A process for the production of difluoromethane (HFC-32),
1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HFC-143a) and 1,1-difluoroethane (HFC-152a). In
the process the following steps are employed: (a) providing a reaction
vessel, (b) providing in the reaction vessel activated carbon impregnated
with a strong Lewis acid fluorination catalys selected from halides of
As, Sb, Al, Tl, In, V, Nb, Ta, Ti, Zr and Hf, (c) activating the catalyst
by passing through the activated carbon impregnated with a strong Lewis
acid fluorination catalyst anhydrous hydrogen fluoride gas and chlorine
gas, (d) contacting, in a vapor state in the reaction vessel containing
the activated catalyst, hydrogen fluoride and one or more halogenated
hydrocarbons selected from chlorofluoromethane, dichloromethane,
1,1,1-trichloroethane, vinyl chloride, 1,1-dichloroethylene,
1,2-dichloroethylene, 1,2-dichloroethane, and 1,1-dichloroethane for a
time and at a temperature to produce a product stream comprising
hydrofluorocarbon product(s) corresponding to the chlorinated hydrocarbon
reactant(s), and one or more of hydrogen chloride, unreactacted
chlorinated hydrocarbon reactant(s), under-fluorinated intermediates, and
unreacted hydrogen fluoride, and (e) separating the hydrofluorocarbon
product(s) from the product stream.