HFO-1225ye Azeotropic Composition for Stable Purification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing HFO-based compositions face challenges in identifying azeotrope formation, leading to fractionation upon boiling and evaporation, and there is a need for environmentally safer alternatives to CFCs, HFCs, and HCFCs that have minimal ozone depletion potential and contribute negligibly to greenhouse global warming.

Innovation Solution

Development of azeotropic and azeotrope-like compositions of 1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene (HFO-1225ye) with water and halocarbon or hydrogen fluoride impurities, which form stable mixtures that do not fractionate upon boiling, allowing for efficient separation and purification of HFO-1225ye.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If HFO-based compositions are used as refrigerants or blowing agents, then environmentally safer alternatives to CFCs and HFCs are provided, but the compositions may fractionate upon boiling and evaporation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveozone depletion potentialVSAvoidcomposition stability upon boiling
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines HFO-1225ye with water and specific impurities (halocarbons or hydrogen fluoride) to form an azeotropic mixture. This merging of components creates a stable composition that does not fractionate upon boiling, resolving the contradiction between environmental safety and compositional stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the compositional parameters by specifying precise ranges of water content (0.1-50 wt%) and impurity content, creating an azeotropic mixture with fixed boiling characteristics. This parameter optimization prevents fractionation while maintaining environmental benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If HFO-1225ye is produced as an intermediate in HFO-1234yf production, then environmentally desirable products are obtained, but separation and purification becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegreenhouse gas contributionVSAvoidseparation and purification ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses water and specific impurities as intermediary substances that form an azeotropic mixture with HFO-1225ye. This intermediary approach facilitates separation and purification by creating distinct phase behaviors during distillation, making the purification process more manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent exploits phase transition characteristics of the azeotropic mixture during distillation. The fixed boiling point and non-fractionating behavior of the azeotrope create distinct phase separation patterns that enable efficient separation and purification of HFO-1225ye from the mixture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

3Stability of the object's composition

If azeotropic mixtures are used to prevent fractionation, then composition stability is improved, but identification and characterization becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to fractionationVSAvoidazeotrope identification difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex analytical methods with simpler practical characterization approaches. By defining azeotropes through their boiling behavior and phase separation characteristics during distillation, the patent simplifies identification and measurement while maintaining the stability benefit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 compositions provide environmentally friendly alternatives with minimal ozone depletion and greenhouse gas contribution, suitable for uses such as refrigerants, blowing agents, and sterilization, while enabling efficient separation and purification of HFO-1225ye.

Implementation Method 1

HFO-1225ye is known to form an azeotropic mixture with water. Azeotropic mixtures are known to resist fractionation during boiling and evaporation.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAzeotrope formation:

Implementation Method 2

This azeotrope is separated from impurities using standard methods known in the art, such as but not limited to, distillation.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDistillation: Distillation

Data Source

PatentEP4311822B1Azeotropic and azeotrope-like compositions of pentafluoropropene and methods of purifying the same
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 THE CHEMOURS CO FC LLC

AI summary

Provided are azeotropic and azeotrope-like compositions comprising 1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene (HFO-1225ye), water and at least one impurity, wherein the impurity is halocarbon or hydrogen fluoride. Also provided are methods of purifying such azeotropic and azeotrope-like compositions in order to recover purified 1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene.