Systems and methods for separating (e)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, hf, and a heavy organic and reactor purge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018194703-A1
Application number	US-201715850724-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 21, 2017
Priority date	Jan 6, 2017
Publication date	Jul 12, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure provides separation processes for removing heavy organics that are formed in various production processes of HCFO-1233zd(E). Such separation processes allow for the recovery and/or separation of the heavy organics from reactants that are used to form HCFO-1233zd(E), including HF. Such separation or recovery processes may utilize various separation techniques (e.g., decanting, liquid-liquid separation, distillation, and flash distillation) and may also utilize the unique properties of azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions. Recovery of the heavy organic that is substantially free from HF may allow for their use in subsequent manufacture processes or disposal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of cleaning a reactor comprising:
removing a reactor purge containing HF and at least one heavy organic; separating an HF phase and an organic phase comprising (E)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and the at least one heavy organic; distilling the organic phase; and recovering the distilled organics.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming an azeotropic or azeotrope-like composition comprising HF and at least one of 1,1,1,3,3 pentachloropropane (240fa), 1,1,1,3 tetrachoro-3 fluoro-propane (241fa), 1,1,1-trichloro-3,3-difluoro-propane (242fa), and combinations thereof.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the azeotropic or azeotrope-like composition comprises a heteroazeotrope.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the azeotropic or azeotrope-like composition is of HF and (E)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, and has a boiling point of about 0° C. to about 60° C. at a pressure of about 3 to about 73 psia.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of separating the HF phase and the organic phase comprises at least one of decanting, centrifuging, liquid-liquid extraction, distilling, flash distilling, and combinations thereof.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of distilling the organic phase includes flash distilling the organic phase.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the distilling is performed at a lower temperature or lower pressure, or both, than a temperature and pressure of the reactor purge when recovered.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the heavy organic has a weight average (M W ) molecular weight between about 500 g/mol to about 7,000 g/mol.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the heavy organic has a boiling point between about 120° C. and about 300° C. at a pressure between about 3 psia to about 73 psia.

10 . A method of separating (E)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, HF, and a heavy organic, comprising the steps of:
providing a mixture of (E)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, HF, and the heavy organic to a liquid-liquid separator; separating an HF phase and an organic phase comprising (E)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and at least one heavy organic; distilling the HF phase to form an HF rich overhead and a light organics bottoms; adding a light organics phase to the liquid-liquid separator; distilling the heavy organics from the liquid-liquid separator; and recovering the heavy organics.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising adding a washing fluid to the mixture of (E)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, HF, and heavy organic.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the washing fluid comprises at least one of 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, 1,1,1,3,3-pentachloropropane, 1,1,1,3-tetrachoro-3-fluoro-propane, 1,1,1 trichloro-3,3-difluoro-propane, HCl, or mixtures thereof.

13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising condensing the mixture of (E)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, HF, and the heavy organic.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the mixture of (E)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, HF, and the heavy organic forms part of a reactor purge.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the separating the HF phase and the organic phase comprises at least one of decanting, centrifuging, liquid-liquid extraction, distilling, flash distilling, or combinations thereof.

16 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising forming an azeotropic or an azeotrope-like composition comprising HF and at least one of 1,1,1,3,3 pentachloropropane (240fa), 1,1,1,3 tetrachoro-3 fluoro-propane (241fa), 1,1,1-trichloro-3,3-difluoro-propane (242fa), or combinations thereof.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the azeotropic or the azeotrope-like composition comprises a heteroazeotrope.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the azeotropic or the azeotrope-like composition is a homogeneous azeotrope.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Chiu Yuon
• Cottrell Stephen A
• Cerri Gustavo
• Mcclaine Jennifer W
• Wang Tao
• Singh Rajiv Ratna
• Banavali Rajiv

Classifications

• C07C17/383

  by distillation · CPC title

• C07C17/38 Primary

  Separation; Purification; Stabilisation; Use of additives · CPC title

• C01B7/196

  by distillation · CPC title

• B01D3/009 Primary

  in combination with chemical reactions · CPC title

• B01D3/143

  by two or more of a fractionation, separation or rectification step · CPC title