METHODS OF HANDLING CHLORINATED COMPOUNDS USED FOR MANUFACTURING HFO-1234yf

Abstract

This invention provides methods for handling, storing and/or transporting reactive chlorinated compounds such as 1230xa whereby decomposition reactions are reduced or eliminated by employing one or more anti-decomposition techniques selected from the group consisting of: (a) providing a 1230xa supply with little or no moisture, HCl, and/or metallic ions, (b) providing a storage and/or transport tank preferably lined and/or coated with one or more suitable materials, (c) transferring 1230xa, preferably stabilized 1230xa, into a storage and/or transportation tank in such a way that no exposure of the 1230xa to air occurs, (d) handling, storing, and/or transporting 1230xa under the protection of a dried inert gas such as nitrogen, (e) optionally providing a device that can remove any HCl generated during the storage and/or transportation of 1230xa; and (f) combinations of two or more of these anti-decomposition techniques.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for handling, storing and/or transporting reactive chlorinated compounds selected from the group consisting of 1230xa, 1230xf, 1230za, trans-1230xd, cis-1230xd, 1240za, 1240zf, 250fb, and 240db, whereby decomposition reactions including a purity drop due to conversion of the reactive compounds to other organic compounds and accelerated corrosion of containers due to HCl formation are reduced or eliminated by employing one or more anti-decomposition techniques. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reactive compound is 1230xa. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reactive compound is 1230xf. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reactive compound is 240db. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-decomposition techniques are selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) providing a reactive compound supply with little or no moisture, HCl, and/or metallic ions,   (b) providing a storage and/or transport tank preferably lined and/or coated with one or more suitable materials,   (c) transferring the reactive compounds into a storage and/or transportation tank in such a way that no exposure of the compounds to air occurs,   (d) handling, storing, and/or transporting the reactive compounds under the protection of a dried inert gas,   (e) optionally providing a device that can remove any HCl generated during the storage and/or transportation of the reactive compounds; and   (f) combinations of two or more of these anti-decomposition techniques.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the supply of the reactive compound includes a moisture level lower than 100 ppm. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the supply of the reactive compound includes an HCl level lower than 200 ppm. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the supply of the reactive compound includes a metallic ion content lower than 10 ppm. 
     
     
         9 . A method for handling, storing and/or transporting 1230xa, whereby decomposition reactions including a purity drop due to 1230xa conversion to other organic compounds and accelerated corrosion of containers due to HCl formation are reduced or eliminated by employing one or more 1230xa anti-decomposition techniques selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) providing a 1230xa supply with little or no moisture, HCl, and/or metallic ions,   (b) providing a storage and/or transport tank preferably lined and/or coated with one or more suitable materials,   (c) transferring 1230xa into a storage and/or transportation tank in such a way that little or no exposure of the 1230xa to air occurs,   (d) handling, storing, and/or transporting 1230xa under the protection of a dried inert gas,   (e) optionally providing a device that can remove any HCl generated during the storage and/or transportation of 1230xa; and   (f) combinations of two or more of these anti-decomposition techniques.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the supply of 1230xa includes a moisture level lower than 100 ppm. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the supply of 1230xa includes a moisture level lower than 50 ppm. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the supply of 1230xa includes a moisture level lower than 25 ppm. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the supply of 1230xa includes an HCl level lower than 200 ppm. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the supply of 1230xa includes an HCl level lower than 50 ppm. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the supply of 1230xa includes an HCl level lower than 10 ppm. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the supply of 1230xa includes a metallic ion content lower than 10 ppm. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the supply of 1230xa includes a metallic ion content lower than 5 ppm. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the supply of 1230xa includes a metallic ion content lower than 1 ppm. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the inert gas comprises nitrogen. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the metallic ions comprise iron.