Purifying Hydrogen Bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide via Bronsted Base Neutralization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing hydrogen bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (HFSI) generate strong acids and by-products like HF, causing corrosion and contamination, leading to impurities that affect the purity and safety of the final product, necessitating further purification steps.
Innovation Solution
A process involving a mixture of HFSI and an acid compound contacted with a Bronsted base, allowing for simultaneous reaction and separation without solvents, achieving high purity HFSI with minimal acid compounds, suitable for industrial scaling and use in lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional methods are used to produce HFSI, then the synthesis can proceed, but strong acids and by-products like HF are generated causing corrosion and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using the Bronsted base to neutralize the harmful strong acids (fluorosulfonic acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid) generated during HFSI synthesis, converting them into harmless or easily removable salts and water, thereby eliminating corrosion and contamination problems while maintaining the synthesis process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a Bronsted base as an intermediary substance that mediates between the harmful acid by-products and the desired HFSI product. The base selectively reacts with acid impurities to form neutralized products that can be separated, thus protecting the final product from contamination and the equipment from corrosion
2Ease of manufacture
If crude HFSI is produced without purification, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the purity is insufficient for downstream applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extraction by selectively removing acid impurities from the crude HFSI mixture through reaction with Bronsted base. The neutralized acid products (salts and water) are then separated from the HFSI, effectively extracting the harmful components while retaining the desired product with high purity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical state of acid impurities by adjusting pH through Bronsted base addition, transforming them from harmful strong acids into neutral or weakly acidic forms that can be easily separated. This parameter change enables efficient purification while maintaining product integrity
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple purification steps are added to remove impurities, then the purity increases, but the process complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple purification functions into a single integrated step: neutralization of acids, removal of HF, and separation of impurities are all achieved through one reaction and separation process using Bronsted base, eliminating the need for multiple sequential purification steps while achieving >99% purity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous purification by maintaining the Bronsted base reaction and separation process as an ongoing operation that continuously removes impurities as they form or are present in the mixture, rather than requiring discrete batch purification steps, thereby reducing overall process time and complexity
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 process achieves chemical purity of at least 99.5% HFSI with less than 100 ppm of acid compounds, eliminating the need for additional purification and ensuring a safer, more environmentally friendly manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
contacting said mixture (M1) with at least one Bronsted base; said mixture (M1) and said at least one Bronsted base to react; separating the reaction products between said at least one Bronsted base and said at least one acid compound
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for purifying bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide.