Technology Outline (Process Description)

HFO-1234yf is a new class refrigerant, which is used in automotive and domestic air-conditioning systems. It has low global warming potential (GWP = 4), short atmospheric lifetime (10 days) and has zero ozone-depletion potential (ODP) with low toxicity. Phase down of HFC based refrigerants such as HFC-134a will start in our country from 2032 and it will be 85% by 2047. HFO-1234yf is a recommended alternative to HFO-1234yf and its process technology needs to be ready for commercial production by 2032.

Though several process routes are reported in literature, most of them are in the form of patents and obscure. The starting materials used in most of the methods are also expensive and not easily accessible commercially. We pursed and developed a process starting from inexpensive and easily available chemicals carbon tetrachloride and ethylene. The process involves five steps and the process for intermediates are off-patent method and free to operate. The processes for intermediates are developed at 1kg scale and ready for demonstration for any chemical industry. The optimization studies of final, i.e. preparation of HFO-1234yf have not been completed and it will pursued and completed soon.