Switching from water to ionic liquids for the production of methylchloride: Catalysis and reactor issues

The synthesis of methyl chloride from methanol and hydrogen chloride catalysed by zinc chloride was investigated in water and in two room temperature ionic liquids in a CSTR reactor. Both Aliquat336 and BMICl drive to similar rate of reactions as the traditional process albeit at lower temperatures. More importantly, the formation of the side product Me₂O is decreased in ionic liquids. From the reactor point of view and on the basis of kinetics and simulations, a new process involving plug flow behaviour using ionic liquids is proposed which would lead to process intensification, i.e. (50×) productivity increase.