ethylene specified for the ethylene containing feed. In another aspect, the present invention relates to a composition of matter and a process for preparing the composition useful as a catalyst for the vinyl chloride process. The composition comprises a rare earth-containing material, but the catalyst prepared therefrom contains little iron and copper, and where cerium is present, the catalyst further comprises one or more rare earth elements in addition to cerium. |