Conversion of fluorocarbons

Abstract

A process is disclosed for the conversion of fluorocarbons into fluorinated unsaturated compounds useful as monomers or other chemical precursors, such as C2H2F2. The process comprises reacting a hydrocarbon feed (20) and a fluorocarbon feed (10) in a high temperature reactor (26), at sufficiently high temperature and sufficiently short resident time to form a reaction product mixture (28) having the fluorinated unsaturated compound as the major reaction product, and cooling (18) to a temperature sufficiently low to inhibit polymerisation of the unsaturated compound. The reaction product may then be processed by removal of higher molecular weight compounds (35) and acids (32) and optionally separated (44) into product components.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a process for the conversion of fluorocarbons, being organic compounds having C—F bonds—and including hydrofluorocarbons, halofluorocarbons, hydrohalofluorcarbons—and in particular to their conversion into fluorinated unsaturated compounds having economic use, such as monomers. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Fluorocarbons have been found to have many uses, for example the use of fluorocarbons, halofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons as refrigerants and propellants, halons (ie. chlorinated and / or brominated saturated fluorocarbons) as flame suppressants used in fire fighting and perfluorocarbons as foam blowing agents However, many of these useful fluorinated compounds have been found to be damaging to the environment, and / or to humans. The use and production of some fluorocarbons are now restricted or banned under international treaties. [0003] Enormous stockpiles of halons, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other fluo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a process for converting fluorocarbon pollutants into a source of fluorinated unsaturated compounds useful in their own right or as precursors for production of other molecules, including polymers. The process involves reacting a hydrocarbon with a fluorocarbon feed under non-oxidative conditions in a high temperature reactor, at sufficiently high temperature and sufficiently short residence time to form a reaction product mixture having a fluorinated unsaturated compound as the major reaction component thereof. The process can produce a variety of fluorinated unsaturated compounds, including monomers, which can be used in various applications such as chemical production. The invention also provides a method for separating and recycling the remaining reaction product mixture."

Problems solved by technology

Fluorocarbons have been found to have many uses, for example the use of fluorocarbons, halofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons as refrigerants and propellants, halons (ie. chlorinated and / or brominated saturated fluorocarbons) as flame suppressants used in fire fighting and perfluorocarbons as foam blowing agents However, many of these useful fluorinated compounds have been found to be damaging to the environment, and / or to humans.

Techniques for disposal of these fluorocarbon pollutants include destructive processes such as incineration and argon plasma destruction.

Such processes are expensive to run, result in incomplete destruction of the fluorocarbons and produce compounds of no particular economic value.

Plasma destruction is suitable for dilute concentrations of some fluorocarbons, but not for halons in view of their flame suppressive properties.

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