Patent ID: 8921623

Claim:
A process for the production of fluorinated alkanes having from three to six carbon atoms comprising the steps of hydrogenating in at least two reaction stages a fluorinated olefin starting material to a saturated analogue of said olefin starting material in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst wherein in a first reaction stage the fluorinated olefin starting material is provided in an amount between about 60% and about 90% above a productivity of the hydrogenation catalyst and a second stage is controlled to result in a conversion of the fluorinated olefin to fluorinated alkane that is greater than the first stage, wherein said fluorinated olefin starting material is selected from the group consisting of hexafluoropropene, pentafluoropropene, and combinations thereof and said saturated analogue is a fluorinated alkane selected from the group consisting of pentafluoropropane, hexafluoropropane, and combinations thereof.