Azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions of 3,3,3-trifluoropropyne (TFPY) and hydrogen fluoride (HF)
Heterogenous azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions comprising 3,3,3-trifluoropropyne (TFPY) and hydrogen fluoride (HF) which may include from about 71.5 wt. % to about 98.8 wt. % 3,3,3-trifluoropropyne (TFPY) and from about 1.2 wt. % to about 28.5 wt. % hydrogen fluoride and have a boiling point between about −10.0° C. and about 25.0° C. at a pressure of between about 61 psia and about 171 psia. The azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions may be used to separate 3,3,3-trifluoropropyne (TFPY) as an impurity from compositions of 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (1233xf), 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane (HCFC-244bb), or 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf).
1 . A method of separating 3,3,3-trifluoropropyne (TFPY) as an impurity from a first composition which includes hydrogen fluoride (HF), at least one primary compound selected from the group consisting of 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (1233xf), 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane (HCFC-244bb), 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf), 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245eb), 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234ze), and 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245fa), and 3,3,3-trifluoropropyne (TFPY) as an impurity, comprising the steps of:
subjecting the first composition to conditions effective to form a second, binary azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition consisting essentially of from about 71.5 wt. % to about 98.8 wt. % 3,3,3-trifluoropropyne (TFPY) and from about 1.2 wt. % to about 28.5 wt. % hydrogen fluoride (HF) at a boiling point between −10.0° C. and 25.0° C. at a pressure of between 61 psia and 166 psia, wherein the azeotrope-like composition is a composition which behaves substantially as an azeotrope composition; and
separating the second, binary azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition consisting essentially of TFPY and HF by distillation from the first composition including the at least one primary compound, wherein the at least one primary compound remains in the first composition.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary compound is selected from the group consisting of 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (1233xf), 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane (HCFC-244bb), and 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf); or is selected from the group consisting of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245eb) and 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf).
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary compound is selected from the group consisting of 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234ze) and 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245fa).
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary compound is 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf).
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary compound is 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane (HCFC-244bb).
6 . The method of claim 5 , the method further comprising the additional step, after the separating step, of:
reacting the first composition to convert 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane (HCFC-244bb) to 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoroproane (HFO-1234yf).
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary compound is 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (1233xf).
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary compound is 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234ze).
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary compound is 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245eb).
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary compound is 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245fa).