Method and apparatus for continuously producing 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane with high yield

Abstract

A method and apparatus for method of continuously producing 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane with high yield is provided. The method includes (a) bringing a CoF 3 -containing cobalt fluoride in a reactor into contact with 3,3,3-trifluoropropene to produce a CoF 2 -containing cobalt fluoride and 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane, (b) transferring the CoF 2 -containing cobalt fluoride in the reactor to a regenerator and bringing the transferred CoF 2 -containing cobalt fluoride into contact with fluorine gas to regenerate a CoF 3 -containing cobalt fluoride, and (c) transferring the CoF 3 -containing cobalt fluoride in the regenerator to the reactor and employing the transferred CoF 3 -containing cobalt fluoride in Operation (a). Accordingly, the 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane can be continuously produced with high yield from the 3,3,3-trifluoropropene using a cobalt fluoride (CoF 2 /CoF 3 ) as a fluid catalyst, thereby improving the reaction stability and readily adjusting the optimum conversion rate and selectivity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for continuously producing 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane, comprising:
 a reactor configured to bring a CoF 3 -containing cobalt fluoride into countercurrent contact with 3,3,3-trifluoropropene to produce a CoF 2 -containing cobalt fluoride and 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane;   a first screw conveyor configured to draw the CoF 2 -containing cobalt fluoride from the reactor;   a regenerator configured to receive the CoF 2 -containing cobalt fluoride from the first screw conveyor and bring the received CoF 2 -containing cobalt fluoride into countercurrent contact with fluorine gas to regenerate a CoF 3 -containing cobalt fluoride; and   a second screw conveyor configured to draw the CoF 3 -containing cobalt fluoride from the regenerator and transfer the CoF 3 -containing cobalt fluoride to the reactor.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the reactor and the regenerator comprise a rotary shaft having paddle-type blades attached thereto, and the cobalt fluorides in the reactor and the regenerator are transferred by rotation of the rotary shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a transfer rate of the cobalt fluorides in the reactor and the regenerator is adjusted by adjusting an angle of the paddle-type blades attached to the rotary shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first screw conveyor is coupled to the reactor and the regenerator so that an upward slope is formed from the reactor to the regenerator. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second screw conveyor is coupled to the regenerator and the reactor so that an upward slope is formed from the regenerator to the reactor. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrostatic precipitator configured to receive 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane produced in the reactor and recover the CoF 3 -containing cobalt fluoride that is able to be entrained with the received 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane.