Compositions and methods for the purification of CFC-113 by adsorption

1. A method of separating 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113) and 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113a) comprising:

providing a composition including 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113) and 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113a);

contacting the composition with an adsorbent comprising carbon to adsorb 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113a) to form a treated composition;

wherein the concentration of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113a) in the treated composition is reduced.

2. The method of claim 1 :

wherein the concentration of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113a) in the treated composition is less than 0.1 weight percent.

3. The method of claim 2 :

wherein the concentration of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113a) in the treated composition is less than 0.05 weight percent.

4. The method of claim 1 :

wherein the selective adsorbent includes nickel or copper.

5. The method of claim 1 :

further comprising treating the adsorbent with hydrogen;

wherein the adsorbent is treated with hydrogen prior to contacting the composition.

6. The method of claim 1 :

wherein the amount of 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113) plus 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113a) in the composition is at least 98 weight percent based on the total weight of the untreated composition.

7. The method of claim 1 :

wherein the composition is contacted with the adsorbent for a contact time of at least 30 minutes.

8. A method of separating 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113) and 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113a) comprising:

providing a composition including 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113) and 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113a);

contacting the composition with an adsorbent comprising carbon to adsorb 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113a) to form a treated composition;

wherein the adsorbent is surface treated to impart additional functional groups to the surface of the adsorbent;

wherein the concentration of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113a) in the treated composition is reduced by more than 10 percent based on the concentration of the 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113a).

9. The method of claim 8 :

wherein the concentration of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113a) in the treated composition is less than about 0.1 weight percent.

10. The method of claim 9 :

wherein the concentration of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113a) in the treated composition is less than about 0.05 weight percent.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the adsorbent has a particle size ranging from about 4 to about 20 mesh.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprises recovering CFC-113 and converting the recovered CFC-113 into CTFE.

13. A method for purifying a composition comprising 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113) and 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113a), the method comprising:

providing a composition including 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113) and 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113a);

contacting the composition with carbon under conditions sufficient to adsorb 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113a) to form a treated composition;

wherein the carbon is treated before the contacting; and,

wherein the concentration of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113a) in the treated composition is reduced.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the adsorbent is treated with hydrogen.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the adsorbent is treated with at least one metal.