Accounting for Fluorine: Production, Use, and Loss

Abstract

Summary Fluorine is an essential element to human health and to the chemical industry. In spite of our dependence on fluorine and fluorine compounds, we have yet to learn to use them wisely. Our fluorine history, which spans about a hundred years, has had negative effects such as hydrofluoric acid pollution caused by aluminum smelters and ozone depletion due to chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) emissions. More recent concerns center on greenhouse effects from CFCs, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). In this article we note also that fluorine is a nonrenewable resource that is nonsubstitutable for many purposes. This article tracks fluorine from sources through conversion processes to end uses, most of which are dissipative. We present a stock‐flow model of the fluorine system. Based on this model we consider some possible measures that could be taken to increase the degree of recovery. To mention one example, a large percentage of the world demand for fluorspar could be supplied by the phosphate rock (fertilizer) industry, which currently dissipates a great deal of recoverable fluorine in waste phospho‐gypsum.

Organofluorine chemistry: applications, sources and sustainability

“…Since fluorine is the 13th most abundant element within the earth's crust (0.065% by mass), at first sight, we would not be too worried about future raw material supplies of fluorine atoms. However, while fluorine is present in many ores and minerals only three mineral classes, in principle, allow the useful economic extraction of fluorine sources for organic chemistry [16].…”

“…The USGS estimates that current global use of fluorspar is 6.7 million tonnes with current global reserves of 500 million tonnes [18]. Around half of all fluorspar produced is used directly as a flux to reduce melting points and increase the viscosity of metals in iron and steel production [16]. All other fluorspar mined is …”

Transition Metal-Mediated and Metal-Catalyzed Carbon–Fluorine Bond Formation

“…Fluorine is the most oxidizing element, and as a result the majority of other electrophilic fluorinating reagents are ultimately derived from fluorine gas [68]. Therefore, it is conceptually challenging to design an electrophilic fluorination reaction that utilizes fluoride anion and a separate oxidant.…”

“…Through the leverage of an approach developed by the group of White [68,76,77], allylic C-H bonds were activated under catalysis by palladium(II) (Fig. 47) …”

Einführung von Fluor und fluorhaltigen funktionellen Gruppen

“…[27] 1.1. [28] Elektrophile Fluorierungen mit stark oxidierenden Fluorierungsmitteln, [29] z. [28] Elektrophile Fluorierungen mit stark oxidierenden Fluorierungsmitteln, [29] z.…”