A process is disclosed for making CF.sub.3CF═CHF. The process involves reacting CF.sub.3CClFCCl.sub.2F with H.sub.2 in a reaction zone in the presence of a catalyst to produce a product mixture comprising CF.sub.3CF═CHF. The catalyst has a catalytically effective amount of palladium supported on a support selected from the group consisting of alumina, fluorided alumina, aluminum fluoride and mixtures thereof and the mole ratio of H.sub.2 to CF.sub.3CClFCCl.sub.2F fed to the reaction zone is between about 1:1 and about 5:1. Also disclosed are azeotropic compositions of CF.sub.3CClFCCl.sub.2F and HF and azeotropic composition of CF.sub.3CHFCH.sub.2F and HF.

A process is disclosed for making CF.sub.3CF═CHF. The process involves reacting CF.sub.3CClFCCl.sub.2F with H.sub.2 in a reaction zone in the presence of a catalyst to produce a product mixture comprising CF.sub.3CF═CHF. The catalyst has a catalytically effective amount of palladium supported on a support selected from the group consisting of alumina, fluorided alumina, aluminum fluoride and mixtures thereof and the mole ratio of H.sub.2 to CF.sub.3CClFCCl.sub.2F fed to the reaction zone is between about 1:1 and about 5:1. Also disclosed are azeotropic compositions of CF.sub.3CClFCCl.sub.2F and HF and azeotropic composition of CF.sub.3CHFCH.sub.2F and HF.

A process is disclosed for making CF.sub.3CF═CHF. The process involves reacting CF.sub.3CClFCCl.sub.2F with H.sub.2 in a reaction zone in the presence of a catalyst to produce a product mixture comprising CF.sub.3CF═CHF. The catalyst has a catalytically effective amount of palladium supported on a support selected from the group consisting of alumina, fluorided alumina, aluminum fluoride and mixtures thereof and the mole ratio of H.sub.2 to CF.sub.3CClFCCl.sub.2F fed to the reaction zone is between about 1:1 and about 5:1. Also disclosed are azeotropic compositions of CF.sub.3CClFCCl.sub.2F and HF and azeotropic composition of CF.sub.3CHFCH.sub.2F and HF.

Provided are a method for producing a fluoroethane, which is the desired product, with high selectivity; and a method for producing a fluoroolefin. The production method according to the present disclosure comprises obtaining a product comprising a fluoroethane represented by CX.sup.1X.sup.2FCX.sup.3X.sup.4X.sup.5 (wherein X.sup.1, X.sup.2, X.sup.3, X.sup.4, and X.sup.5 are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or a chlorine atom; and at least one of X.sup.1, X.sup.2, X.sup.3, X.sup.4, and X.sup.5 represents a hydrogen atom) from a fluoroethylene by a reaction in the presence of at least one catalyst in at least one reactor. The reaction is performed by introducing a starting material gas comprising the fluoroethylene into the reactor, and the water content in the starting material gas is 150 ppm by mass or less based on the total mass of the starting material gas.

Provided are a method for producing a fluoroethane, which is the desired product, with high selectivity; and a method for producing a fluoroolefin. The production method according to the present disclosure comprises obtaining a product comprising a fluoroethane represented by CX.sup.1X.sup.2FCX.sup.3X.sup.4X.sup.5 (wherein X.sup.1, X.sup.2, X.sup.3, X.sup.4, and X.sup.5 are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or a chlorine atom; and at least one of X.sup.1, X.sup.2, X.sup.3, X.sup.4, and X.sup.5 represents a hydrogen atom) from a fluoroethylene by a reaction in the presence of at least one catalyst in at least one reactor. The reaction is performed by introducing a starting material gas comprising the fluoroethylene into the reactor, and the water content in the starting material gas is 150 ppm by mass or less based on the total mass of the starting material gas.

