Patent ID: 8461402
Filing Date: 2013-06-11
Classification: C07B,C07C,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for producing trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene comprising: reacting a hydrofluorocarbon in a first reactor under conditions effective to produce product stream comprising trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, cis-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 1,1,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, hydrogen fluoride, and unconverted hydrofluorocarbon reactant; optionally removing said generated hydrogen fluoride from said product stream; distilling said product stream to produce a purified product stream comprising said trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and a second stream comprising said cis-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, said 1,1,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and said unconverted hydrofluorocarbon reactant; contacting said second stream with at least one isomerization catalyst selected from the group consisting of metal halides, halogenated metal oxides, and zero-valent metals or metal alloys, wherein said contacting occurs at a reaction temperature from about 50° C. to about 400° C. to isomerize at least a portion of said 1,1,3,3-tetrafluoropropene into isomerized 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene; and optionally recirculating said isomerized 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene to said first reactor.