Editing Deacon process (section)

==Process==

The process was based on the oxidation of hydrogen chloride: 
:4 HCl  +  O<sub>2</sub>  →  2 Cl<sub>2</sub>  +  2[[Water|H<sub>2</sub>O]]

The reaction takes place at about 400 to 450&nbsp;°C in the presence of a variety of catalysts, including [[Copper(II) chloride|copper chloride]] (CuCl<sub>2</sub>). Three companies developed commercial processes for producing [[chlorine]] based on the Deacon reaction:<ref name=chlorine>Peter Schmittinger et al. "Chlorine," Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co, 2006, {{doi|10.1002/14356007.a06_399.pub2}}</ref>

*The Kel-Chlor process developed by the [[M. W. Kellogg Company]], which utilizes [[nitrosylsulfuric acid]].
*The Shell-Chlor process developed by the [[Shell Oil Company]], which utilizes copper catalysts.
*The MT-Chlor process developed by the Mitsui Toatsu Company, which utilizes chromium-based catalysts.

The Deacon process is now outdated technology. Most chlorine today is produced by using [[electrolytic process]]es. New catalysts based on [[ruthenium(IV) oxide]] have been developed by [[Sumitomo]].<ref>K. Seki, Catal. Surv. Asia 14, 168 (2010) {{doi|10.1007/s10563-010-9091-7}}.</ref>