2. Manufacturing processes

2.1 Process principles

Fluoroalkanes are generally obtained by fluorinating the corresponding chlorine derivative with anhydrous hydrofluoric acid.

Fluoridation is carried out either in the liquid phase or in the vapour phase.

Liquid-phase reactions are most frequently catalyzed by antimony chlorides. Some reactions may use other Lewis acids, such as tin, titanium or tantalum salts.

Gas-phase reactions are generally catalyzed by chromium salts.

The resulting fluorinated compound is more volatile than the original chlorinated raw material. The reaction is followed by a series of conventional unit operations aimed at :

• to recycle unprocessed reagents:...