Page 1 of 1

Master thesis: emulsion (milky color) formation LTDC/HTDC

Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2022 2:21 pm
by EDC guy
Dear Sir/Madam

I'm doing my masters thesis about the purification of ethylene dichloride (DCE) in a low temperature direct chlorination process for the university of Leuven and Hasselt, Belgium. In general, little literature can be found about the next problem that arises in the process.

To maintain a good iron/salt concentration in the mother liquid of a high temperature direct chlorination (HTDC) reactor, it is possible to discharge to the washing process of the low temperature direct chlorination process (LTDC). This purge of the HTDC is then washed through 5 washing vessels (2 acid washing vessels, 2 lye washing vessels and 1 demineralized water washing vessels). If this happens, the level measurements will be defective because a milky (colour) emulsion occurs and no separation is achieved. The aim of my master's thesis is to find a solution to counteract this emulsion. It is already known that this is probably caused by a high molecular weight component that is formed as a by-product in the HTDC.

But no solution has yet been found to avoid this problem. The current solution is excess washing with water until this emulsion is gone. Which is not economically beneficial.


My question is whether anyone have experienced similar problems before. And/or anyone have a solution for this emulsion formation.


Thanks in advance.



Kind regards

Bruno Geens

MSc industrial engineering Chemistry (Sustainable Process Technology and Polymers)

Re: Master thesis: emulsion (milky color) formation LTDC/HTDC

Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2023 1:13 am
by clowderradish
I think this is quite an interesting phenomenon. Hope someone can explain it in more detail.

Re: Master thesis: emulsion (milky color) formation LTDC/HTDC

Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2023 7:31 am
by ChenBeier
Its more then 1 year old question. No answer so far.