Abstract: A process and apparatus using two gas liquid separations when carbonylating propylene to isobutyryl fluoride in hydrogen fluoride result in a savings in recycle pumping energy compared to a one gas-liquid separation process.

Abstract: A process for the improvement in the utilization of carbon monoxide and for the utilization of propylene having varying grades of purity in the carbonylation of propylene with carbon monoxide and hydrogen fluoride to form isobutyryl fluoride in a carbonylation reactor whereby the effluent from the reactor is (a) passed into a first phase separator where the effluent is separated into an overhead gaseous stream and a bottom liquid stream which contains unreacted carbon monoxide, (b) the bottom liquid stream from (a) is passed into a second reactor where it is contacted with a gaseous stream which contains propylene and allowing essentially all of the propylene to react, (c) the effluent from the second reactor is passed to a second phase separator where overhead gases are separated from liquid bottoms, (d) the liquid bottoms from the second phase separator are passed to a degassing pot where overhead gases are removed and the liquid bottoms stream which is essentially isobutyryl fluoride is taken to recovery,

Abstract: A process is described for preparing isobutyryl fluoride which involves reacting propylene, carbon monoxide and hydrogen fluoride under substantially anhydrous conditions in at least two continuous flow reaction zones, and the incremental addition of propylene and carbon monoxide to the reaction mixture at a point or points between the reaction zones.