Preparation of bis(fluoromethy)ether and difluoromethane
AssigneeImperial Chemical Industries PLC
InventorsJohn S. Martin, Thomas A. Ryan, Rachel A. Spooncer
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Abstract
A process for the production of bis(fluoromethyl)ether by contacting formaldehyde with hydrogen fluoride in a reaction/distillation vessel. The reaction/distillation vessel is preferably a reaction/distillation column through which formaldehyde and hydrogen fluoride preferably flow in counter current. The bis(fluoromethyl)ether may be converted to difluoromethane, preferably by heating the bis(fluoromethyl)ether to elevated temperature in the presence of a metal, metal oxide, metal fluoride or metal oxyfluoride catalyst.
Claims9
A process for the production of bis(fluoromethyl) ether which comprises reacting formaldehyde with hydrogen fluoride in a distillation column operated at a temperature in the reaction section of from about 50.degree. C. to about 80.degree. C. to produce bis(fluoromethyl) ether and water and withdrawing from the column a vapour in which the mole ratio of bis(fluoromethyl) ether to water is greater than 1.
A process for the production of bis(fluoromethyl) ether which comprises reacting formaldehyde with hydrogen fluoride in a distillation column within which the temperature profile is from 20.degree. C. to 40.degree. C. at the top of the column to 115.degree. C. to 140.degree. C. at the bottom of the column to produce bis(fluoromethyl) ether and water and withdrawing from the column a vapour in which the mole ratio of bis(fluoromethyl) ether to water is greater than 1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.