Imperial Chemical Industries Limited

Lucite International UK Limited

Ineos Fluor Holdings Limited

John David Scott

Michael John Watson

Paul Nicholas Ewing

Rachel A Steven

Charles John Shields

Charles Brian Blake

David William Bonniface

David William Johnson

Pravin K Dattani

Samuel David Jackson

Gordon James Kelly

Jeremy Charles Bauser Hunns

Brian Peter Williams

Richard Llewellyn Powell

Barry William Farrant

Lee Colin Draper

Gary Goodyear

John Charles McCarthy

Steven Toplis

Malcolm R Cook

Mark Spruce

Andrew Neil Irwin

Graham Ramsbottom

The production of ethylenically unsaturated acids or esters by the catalytic reaction of an alkanoic acid or ester, especially methyl propionate, with formaldehyde, and a catalyst therefor wherein the catalyst comprises a porous high surface area silica containing 1&#x2013;10% by weight of an alkali metal, especially cesium (expressed as a metal) and having compounds of at least one modifier element selected from boron, magnesium, aluminium, zirconium and hafnium dispersed in the pores of said silica in such amount that the catalyst contains a total of 0.25 to 2 gram atoms of primary modifier element per 100 moles of silica.

Production of unsaturated acids or esters thereof

A process for the decomposition and removal of one or more fluorine containing compounds from a first gaseous mixture comprising the one or more fluorine containing compounds and water vapour, which process comprises the stages of: (i) contacting the first gaseous mixture with a catalyst comprising an aluminium based material to produce a second gaseous mixture comprising hydrogen fluoride and carbon oxides; and (ii) removing the hydrogen fluoride from the second gaseous mixture to produce a third gaseous mixture, which is substantially free of hydrogen fluoride.

Decomposition of fluorine containing compounds

Prior to carrying out a gaseous phase chemical reaction, a liquid phase organic compound which is prone to degrade is vaporized at elevated pressures with the aid of a second compound which together with the organic compound produces a mixture having a boiling point less than that of the organic compound. In one embodiment of the invention, vaporization is effected by co-vaporizing a mixture of the two compounds in a vaporiser. In another embodiment, the first compound is injected into a hot gaseous stream and undergoes atomization into droplets which then vaporize within the gaseous stream. The second compound is used to assist the atomization process and/or to sweep atomized droplets of the first compound away from hot surfaces where the first compound would otherwise tend to undergo degradation if the droplets are allowed to reside in contact with such surfaces.

Apparatus for vaporization of liquids

The production of ethylenically unsaturated acids or esters by the catalytic reaction of an alkanoic acid or ester, especially methyl propionate, with formaldehyde, and a catalyst therefor wherein the catalyst comprises a porous high surface area silica containing 1-10% by weight of an alkali metal, especially cesium, (expressed as metal) and having compounds of at least one modifier element selected from boron, magnesium, aluminum, zirconium and hafnium dispersed in the pores of said silica in such amount that the catalyst contains a total of 0.25 to 2 gram atoms of primary modifier element per 100 moles of silica.

Catalysts for the production of unsaturated acids or esters

A chromia-based fluorination catalyst in which the chromia is at least partially crystalline and which may contain a zinc or a compound thereof, the production of the catalyst by sintering amorphous chromia and its use in fluorination processes.

Fluorination catalyst and process

Prior to carrying out a gaseous phase chemical reaction, a liquid phase organic compound which is prone to degrade is vaporised at elevated pressures with the aid of a second compound. In one embodiment of the invention vaporisation is effected by co-vaporising a mixture of the two compounds in a vaporiser. In another embodiment, the first compound is injected into a hot gaseous stream and undergoes atomisation into droplets which then vaporise within the gaseous stream. The second compound is used to assist the atomisation process and/or to sweep atomised droplets of the first compound away from hot surfaces where the first compound would otherwise tend to undergo degradation if the droplets are allowed to reside in contact with such surfaces.

Process and apparatus for vaporization of halocarbons

Hydrogenation catalyst and process

A process for the production of pentafluoroethane which comprises the steps (i) producing a composition comprising a compound of formula C.sub.2 HCl.sub.x F.sub.y in which x=1,2 or 3 and y=2,3 or 4 provided that x+y is 5, contaminated with a compound of formula C.sub.2 Cl.sub.x+1 F.sub.y, (ii) separating the compound of formula C.sub.2 HCl.sub.x F.sub.y from the compound of formula C.sub.2 Cl.sub.x+1 F.sub.y, and (iii) contacting the compound of formula C.sub.2 HCl.sub.x F.sub.y with hydrogen fluoride in the presence of a fluorination catalyst to produce pentafluoroethane is disclosed.

Production of pentafluoroethane

Prior to carrying out a gaseous phase chemical reaction, a liquid phase organic compound which is prone to degrade is vaporised at elevated pressures with the aid of a second compound. In one embodiment of the invention, vaporisation is effected by co-vaporising a mixture of the two compounds in a vaporiser. In another embodiment, the first compound is injected into a hot gaseous stream and undergoes atomisation into droplets which then vaporise within the gaseous stream. The second compound is used to assist the atomisation process and/or to sweep atomised droplets of the first compound away from hot surfaces where the first compound would otherwise tend to undergo degradation if the droplets are allowed to reside in contact with such surfaces.

Process for vaporization of halocarbons

A process for the co-production of two or more hydrofluoroalkanes which comprises contacting an alkene or a halogenated alkane with hydrogen fluoride at elevated temperature in the presence of a fluorination catalyst to produce a first hydrofluoroalkane and wherein an organic precursor to a second hydrofluoroalkane is provided in the process whereby to produce a second hydrofluoroalkane in addition to the first hydrofluoroalkane. In particularly preferred embodiments of the process, the first hydrofluoroalkane is 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane derived from 1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane or trichloroethylene and the second hydrofluoroalkane is one or more of pentafluoroethane, difluoromethane and 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane.

Production of hydrofluoroalkanes

Production of difluoromethane

A method of producing 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane in two separation reaction zones involving (1) reaction of trichloroethylene and hydrogen fluoride to produce l,l,l-trifluoro-2-chloroethane and (2) reaction of the 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-chloroethane and hydrogen fluoride to produce 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane wherein both reactions are carried out at superatmospheric pressure, reaction (2) is carried out at a temperature in the range of 250.degree.-450.degree. C., reaction (1) is carried out at a temperature in the range of 200.degree.-400.degree. C. but below that used in reaction (2) and unconverted 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-chloroethane is recycled for further reaction with hydrogen fluoride.

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Cheshire, United Kingdom

John David Scott