Recovery Process of Fluorspar by Fluorine Recycling of Fluorocarbon

Abstract

Decomposition of recovered chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) has been carried out in our industrial waste incinerator since 1997. We set up the facilities to recover 1,000 t/y of CaF₂ (fluorspar) from the drainage with high fluorine content which is generated in a flue gas scrubber attached to the decomposition process of CFCs/HCFC. These facilities have been operated since 2004, and the quantity of the recovered CaF₂ amounted to 400 t in 2006. The recovered CaF₂ has been used as resources for steel makers and chemical makers. Several problems of cost and impurities of the recovered CaF₂ remain to be solved in future. This report describes the operations of the recovering facilities and several problems on recycling.