Where Does Epichlorohydrin Come from?

In the process developed by Dow Chemical, glycerol undergoes two substitution reactions when treated with hydrogen chloride in the presence of a carboxylic acid catalyst. This is the same intermediate formed in the allyl chloride/hypochlorous acid process, and is likewise then treated with base to form epichlorohydrin.

What is epichlorohydrin made from?

Epichlorohydrin is made from allyl chloride, which in turn is derived from propylene and chlorine/caustic soda. In the past decade, several plants have been built to produce epichlorohydrin from renewable sources—specifically from glycerin derived as a by-product from the manufacture of biodiesel.

What is epoxy made from?

Most common epoxy resins are produced from a reaction between epichlorohydrin (ECH) and bisphenol-A (BPA), though the latter may be replaced by other raw materials (such as aliphatic glycols, phenol and o-cresol novolacs) to produce specialty resins. The epoxy resins can be obtained in either liquid or solid states.