Process for the separation of hydrogen fluoride from its mixtures with 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-chloroethane

Abstract From the Canadian patent

The invention concerns the separation of hydrogen fluoride (HF) from its mixtures with 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-chloroethane (F133a). By decanting the HF/F133a mixture in the presence of trichloroethylene at a temperature of less than 0°C an inferior organic phase reduced in HF and a superior phase rich in HF are obtained. The latter may be recycled directly to the fluoridation reactor or subjected to distillation to separate the HF-133a azeotrope at the top which is then sent to the decanter and recover almost pure HF at the bottom. By distilling the inferior phase an HF-F133a azeotrope is separated at the top which is then sent to the decanter and a F133a/trichloroethylene mixture is recovered …