Preparation of high surface area metal fluorides and metal oxyfluorides, especially aluminum fluoride extrudates

Abstract

Abstract A method is described for the preparation of high surface area metal fluorides and metal oxyfluorides comprising reacting high surface area metal oxides with a fluorocarbon vapor wherein the fluorocarbon is selected from the group consisting of CH4-QFQ wherein Q is 1 to 3 and totally or partially fluorinated C2-C6 alkanes, alkenes and alkynes and C5-C6 cyclic alkanes, preferably fluoroform (CHF3) wherein the metal oxides and the fluorocarbon vapors are contacted at a temperature of from about 300 DEG to about 800 DEG C., for a time sufficient to effect the essentially complete conversion of the metal oxides into metal fluorides or the partial conversion of the metal oxides into metal oxyfluorides. The metal oxides converted into metal fluorides may be selected from the group consisting of the oxides of sodium, potassium, lithium, cesium, magnesium, calcium, barium, strontium, tin, antimony, bismuth, titanium, zirconium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, rhodium, mercury, nickel, copper, silver, zinc, cadmium, lead, uranium, europium, idium, lutetium, neodymium, thallium and mixtures thereof. The metal oxides converted into metal oxyfluorides may be selected from the group recited above and further include silicon, niobium, hafnium, tantalum, molybdenum, tungsten, technetium, rhenium, osmium, iridium, lanthanum and ruthenium. The above metal oxides may also be utilized in combination with alumina and silica. The fluorocarbon partial pressure in the treatment vapor may be in the range of from about 0.001 to about 100 atmosphere. By the practice of the instant invention high surface area metal fluoride extrudates are prepared by the conversion of metal oxide extrudate, particularly aluminum fluoride extrudates from alumina extrudates.

Inventors

• 👤 Gary B. McVicker
• 👤 Joseph J. Eggert

Bibliographic Details