A process for the production of chlorine

The invention relates to a process for preparing chlorine by catalytic gas-phase oxidation of hydrogen chloride, comprising the steps: a) A feed gas stream I comprising hydrogen chloride and a feed gas stream II comprising oxygen, are provided; b) in a first oxidation stage the feed gas stream I, the feed gas stream II, if appropriate a hydrogen chloride are fed containing recycle stream Ia and if appropriate an oxygen-containing recycle stream IIa into a first oxidation zone and brought into contact with a first oxidation catalyst, wherein a first subset of the hydrogen chloride to chlorine of chlorine, unreacted oxygen, unreacted hydrogen chloride and water vapor is oxidized and receive a gas stream III containing; c) in a second oxidation stage the gas stream is fed into a second oxidation zone III and reacted with at least one further oxidation catalyst in contact, wherein a second subset of the hydrogen chloride is oxidized to chlorine and a product gas stream IV comprising chlorine, unreacted oxygen, unreacted hydrogen chloride and water vapor; d) from the product gas stream IV, chlorine, optionally obtained, the return current Ia and, if desired, the return current IIa; characterized in that the first oxidation catalyst in the first oxidation zone in a fluidized bed and the one or more ...