Fluoride industry

Some innovating treatment technologies may be introduced in the treatment of wastewater generated in the aluminum fluoride industry to make its effluent safer. The ion exchange process can be applied to the clarified solution to remove copper and chromium. At a very low concentration, these two pollutants can be removed by xanthate precipitation.24 A combination of lime and ferric sulfate coagulation will effectively reduce arsenic concentration in the wastewater. 

Schatz, K. W., and R. P. Koopman. 1989. Effectiveness of Water Spray Mitigation Systems for Accidental Releases of Hydrogen Fluoride. Industrial Cooperative HF Mitigation Assessment Program Water Spray Subcommittee. 

Lithium fluoride. Industrially, LiF (like most other ionic compounds) is obtained by purifying minerals containing the compound. 

Sub-Committee (BIOS) (1946) German Fluorine and Fluoride Industry, Final Report 1595, Item No. 22. 

Zepel B and Zepel DR Fabric Fluoridizers Specifications for Fabric Protected with Zepel Fabric Fluoridizer, Industrial Chemicals Information Bulletin, E. I. du Pont de Nemours Co, Wilmington, DE. 

Fluorine cannot be prepared directly by chemical methods. It is prepared in the laboratory and on an industrial scale by electrolysis. Two methods are employed (a) using fused potassium hydrogen-fluoride, KHFj, ill a cell heated electrically to 520-570 K or (b) using fused electrolyte, of composition KF HF = 1 2, in a cell at 340-370 K which can be electrically or steam heated. Moissan, who first isolated fluorine in 1886, used a method very similar to (b) and it is this process which is commonly used in the laboratory and on an industrial scale today. There have been many cell designs but the cell is usually made from steel, or a copper-nickel alloy ( Monel metal). Steel or copper cathodes and specially made amorphous carbon anodes (to minimise attack by fluorine) are used. Hydrogen is formed at the cathode and fluorine at the anode, and the hydrogen fluoride content of the fused electrolyte is maintained by passing in... 

Beryllium is found in some 30 mineral species, the most important of which are bertrandite, beryl, chrysoberyl, and phenacite. Aquamarine and emerald are precious forms of beryl. Beryl and bertrandite are the most important commercial sources of the element and its compounds. Most of the metal is now prepared by reducing beryllium fluoride with magnesium metal. Beryllium metal did not become readily available to industry until 1957. 

In 1973 the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials Institute (SEMI) held its first standards meeting. SEMI standards are voluntary consensus specifications developed by the producers, users, and general interest groups in the semiconductor (qv) industry. Examples of electronic chemicals are glacial acetic acid [64-19-7] acetone [67-64-17, ammonium fluoride [12125-01 -8] and ammonium hydroxide [1336-21 -6] (see Ammonium compounds), dichloromethane [75-09-2] (see Cm.OROCARBONSANDcm.OROHYDROCARBONs), hydrofluoric acid [7664-39-3] (see Eluorine compounds, inorganic), 30% hydrogen peroxide (qv) [7722-84-1] methanol (qv) [67-56-1] nitric acid (qv) [7697-37-2] 2-propanoI [67-63-0] (see Propyl alcohols), sulfuric acid [7664-93-9] tetrachloroethane [127-18-4] toluene (qv) [108-88-3] and xylenes (qv) (see also Electronic materials). 

Disposal. Fluorine can be disposed of by conversion to gaseous perfluorocarbons or fluoride salts. Because of the long atmospheric lifetimes of gaseous perfluorocarbons (see Atmospheric models), disposal by conversion to fluoride salts is preferred. The following methods are recommended scmbbing with caustic solutions (115,116) reaction with soHd disposal agents such as alumina, limestone, lime, and soda lime (117,118) and reaction with superheated steam (119). Scmbbing with caustic solution and, for dilute streams, reaction with limestone, are practiced on an industrial scale. 

Fluorination of tungsten and rhenium produces tungsten hexafluoride, WF, and rhenium hexafluoride [10049-17-9J, ReF, respectively. These volatile metal fluorides are used in the chemical vapor deposition industry to produce metal coatings and intricately shaped components (see Thin films,... 

The OSHA permissible exposure limit (11) and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) estabHshed threshold limit value (TLV) (12) for fluorides is 2.5 mg of fluoride per cubic meter of air. This is the TLV—TWA concentration for a normal 8-h work day and a 40-h work week. 

Both the binary and complex fluorides of aluminum have played a significant role in the aluminum industry. Aluminum trifluoride [7784-18-17, A1F., and its trihydrate [15098-87-0] 3 3H2O, have thus far remained to be the only binary fluorides of industrial interest. The nonahydrate [15098-89-2] 3 9H2O, and the monohydrate [12252-28-7, 15621 -55-3], AIF 20, are of only academic curiosity. The monofluoride [13595-82-9], AIF, and the difluoride [13569-23-8], AIF2, have been observed as transient species at high temperatures. 

Production of bifluoride from fluoride by-products from the phosphate industry (9) has hadhttle if any commercial significance. 

In the North American HF market, approximately 70% goes into the production of fluorocarbons, 4% to the nuclear industry, 5% to alkylation processes, 5% to steel pickling, and 16% to other markets (41). This does not include the HF going to aluminum fluoride, the majority of which is produced captively for this purpose. 

Aluminum Industry. Large amounts of HE are consumed in the production of aluminum fluoride [7784-18-17, AIE, and cryoHte [15096-52-3] (sodium aluminum fluoride), used by the aluminum industry. Both of these compounds are used in the fused alumina bath from which... 

Most A1F. and cryoHte producers have their own HF production faciUties. HF vapor is reacted with alumina trihydrate to form A1F. in a fluid-bed reactor. HF is reacted with sodium hydroxide to form sodium fluoride, which is then used to produce cryoHte. Producers who manufacture these products solely for use in the aluminum industry do not generally install Hquid HF storage and handling faciHties, and do not participate in the merchant HF market. 

Industry Cooperative Hydrogen Fluoride Mitigation and Mmbient Impact Assessment Program, Summary Report, National Technical Information Service, Aug. 1989. 

Uses. Lithium fluoride is used primarily in the ceramic industry to reduce firing temperatures and improve resistance to thermal shock, abrasion, and acid attack (see Ceramics). Another use of LiF is in flux compositions with other fluorides, chlorides, and borates for metal joining (17) (see Solders). 

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