Fluorochromium Oxide Catalyst Selectivity in Dehydrohalogenation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for producing fluorine-containing olefins through dehydrohalogenation reactions generate significant by-products with strong heat-trapping potential, which complicates global warming concerns and increases production costs due to low boiling points and reduced yield.

Innovation Solution

Employing a highly-fluorinated fluorochromium oxide catalyst with a fluorine content of at least 30% by weight in the dehydrohalogenation reaction from fluorine-containing halogenated propane to reduce by-product generation and enhance the selectivity of fluorine-containing olefins.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional dehydrohalogenation reaction is used to produce fluorine-containing olefin, then fluorine-containing olefin is generated, but a large amount of by-products are generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction of fluorine-containing olefinVSAvoidby-product generation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameter of the catalyst by using fluorinated chromium oxide with specific fluorine content (20-40 wt%) instead of conventional chromium oxide catalysts. This parameter change in catalyst composition selectively promotes the dehydrohalogenation reaction while suppressing side reactions that generate by-products such as HFC-23, HFC-143a, and HFC-134, thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity and substance loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If by-products are generated in the reaction, then yield decreases, but separation and removal of by-products is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyield of fluorine-containing olefinVSAvoidseparation process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preliminary anti-action by using the fluorinated chromium oxide catalyst to prevent by-product formation at the source during the dehydrohalogenation reaction. By selectively catalyzing the desired reaction pathway and suppressing side reactions beforehand, the method avoids generating by-products that would require complex separation processes, thus maintaining high yield without increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Loss of substance

If by-products with low boiling points are generated, then they can be removed by distillation, but HFC-134 cannot be readily removed due to similar boiling point to target substance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveby-product removalVSAvoidseparation difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the reaction selectivity parameter through the use of fluorinated chromium oxide catalyst, which preferentially catalyzes the formation of the desired fluorine-containing olefin while minimizing the formation of by-products with similar boiling points like HFC-134. This parameter change in catalyst composition and selectivity eliminates the need for complex separation processes, making by-product removal easier.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If conventional catalyst is used for dehydrohalogenation reaction, then reaction proceeds, but selectivity of fluorine-containing olefin is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereaction rateVSAvoidselectivity of fluorine-containing olefin
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the compositional parameter of the catalyst by incorporating fluorine into chromium oxide to create fluorinated chromium oxide with specific fluorine content (20-40 wt%). This parameter change enhances the catalyst's selectivity for the dehydrohalogenation reaction, preferentially producing fluorine-containing olefin while suppressing side reactions, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 a highly-fluorinated fluorochromium oxide catalyst effectively minimizes by-products and increases the selectivity of fluorine-containing olefins, addressing global warming concerns and reducing production costs.

Implementation Method 1

fluorochromium oxide having a fluorine content not less than 30% by weight is used as a catalyst in the reaction step

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentUS7973202B2Method for producing fluorine-containing olefin
Publication Date: 2011.07.05 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

The present invention aims to reduce an amount of by-products generated in a reaction step for obtaining fluorine-containing olefin, and thereby to obtain fluorine-containing olefin as a target substance with a higher selectivity than that in the conventional method.In a reaction step for generating fluorine-containing olefin by a dehydrohalogenation reaction from fluorine-containing halogenated propane expressed by a general formula CF3CH(2-n)XnCH(3-m)Xm (wherein n=0, 1 or 2; m=1, 2 or 3; and n+m≦3; and X is selected from F, Cl and Br, independently), fluorochromium oxide having a fluorine content not less than 30% by weight is used as a catalyst.