Method for producing a hydrogen-containing chloromethane

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for producing a hydrogen-containing chloromethane such as chloroform at high selectivity in good yield by reducing a polychloromethane such as carbon tetrachloride in the presence of a reduction catalyst. In the present invention, it is important to conduct the reduction reaction in a liquid phase, whereby formation of impurities such as polymers which deactivate the catalyst, can effectively be suppressed, and the high selectivity and high activity of the reduction catalyst can adequately be obtained. As the reduction catalyst, at least one member selected from elements of Groups 8, 9 and 10, such as ruthenium, rhodium, palladium and platinum, may suitably be employed. Also a catalyst comprising, as the main component, such an element and having at least one member of Group 11 elements such as copper, silver and gold added thereto, may also suitably be employed. In a case where the liquid phase reduction reaction is conducted continuously, it is preferred to adopt a fixed bed system, particularly a trickle bed system. The method of the present invention is valuable also as a method for converting carbon tetrachloride which is regulated from the standpoint of global environmental protection, to chloroform which is useful as raw material for various fluorine-containing compounds.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.