Provided are a method for producing a fluoroethane, which is the desired product, with high selectivity; and a method for producing a fluoroolefin. The production method according to the present disclosure comprises obtaining a product comprising a fluoroethane represented by CX.sup.1X.sup.2FCX.sup.3X.sup.4X.sup.5 (wherein X.sup.1, X.sup.2, X.sup.3, X.sup.4, and X.sup.5 are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or a chlorine atom; and at least one of X.sup.1, X.sup.2, X.sup.3, X.sup.4, and X.sup.5 represents a hydrogen atom) from a fluoroethylene by a reaction in the presence of at least one catalyst in at least one reactor. The reaction is performed by introducing a starting material gas comprising the fluoroethylene into the reactor, and the water content in the starting material gas is 150 ppm by mass or less based on the total mass of the starting material gas.

A hydrogenation process is disclosed. The process involves reacting a fluoroolefin with H.sub.2 in a reaction zone in the presence of a palladium catalyst to produce a hydrofluoroalkane product, wherein the palladium catalyst comprises palladium supported on a carrier wherein the palladium concentration is from about 0.001 wt % to about 0.2 wt % based on the total weight of the palladium and the carrier. Also disclosed is a palladium catalyst composition consisting essentially of palladium supported on α-Al.sub.2O.sub.3 wherein the palladium concentration is from about 0.001 wt % to about 0.2 wt % based on the total weight of the palladium and the α-Al.sub.2O.sub.3. Also disclosed is a hydrogenation process comprising (a) passing a mixture comprising fluoroolefin and H.sub.2 through a bed of palladium catalyst in a reaction zone wherein the palladium catalyst comprises palladium supported on a carrier; and (b) producing a hydrofluoroalkane product; characterized by: the palladium catalyst in the front of the bed having lower palladium concentration than the palladium catalyst in the back of the bed.

A hydrogenation process is disclosed. The process involves reacting a fluoroolefin with H.sub.2 in a reaction zone in the presence of a palladium catalyst to produce a hydrofluoroalkane product, wherein the palladium catalyst comprises palladium supported on a carrier wherein the palladium concentration is from about 0.001 wt % to about 0.2 wt % based on the total weight of the palladium and the carrier. Also disclosed is a palladium catalyst composition consisting essentially of palladium supported on α-Al.sub.2O.sub.3 wherein the palladium concentration is from about 0.001 wt % to about 0.2 wt % based on the total weight of the palladium and the α-Al.sub.2O.sub.3. Also disclosed is a hydrogenation process comprising (a) passing a mixture comprising fluoroolefin and H.sub.2 through a bed of palladium catalyst in a reaction zone wherein the palladium catalyst comprises palladium supported on a carrier; and (b) producing a hydrofluoroalkane product; characterized by: the palladium catalyst in the front of the bed having lower palladium concentration than the palladium catalyst in the back of the bed.

A hydrogenation process is disclosed. The process involves reacting a fluoroolefin with H.sub.2 in a reaction zone in the presence of a palladium catalyst to produce a hydrofluoroalkane product, wherein the palladium catalyst comprises palladium supported on a carrier wherein the palladium concentration is from about 0.001 wt % to about 0.2 wt % based on the total weight of the palladium and the carrier. Also disclosed is a palladium catalyst composition consisting essentially of palladium supported on α-Al.sub.2O.sub.3 wherein the palladium concentration is from about 0.001 wt % to about 0.2 wt % based on the total weight of the palladium and the α-Al.sub.2O.sub.3. Also disclosed is a hydrogenation process comprising (a) passing a mixture comprising fluoroolefin and H.sub.2 through a bed of palladium catalyst in a reaction zone wherein the palladium catalyst comprises palladium supported on a carrier; and (b) producing a hydrofluoroalkane product; characterized by: the palladium catalyst in the front of the bed having lower palladium concentration than the palladium catalyst in the back of the bed.

The production method according to the present disclosure comprises obtaining a product containing the fluoroethane from a fluoroethylene by a reaction in the presence of catalysts. Each catalyst is formed by supporting a noble metal on a carrier. A reactor for performing the reaction is filled with a catalyst having a noble metal concentration of C1 mass % based on the entire catalyst and a catalyst having a noble metal concentration of C2 mass % based on the entire catalyst to form an upstream portion and a downstream portion, respectively; and C1<C2. The reaction is performed by bringing the fluoroethylene represented by formula (3) and hydrogen gas into contact with the upstream portion and the downstream portion in this order.