FIELD

The present disclosure relates to processes for producing trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I). Specifically, the present disclosure relates to catalysts and integrated processes to produce trifluoroiodomethane.

BACKGROUND

Trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I) is a useful compound in commercial applications, as a refrigerant or a fire suppression agent, for example. Trifluoroiodomethane is an environmentally acceptable compound with a low global warming potential and a low ozone depletion potential. Trifluoroiodomethane can replace more environmentally damaging materials.

Methods of preparing trifluoroiodomethane are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,132,578 (Mukhopadhyay et al.) discloses a catalytic, one-step process for producing trifluoroiodomethane from trifluoroacetyl chloride. However, the source of iodine, is iodine fluoride (IF). Iodine fluoride is relatively unstable, decomposing above 0° C. to I2and IF5. Iodine fluoride may also not be available in commercially useful quantities.

In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,196,236 (Mukhopadhyay et al.) discloses a catalytic process for producing trifluoroiodomethane using reactants comprising a source of iodine, such as hydrogen iodide, at least a stoichiometric amount of oxygen, and a reactant CF3R, where R is selected from the group consisting of —COOH, —COX, —CHO, —COOR2, AND —SO2X, where R2is alkyl group and X is a chlorine, bromine, or iodine. Hydrogen iodide, which may be produced by the reaction, is oxidized by the at least a stoichiometric amount of oxygen, producing water and iodine for economic recycling.

Several other processes are referenced in the literature for making CF3I from trifluoroacetyl chloride with hydrogen iodide in a vapor phase reaction. However, the production of CF3I from trifluoroacetyl chloride and hydrogen iodide requires an extra step to make hydrogen iodide. The present disclosure introduces a one-step process to make CF3I by co-feeding trifluoroacetyl halide, hydrogen and iodine into a reactor with the presence of a catalyst.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides processes for producing trifluoroiodomethane from hydrogen (H2), elemental iodine (I2), and a trifluoroacetyl halide (CF3C(O)X).

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a process for producing trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I). The process includes providing vapor-phase reactants including trifluoroacetyl halide, hydrogen, and iodine, heating the vapor-phase reactants, and reacting the heated vapor-phase reactants in the presence of a catalyst to produce trifluoroiodomethane. The catalyst includes a transition metal.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a process for producing trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I). The process includes the steps of reacting a trifluoroacetyl halide, hydrogen, and iodine in the vapor phase at a temperature from about 200° C. to about 600° C. in the presence of a catalyst to produce a product stream comprising the trifluoroiodomethane, unreacted trifluoroacetyl halide, unreacted hydrogen, unreacted iodine, hydrogen halide, and hydrogen iodide. The catalyst includes a transition metal. The process further includes removing at least some of the unreacted iodine from the product stream by cooling the product stream to condense iodine from the vapor phase and recycling the condensed iodine to the reacting step.

The above mentioned and other features of the disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments.

