Traditionally, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) like trichlorofluoromethane and dichlorodifluoromethane have been used as refrigerants, blowing agents and diluents for gaseous sterilization. In recent years, there has been universal concern that completely halogenated chlorofluorocarbons might be detrimental to the Earth's ozone layer. Therefore, stratospherically safer alternatives to these materials are desirable.
Consequently, there is a worldwide effort to use fluorine-substituted hydrocarbons which contain fewer or no chlorine substituents. The production of HFCs, i.e., compounds containing only carbon, hydrogen and fluorine, has been the subject of interest to provide environmentally desirable products for use as solvents, blowing agents, refrigerants, cleaning agents, aerosol propellants, heat transfer media, dielectrics, fire extinguishing compositions and power cycle working fluids. It is known in the art to produce fluorocarbons such as HFCs by reacting hydrogen fluoride with various hydrochlorocarbon compounds. Such HFCs are not only considered to be much more environmentally advantageous than hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) or chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) because they are not non-ozone depleting, but also they are non-flammable, and non-toxic as compared to the chlorine containing compounds. While HFCs are considered to be much more environmentally advantageous than HCFCs or CFCs because they are non-ozone depleting, recent data indicates that they may also contribute to greenhouse global warming. Accordingly, alternatives to HFCs, HCFCs, and CFCs are also being explored.
Hydrofluoroolefins (“HFOs”) have been proposed as possible replacements. It is generally known that HFOs are best used as a single component fluid or azeotropic mixture, neither of which fractionate on boiling and evaporation. The identification of such compositions is difficult due, at least in part, to the relative unpredictability of azeotrope formation. Therefore, industry is continually seeking new HFO-based mixtures that are acceptable and environmentally safer substitutes for CFCs, HCFCs, and HFCs.
3,3,3-trifluoropropyne, also known as “TFPY”, is a suitable starting material for various hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) including but not limited to HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze, HCFO-1233zd(Z), and HFO-1225ye, and is also produced as a side product in the production of various hydrofluoroolefins including but not limited to HFO-1234ze, HFO-1234yf, HFCO-1233zd, all of which are well known in the art, and several are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0234165, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Methods to produce 3,3,3-trifluoropropyne are also known in the art, for example, from U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,964,759 and 8,791,309.
New compositions of, methods of separating and purifying, and uses of, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyne are desired.