A process for removing acetylene from reaction products of 1,2-dichloroethane pyrolysis

The invention relates to a process for removing acetylene from the product of 1,2-dichloroethane pyrolysis. The pyrolysis product is divided into a liquid product stream substantially free of acetylene, and into an acetylene containing gaseous product stream which mainly comprises hydrogen chloride and vinyl chloride; the gaseous product stream is subsequently freed of acetylene by passing it through a catalyst bed wherein the acetylene is hydrochlorinated and converted to vinyl chloride. The catalyst bed is composed of a first upstream catalyst comprising noble metal and/or noble metal compounds, followed bv a downstream hydrochlorination catalyst.