Purification of cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene via extractive distillation

1. A process for separating cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene from a first mixture comprising cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene and at least one chlorofluoroolefin, comprising the steps of:

a) contacting said first mixture with at least one extractive agent, to form a second mixture;

b) distilling said second mixture; and

c) recovering cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene substantially free of said at least one chlorofluoroolefin, wherein said at least one chlorofluoroolefin is one or more of trans-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-chloro-2-butene, cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluouro-2-chloro-2-butene and 1,1,1,2,4,4,4-heptafluoro-3-chloro-2-butene.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein said at least one chlorofluoroolefin is one or more of trans-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-chloro-2-butene and cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluouro-2-chloro-2-butene.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein said at least one extractive agent is a compound having a normal boiling point between 50° C. and 250° C.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein said at least one extractive agent is a C6 to C14 linear or branched alkane, C6 to C10 cyclic alkane with or without branching, C6 to C12 linear or branched alkene, C6 to 010 cycloalkene, C6 to C10 diene, C1 to C4 chloroalkane, C2 to C4 chloroalkene, or mixtures thereof.

5. The claim of claim 4 , wherein said extractive agent is n-octane or perchloroethylene or mixtures thereof.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein said at least one extractive agent is an alcohol, diol, ketone, lactone, ester, anhydride, aldehyde, ether, nitrile, amide, sulfoxide, pyrrolidone, carbonate, phosphate, diethyl sulfite, dimethyl sulfate, diethyl sulfate, or mixtures thereof.

7. The process of claim 6 , wherein said at least one extractive agent is ethyl acetate, n-butanol, 2-butanone, tetrahydrofuran, N,N-dimethylformamide, or mixtures thereof.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the volatility of said cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene, or said at least one chlorofluoroolefin is increased, one relative to the other, in the presence of said at least one extractive agent.

9. The process of claim 8 , wherein the volatility of said cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene as compared to said at least one chlorofluoroolefin is increased in the presence of said at least one extractive agent.

10. The process of claim 9 , wherein said cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene is recovered as an overhead stream in the said distillation.

11. The process of claim 9 , wherein the extractive agent is n-octane, perchloroethylene, or mixtures thereof.

12. The process of claim 8 , wherein the volatility of said cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene as compared to said at least one chlorofluoroolefin is decreased in the presence of said at least one extractive agent.

13. The process of claim 12 , wherein the extractive agent is ethyl acetate, n-butanol, 2-butanone, tetrahydrofuran, N,N-dimethylformamide, or mixtures thereof.

14. The process of claim 12 , wherein a mixture comprising said cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene and the extractive agent is recovered as bottoms stream from said distillation.

15. The process of claim 1 , wherein the cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene recovered from the second mixture contains less than about 1000 ppm of chlorofluoroolefin.

16. A process for reducing the concentration of an impurity, comprising:

a. distilling a first mixture comprising cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene and an impurity of at least one chlorofluoroolefin in the presence of an extractive agent which is a C6 to C14 linear or branched alkane, C6 to C10 cyclic alkane with or without branching, C6 to C12 linear or branched alkene, C6 to C10 cycloalkene, C6 to C10 diene, C1 to C4 chloroalkane, C2 to C4 chloroalkene, or mixtures thereof,

b. recovering cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene substantially free of said chlorofluoroolefin as an overhead stream from said distillation column; wherein said chlorofluoroolefin is one or more of trans-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-chloro-2-butene, cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluouro-2-chloro-2-butene and 1,1,1,2,4,4,4-heptafluoro-3-chloro-2-butene.

17. The process of claim 16 , wherein said chlorofluoroolefin is one or more of trans-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-chloro-2-butene and cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluouro-2-chloro-2-butene.

18. The process of claim 16 , wherein a bottoms stream comprising said at least one chlorofluoroolefin and extractive agent is recovered from said distillation, and subjected to a second distillation to recover said chlorofluoroolefin as an overhead stream, and the extractive agent is recovered as a bottoms stream.

19. The process of claim 16 , wherein the cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene contains less than about 1000 ppm of chlorofluoroolefin.

20. A process for reducing the concentration of an impurity, comprising,

a. distilling a first mixture comprising cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene and an impurity of at least one chlorofluoroolefin in the presence of an extractive agent which is an alcohol, diol, ketone, lactone, ester, anhydride, aldehyde, ether, nitrile, amide, sulfoxide, pyrrolidone, carbonate, phosphate, diethyl sulfite, dimethyl sulfate, or diethyl sulfate or mixtures thereof,

b. removing a second mixture comprising cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene and said extractive agent substantially free of said at least one chlorofluoroolefin as a bottoms composition from said distillation column,

c. distilling said second mixture in a second distillation column, and

d. recovering an overhead composition comprising cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene substantially free of said extractive agent from the top of said second distillation column;

wherein said at least one chlorofluoroolefin is one or more of trans-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-chloro-2-butene, cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-chloro-2-butene and 1,1,1,2,4,4,4-heptafluoro-3-chloro-2-butene.

21. The process of claim 20 , wherein said at least one chlorofluoroolefin is one or more of trans-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-chloro-2-butene and cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-chloro-2-butene.

22. The process of claim 20 , wherein the cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene recovered from the second distillation column contains less than 1000 ppm of said chlorofluoroolefin.