Fluorination reactor

Abstract

A fluorination reactor having a reaction zone, an inlet for supplying an organic compound to be fluorinated to the reaction zone, an inlet for supplying elemental fluorine to the reaction zone, and an outlet for recovering a fluorinated reaction product, wherein the reaction zone includes a fluoride-adsorbing composition for adsorbing any HF produced as a byproduct of the reaction between the organic compound and elemental fluorine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the calculated thermodynamic equilibrium as a function of temperature for the reaction C₂HF₅+F₂═C₂F₆+HF based on the initial composition of one mole of C₂HF₅ and one mole of F₂;

FIG. 2 shows the calculated thermodynamic equilibrium as a function of temperature for the reaction C₂HF₅+F₂+NaF═C₂F₆+HF+NaHF₂ based on the initial composition of one mole of C₂HF₅, one mole of F₂ and mole of NaHF₂;

FIG. 3 shows the calculated thermodynamic equilibrium as a function of temperature for the reaction C₂HF₅+F₂═C₂F₆+HF+CF₄+CHF₃ based on the initial composition of one mole of C₂HF₅ and one mole of F₂;

FIG. 4 shows how the addition of sodium fluoride changes the equilibrium of the reaction of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows how the equilibrium of the reaction of FIG. 4 varies as the amount of NaF changes at 100 C for the same reaction; and

FIG. 6 depicts a fluorination reactor according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fluorination reactor comprising a reaction zone, an inlet for supplying an organic compound to be fluorinated to said reaction zone, an inlet for supplying elemental fluorine to said reaction zone, and an outlet for recovering a fluorinated reaction product, wherein said reaction zone comprises a fluoride-adsorbing composition for adsorbing any HF produced as a byproduct of the reaction between said organic compound and said elemental fluorine.

2. The fluorination reactor of claim 1, wherein said reactor is a vapor phase reactor and said fluoride-adsorbing composition is a solid-phase material.

3. The fluorination reactor of claim 1, further comprising a means for detecting HF or another hydrogen-containing byproduct in said reaction product outlet.

4. The fluorination reactor of claim 1, further comprising a means for replenishing said fluoride-adsorbing composition.

5. The fluorination reactor of claim 4, wherein said replenishing means comprises means for discontinuing the supply of said organic compound, means for discontinuing the supply of elemental fluorine, means for heating said fluoride-adsorbing composition so that HF is de-adsorbed, an inlet for supplying an inert gas flow and an outlet for directing said flow from said reactor so that said de-adsorbed HF is swept from said reactor.

6. The fluorination reactor of claim 4, wherein said reactor is a first reactor and said replenishing means comprises: (a) a supply of an organic compound and a supply of elemental fluorine in communication with the respective inlets of said first reactor;(b) a second fluorination reactor comprising a reaction zone containing a fluoride-adsorbing composition essentially free of HF and respective inlets for supplying an organic compound to be fluorinated and elemental fluorine to said reaction zone; and(c) a means for switching said supply of said organic compound and said supply of elemental fluorine from said respective inlets of said first reactor to said respective inlets of said second reactor.

7. The fluorination reactor of claim 1, wherein said fluoride-adsorbing composition comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of alkali-metal halides and alkaline earth halides.

8. The fluorination reactor of claim 7, wherein said fluoride-adsorbing composition comprises sodium fluoride.