Process and apparatus for producing and purifying epichlorohydrins

A process and apparatus are disclosed for the purification of epichlorohydrin. The process includes distilling and/or fractionating a feed stream containing epichlorohydrin, dichlorohydrin(s), and one or more other substances, subjecting at least a portion of the liquid phase effluent to a dichlorohydrin dehydrochlorination process for converting residual dichlorohydrin(s) in the liquid phase effluent to epichlorohydrin, and recovering purified epichlorohydrin from the vapor phase effluent in which the distillation/fractionation pressure and/or temperature of step (1) is adjusted to retain at least 5 weight-percent epichlorohydrin in the liquid phase effluent. The apparatus for making purified epichlorohydrin includes a dehydrochlorination apparatus, a first liquid-vapor contacting apparatus, and a second liquid-vapor contacting apparatus connected to the dehydrochlorination apparatus for recycling a distillate to the dehydrochlorination apparatus. Advantages include more efficient recovery of epichlorohydrins and reduced capital investment in recovery equipment.