Methane reacts with chlorine to produce methyl chloride and
hydrogen chloride. Once formed, the methyl chloride may undergo
further chlorination to form methylene chloride, chloroform, and
carbon tetrachloride. A methyl chloride production process consists
of a reactor, a condenser, a distillation column, and an absorption
column. A gas stream containing 80 mole% methane and the balance
chlorine is fed to the reactor. In the reactor, a single-pass
chlorine conversion of essentially 100% is attained, the mole ratio
of methyl chloride...