The direct production of ethylene dichloride, EDC, from ethanol over a dual-catalyst bed consisting of a zeolite pre-bed and a CuCl2-NaCl/gamma-Al2O3 oxychlorination catalyst has been shown to give greater than 80% yield of EDC with ethyl chloride as the main by-product. The effects of temperature. HCl/air ratio and space velocity were investigated. The most effective zeolite was ZSM-5. It is concluded that the main route to EDC was via ethyl chloride and its oxychlorination and disproportionation. (C), 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.