The Chemours Company
FLUORINE REMOVAL FROM ANTIMONY FLUOROHALIDE CATALYST USING CHLOROCARBONS

Abstract:

A method of chlorinating a antimony fluorohalide catalyst is disclosed. In one embodiment the method comprises contacting an antimony fluorohalide catalyst that contains one or more fluorines with a regenerating agent chosen from 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (1233xf), 1,1,1,3-tetrachloropropane (250fb), 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane (HCFC-244bb) and combinations of 1233xf, 250fb, and 244bb, under conditions effective to exchange at least one fluorine in the antimony fluorohalide catalyst with chlorine. The method can be used to regenerate spent antimony fluorohalide catalyst, for example regenerating SbCl.sub.5 from SbF.sub.5.