Azeotropic Composition for Trifluoropropyne Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing processes for producing 2,3,3-tetrafluoropropene suffer from significant losses of the desired product during purification due to the close boiling points of 2,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and light organic impurities like trifluoropropyne, leading to reduced overall yield.
Innovation Solution
An azeotropic or quasi-azeotropic composition comprising hydrochloric acid and trifluoropropyne is used to facilitate the separation of 2,3,3-tetrafluoropropene from trifluoropropyne by forming an azeotropic or quasi-azeotropic mixture with hydrochloric acid, allowing for effective distillation and minimizing the loss of 2,3,3-tetrafluoropropene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a distillation column is used to separate light organic impurities like trifluoropropyne from 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, then the desired product can be purified, but significant losses of the desired product occur due to the close boiling points of the two compounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses hydrofluoric acid as an intermediary substance that selectively reacts with trifluoropropyne to form a fluoroformate intermediate. This mediator enables selective transformation of the impurity without affecting the desired product, resolving the contradiction between purification and product loss caused by close boiling points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the impurity by reacting it with hydrofluoric acid to form a fluoroformate with different physical properties. This parameter change (chemical transformation) allows subsequent separation based on the new properties rather than relying on distillation of the original compounds with close boiling points.
2Manufacturing precision
If intermediate distillation is performed to remove light organic impurities, then the purity of the desired product is improved, but the overall yield of the process is reduced due to product loss
Solution Approach 1:
Hydrofluoric acid serves as a mediator that selectively targets the impurity for chemical transformation. This intermediary approach enables purification while preserving the majority of the desired product, thereby maintaining both high purity and overall yield.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the chemical state of the impurity through reaction with hydrofluoric acid, the process enables selective removal without the need for energy-intensive distillation that causes product loss, thus preserving both purity and productivity.
3Manufacturing precision
If hydrochloric acid is separated from reaction products via distillation, then hydrochloric acid can be recovered without fluorinated impurities, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes fluorinated impurities from the hydrochloric acid stream through selective chemical reaction. This extraction approach simplifies the overall separation process by eliminating the need for complex multi-stage distillation systems while achieving high purity hydrochloric acid recovery.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The use of the azeotropic composition significantly reduces the amount of trifluoropropyne in the purified 2,3,3-tetrafluoropropene stream, minimizing losses and improving the overall yield by effectively separating the two compounds with close boiling points.
Implementation Method 1
An azeotropic or quasi-azeotropic composition comprising hydrochloric acid and trifluoropropyne is used to facilitate the separation of 2,3,3-tetrafluoropropene from trifluoropropyne by forming an azeotropic or quasi-azeotropic mixture with hydrochloric acid, allowing for effective distillation
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an azeotropic or quasi-azeotropic composition comprising hydrochloric acid and trifluoropropyne. The invention also relates to a method for separating 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and trifluoropropyne from a composition A containing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and trifluoropropyne, said method comprising the steps of bringing said composition A into contact with an inorganic compound in order to form a composition B; and distilling composition B in order to from a first flow B1 containing trifluoropropyne and the inorganic compound, and a second flow B2 containing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene.