CONVERSION OF A MULTIHYDROXYLATED-ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBON OR ESTER THEREOF TO A CHLOROHYDRIN

The present invention relates to a process for converting at least one multihydroxylated-aliphatic hydrocarbon and/or an ester thereof to at least one chlorohydrin and/or an ester thereof, comprising at least one reaction step in which the multihydroxylated-aliphatic hydrocarbon and/or ester thereof is contacted with hydrogen chloride under reaction conditions to produce the chlorohydrin and/or ester thereof, followed by at least one downstream processing step in which the effluents of the reaction step are processed, wherein the downstream processing step is performed in such conditions that the effluents containing the chlorohydrin and/or ester thereof are kept at a temperature of less than 12O°C. The invention allows to minimize the liberation of hydrogen chloride from the products of the hydrochlorination reaction, hence reducing the corrosion of the downstream equipment and reducing the need to use costly corrosion resistant materials.