Patents by Inventor Eric Lacroix

Eric Lacroix has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5731481
    Abstract: The invention relates to the manufacture of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (F134a) by gas-phase catalytic fluorination of 1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (F133a).A mixed catalyst is employed, composed of nickel and chromium oxides, halides and/or oxyhalides deposited on a support consisting of aluminium fluoride or of a mixture of aluminium fluoride and alumina.This mixed catalyst makes it possible to obtain an excellent selectivity for F134a with a high production efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Societe Atochem
    Inventors: Bernard Cheminal, Eric Lacroix, Andre Lantz
  • Patent number: 5616820
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoro-2-chloroethane and of pentafluoroethane.The process, which consists of the gas phase catalytic fluorination of at least one pentahaloethane of formula C.sub.2 HX.sub.2-n F.sub.3+n in which X denotes a chlorine or bromine atom and n the number 0 or 1 by means of hydrofluoric acid, is characterized in that there is used a mixed catalyst composed of oxides, halides and/or oxyhalides of nickel and chromium deposited on a support consisting of aluminium fluoride or a mixture of aluminium fluoride and alumina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Elf Atochem S.A.
    Inventors: Bernard Cheminal, Eric Lacroix, Andr e Lantz
  • Patent number: 5523500
    Abstract: The invention relates to mass catalysts based on chromium and nickel oxides, obtained from a sol of chromium and nickel hydroxides.These catalysts, in which the Ni/Cr atomic ratio is between 0.05 and 5, may be used from the fluorination of halogenated hydrocarbons by HF in the gas phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: d'Elf Atochem S.A.
    Inventors: Bernard Cheminal, Francois Garcia, Eric Lacroix, Andre Lantz
  • Patent number: 5453551
    Abstract: The invention relates to the purification of pentafluoroethane (F125) containing chloropentafluoroethane (F15).The F-125-F115 mixture to be purified is subjected to a fluorination stage to convert F115 into hexafluoroethane (F116) which is then separated from F125, for example by distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Elf Atochem S.A.
    Inventors: Eric Lacroix, Andre Lantz, Bernard Cheminal
  • Patent number: 5430205
    Abstract: In order to remove the olefinic impurities (in particular 1-chloro-2,2-difluoroethylene and polyfluoropropenes) present in crude 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (F134a), a gaseous mixture of crude F134a, hydrofluoric acid and oxygen or air is treated in the gas phase, in the presence of a fluorination catalyst, at a temperature between 200.degree. and 350.degree. C. and at a pressure between atmospheric pressure and 2.5 MPa, the HF/F134a molar ratio being between 0.05 and 0.5 and the O.sub.2 /F134a molar ratio being between 0.001 and 0.1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Elf Atochem, S.A.
    Inventors: Bernard Cheminal, Andre Lantz, Eric Lacroix
  • Patent number: 5354928
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluorochloroethane and of pentafluoroethane.The process which consists of gas phase catalytic fluorination of at least one pentahaloethane of formula C.sub.2 HX.sub.2-n F.sub.3+n in which X denotes a chlorine or bromine atom and n the number 0 or 1, by hydrofluoric acid, is characterized in that a catalyst is employed consisting of a catalytic quantity of chromium in an oxidation state equal to or greater than 3 and of an activated charcoal as support.The selectivity for 1,1,1,2-tetrafluorochloroethane and pentafluoroethane reaches approximately 95% and even more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Societe Atochem
    Inventors: Bernard Cheminal, Eric Lacroix, Andre Lantz
  • Patent number: 5198199
    Abstract: To recover the antimony contained in a solution of use antimony-containing catalyst, emananting from units for the fluorination or chlorofluorination of halogenated hydrocarbons comprising at least two carbon atoms, the solution is concentrated to the limit of distillation of antimony trichloride, an excess of chlorine is then added to convert SbCl.sub.3 to SbCl.sub.5, and SbCl.sub.5 is distilled under reduced pressure without exceeding 120.degree. C.The recoverd antimony pentachloride is sufficiently pure to be able to be recycled directly to the fluorination reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: ELF Atochem S.A.
    Inventors: Eric LaCroix, Andre Lantz