Patent ID: 7045107

Claim:
A process for producing NF 3 by the fluorination of an ammonium ion source which comprises: introducing a liquid mixture comprised of F 2 and an ammonium ion source to an inlet of a column selected from the group consisting of random packing column and structured packing column; passing said liquid mixture cocurrently through the column whereby reaction of said F 2 and ammonium ion source occurs in said column generating a reaction product comprised of NF 3 and byproduct HF; removing a reaction product containing NF 3 from an exit of said column; maintaining conditions such that the temperature of the liquid mixture comprised of reactant F 2 and said ammonium ion source introduced to the inlet of said column is lower than the temperature of the reaction product at the exit of said column, and thereby establishing a temperature rise in said column; and, recovering NF 3 from the reaction product.