Fluorine Compounds, Inorganic, Fluoroboric Acid and Fluoroborates

Abstract

Fluoroboric acid and the fluoroborates are commercially important to a variety of industries. The acid is used in plating circuits, in metal finishing, in the production of aluminum, and as an acid catalyst. Main group metal and ammonium fluoroborates find use as fluxes, as catalysts, and in flame‐retardant manufacture. Transition‐ and other heavy‐metal fluoroborate salts are used in the plating industry and as catalysts. Properties and manufacture are described.

Investigation into Alternative Sample Preparation Techniques for the Determination of Heavy Metals in Stationary Source Emission Samples Collected on Quartz Filters

“…As the H 3 BO 3 is added in stoichiometric excess to ensure all the fluoride ions are complexed, the resulting sample matrix has a high total dissolved solids content that tends to precipitate out of solution inside the ICP-MS [ 19 ], causing drift. This sample matrix also requires additional heating (following addition of the H 3 BO 3 and water) above 130 °C (boiling point of HBF 4 ) to decompose the transition metal fluoroborates formed with the metal analytes [ 20 ]. Such salt complexes would also be liable to precipitate out of solution [ 19 ], contributing both to drift and interferences, as well as reduction in the analyte signal if the analyte ions have formed salt compounds and thus are not detected at their elemental ionic mass.…”

“…Once diluted, the result is only 0.03 M HBF 4 in the sample matrix, so a much reduced salt-producing capacity in comparison to the standard preparation. Production of the 50% in aqueous solution HBF 4 stock does incorporate up to a few percent excess H 3 BO 3 to prevent risk of HF formation over time as HBF 4 hydrolyses [ 20 ], so this will contribute to some additional salt formation. Linear calibrations have been obtained without heating the acid matrix prior to calibration standard preparation, supporting the supposition that the lower content of salt-forming compounds results in fewer interferences.…”

“…Salt formation was a problem experienced with both the standard method (HF/HNO 3 /H 3 BO 3 ) and the HBF 4 /HNO 3 matrix. The fluoride and H 3 BO 3 components had a tendency to bond with the metal analytes to form salts [ 20 ], which would precipitate out of solution when subjected to the high temperatures in the Ar plasma of the ICP-MS [ 19 ]. These salts would then coat the ICP-MS cones, resulting in increased signal drift and the potential for interferences.…”

Obtainment of Copper(II) Fluoroborate by High-Energy Impacted Ball-Milling

“…Fluoroborates are important special boron compounds. Fluoroborate salts are obtained by reaction of oxides, hydroxides, carbonates and fluorides with boric acid or fluoroboric acid [1]. As another production method, stable fluoroborates can be also formed by reacting boron fluoride with metal fluorides [2].…”

Industrial Application of Ion Chromatography to the Quality Control of Fluorinated Inorganic Acids

“…For example, chloride may induce deactivation of the cluster used as the pre-catalyst in the hydrogenation of arenes (Dyson et al 2003). Tetrafluoroboric acid is also used as an electrolyte in galvanic cell oxygen sensor systems and, in organic chemistry, as a catalyst for alkylations and polymerizations, for the stabilization of diazo salts, and for the manufacture of inorganic fluoroborate salts (Papcun 2000).…”