Method for manufacturing fluoroalcohol

A method for manufacturing a fluoroalcohol represented by formula (1)

• H(CFR1CF2)nCH2OH (1)
• (wherein R1 represents F or CF3, when n=1;
• R1 represents F, when n=2) by reacting methanol with tetrafluoroethylene or hexafluoropropylene in the presence of a free radical generator, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
• feeding a reaction mixture into a first distillation column;
• distilling off methanol from the top of the first distillation column;
• withdrawing a first bottom fraction comprising water, HF and the fluoroalcohol represented by formula (1) from the bottom of the first distillation column;
• feeding the first bottom fraction into a second distillation column;
• withdrawing a fraction comprising water and HF from the top of the second distillation column;
• withdrawing a second bottom fraction comprising the fluoroalcohols represented by formula (1) from the bottom of the second distillation column;
• feeding methanol from the top of the first distillation column back into a reactor for recycling;
• and
• purifying the second bottom fraction to recover the fluoroalcohol represented by formula (1).