Patent ID: 8871168

Claim:
A process for continuously producing monosilane in a monosilane production apparatus comprising a reaction column ( 1 ), at least two upper condensers ( 3 , 5 ) each of which has a reflux feed pipe ( 6 , 7 ) serially connected to a top portion of the reaction column ( 1 ), a bottom reboiler ( 8 ) of the reaction column ( 1 ), and an evaporation tank ( 14 ) connected to a bottom portion ( 13 ) of the reaction column ( 1 ); the process comprising: a) supplying dichlorosilane or a mixture of tetrachlorosilane, trichlorosilane, dichlorosilane, and monochlorosilane, wherein the ratio of the number of total hydrogen atoms to the number of total chlorine atoms (H/Cl) is in the range from 0.6 to 3, to a region ( 2 ) higher than 70% of the column ( 1 ) in height via an upper feed injection point ( 9 ); b) supplying a catalyst to said upper stage ( 2 ) of the reaction column ( 1 ) via a lower injection point ( 10 ); c) introducing a resultant mixture containing monosilane, monochlorosilane, dichlorosilane, and trichlorosilane from the top portion of the reaction column ( 1 ) to the plurality of upper condensers ( 3 , 5 ); d) separating monosilane from condensates containing monochlorosilane, dichlorosilane, and trichlorosilane in the upper condensers ( 3 , 5 ); e) recycling the condensates after separating monosilane, through the reflux feed pipes ( 6 , 7 ) to the upper stage ( 2 ) of the reaction column ( 1 ); f) bringing the condensates into contact with the catalyst in the reaction column; characterized in that wherein a monosilane rich gas, having monosilane as the largest component on a molar basis relative to monochlorosilane, dichlorosilane, and trichlorosilane, is produced via a pipe ( 27 ) connected downstream of the upper condensers; and wherein said catalyst is at least one of a tertiary aliphatic hydrocarbon-substituted amine and a tertiary aliphatic hydrocarbon-substituted amine hydrochloride; and wherein said monosilane rich gas, produced via a pipe ( 27 ) connected downstream of the upper condensers, comprises more than 60% of monosilane.