HFC-143 Fluorination Using Chlorinated Feedstocks for High Selectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for producing 1,1,2-trifluoroethane (HFC-143) are costly due to the use of expensive starting materials and have low selectivity for HFC-143 as a by-product, with PTL 1 requiring expensive chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) and PTL 2 achieving only 1.9% selectivity.
Innovation Solution
A method involving fluorination reactions of chlorine-containing compounds like 1,1,2-trichloroethane (HCC-140), 1,2-dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141), and others with hydrogen fluoride, using a molar ratio over 40, and a chromium-based catalyst at temperatures between 150 to 600°C, to produce HFC-143 efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) is used as starting material for hydrogenation reaction, then HFC-143 can be produced, but the production cost becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive CTFE with cheaper chlorine-containing compounds (1,1,2-trichloroethane, 1,2-dichloro-1-fluoroethane, 1,1-dichloro-2-fluoroethane, or their mixtures) as starting materials. These cheaper substitutes enable cost-effective production of HFC-143 through fluorination reactions with hydrogen fluoride, directly resolving the cost issue while maintaining production capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the starting material from fluorinated compounds (CTFE) to chlorinated compounds (HCC-140, HCFC-141, HCFC-141a). This parameter change in molecular composition allows the use of cheaper raw materials while achieving the same target product through different reaction pathways (fluorination instead of hydrogenation).
2Manufacturing precision
If fluorination reaction is performed with molar ratio of HF to chlorine-containing compound over 40, then HFC-143 selectivity is improved, but hydrogen fluoride consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molar ratio parameter of HF to chlorine-containing compound to be over 40 (preferably 50-100). This parameter change dramatically improves HFC-143 selectivity from the conventional 1.9% to over 90%, achieving high manufacturing precision. The high HF ratio ensures complete fluorination and suppresses side reactions, directly resolving the selectivity issue.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional fluorination method is used to produce HFC-143 as by-product, then other refrigerants can be produced, but HFC-143 selectivity remains low at 1.9%
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses chlorine-containing compounds (HCC-140, HCFC-141, HCFC-141a) that can serve multiple purposes. These compounds are not only starting materials for HFC-143 production but also intermediates for other refrigerants. By optimizing the fluorination conditions (HF molar ratio > 40), the process achieves high HFC-143 selectivity while maintaining the versatility to produce other refrigerants, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and manufacturing precision.
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 method produces HFC-143 at lower costs and with higher efficiency compared to conventional methods, achieving improved selectivity and conversion rates.
Implementation Method 1
the one or more fluorination reactions are performed in the presence of a catalyst in a gas phase... wherein the catalyst is at least partly a chromium-based catalyst
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a method for producing HFC-143 that is not expensive, and that is more efficient than conventional methods. Specifically, the present disclosure provides a method for producing 1,1,2-trifluoroethane (HFC-143) that includes contacting at least one chlorine-containing compound selected from the group consisting of 1,1,2-trichloroethane (HCC-140), 1,2-dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141), 1,1-dichloro-2-fluoroethane (HCFC-141a), (E,Z)-1,2-dichloroethylene (HCO-1130(E,Z)), and (E,Z)-1-chloro-2-fluoroethylene (HCFO-1131(E,Z)) with hydrogen fluoride to perform one or more fluorination reactions, thereby obtaining a reaction gas containing HFC-143, hydrogen chloride, and hydrogen fluoride.