US 5,488,142 A · Fluorination in tubular reactor system

Abstract

Direct fiuorination of organics such as 1,8-dichlorooctane in tubular reactor. Inert liquid containing organic feed is circulated through tubular reactor with fluorine gas for a time and at a temperature sufficient to yield fluorinated organic. Preferably, liquid and gas phases are separated from reactor product stream containing inert liquid, fluorinated organic, and any unreacted organic is recycled to turbulent mixing zone upstream of reactor in which fresh organic feed is added; and fluorine is added to recycle stream at end of mixing zone. Flow in tubular reactor is turbulent. Rate of organic feed and fluorine addition to process are independent of each other. Among process advantages are: Freon solvents not required; good control of reaction exotherm; and HF scavengers not required. Process useful for partial or complete fluorination.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A process for making fluorinated organic substances which comprises:

(A) providing a reaction system comprising a reactor consisting essentially of a tubular reactor and a means for conveying fluids through the reactor;
(B) adding to the reaction system upstream of the tubular reactor an organic feed which can be fluorinated;
(C) conveying through the tubular reactor a fluid stream comprising the organic feed and an inert liquid medium;
(D) introducing into the fluid stream of C fluorine gas, the ratio of organic feed to fluorine being sufficient to obtain a chemical reaction between them;
and
(E) fluorinating the organic feed in turbulent flow conditions in which the Reynolds number of the fluid stream is at least 3,000 and for a time sufficient to yield fluorinated product.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fluorination in tubular reactor system

Life of this patent

Fluorination in tubular reactor system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13