Patent ID: 7208644

Claim:
A process for production of hexafluoroethane which comprises a step (1) in which pentafluoroethane containing chlorine compounds with 1–3 carbon atoms is reacted with hydrogen in a gas phase in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst at 150–400° C. for hydrogenation of said chlorine compounds to obtain a crude pentafluoroethane, and a step (2) in which the product of step (1) is reacted with fluorine in a gas phase in the presence of a diluent gas to produce hexafluoroethane, wherein the product of step (1) used in step (2) is purified pentafluoroethane obtained by distillation of the crude pentafluoroethane, wherein unreacted hydrogen is removed by said distillation, wherein said chlorine compounds included in the chlorine compound-containing pentafluoroethane used in step (1) are present at no greater than 1 vol %, and wherein said chlorine compound-containing pentafluoroethane used in step (1) contains pentafluoroethane in an amount of at least 99 vol %.