Method of purifying methyl fluoride by removing dimethyl ether
AssigneeSouth 8 Technologies, Inc.
InventorsCyrus Rustomji, JungWoo Lee, Jim Royer, Jeremy Intrator
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Abstract
A method and system for purifying methyl fluoride (MeF) by removing dimethyl ether (Me2O) using a lithium salt sorbent, such as LiFSI or LiTFSI, are disclosed. Contaminated MeF is contacted with the sorbent, which preferentially adsorbs Me2O due to strong Lewis acid-base interactions, yielding purified MeF. The process may involve flowing through a sorbent bed, cryogenic collection, temperature differentials, or pumping, with optional multiple cycles for enhanced purity. This approach provides superior efficiency and purity compared to conventional methods, with experimental reductions up to 80% in Me2O content. Alternative salts and porous supports are also provided.
Claims23
A method for purifying a fluid by removing dimethyl ether, comprising:
- contacting a composition comprising the fluid contaminated with dimethyl ether with a sorbent comprising a lithium salt that selectively binds dimethyl ether over the fluid, wherein the lithium salt is lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) or lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI);
- and
- separating purified fluid from the sorbent, wherein the purified fluid has a reduced concentration of dimethyl ether compared to the contaminated composition.
A system for purifying a fluid by removing dimethyl ether, comprising:
- a source vessel configured to hold a composition comprising the fluid contaminated with dimethyl ether;
- a sorbent vessel in fluid communication with the source vessel, the sorbent vessel containing a sorbent comprising a lithium salt that selectively binds dimethyl ether over the fluid, wherein the lithium salt is lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) or lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI);
- and
- a collection vessel in fluid communication with the sorbent vessel, configured to collect purified fluid having a reduced concentration of dimethyl ether.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.