The Benefits of Isolating & Utilizing Fluorine from Phosphate Operations

In the period of 2008-2011 the restricted availability and price volatility of the mineral source of fluorine known as fluorspar (calcium fluorite) made commercial buyers around the world question whether there were alternative fluorine sources for chemical production. Presently there are significant opportunities for producers of phosphates from the minerals fluorapatite or francolite to offer a fluorine rich alternative to fluorspar or to sell fluorine-based chemicals isolated from fluorine containing waste streams from phosphate production. The technology to isolate fluosilicic acid (FSA) for sale or as a raw material for the production of downstream fluorine-containing chemicals is proven and available. The markets for fluorine-containing chemicals are valuable and growing in many different applications. This situation gives phosphate fertilizer and phosphate chemical producers the opportunity to serve new customers of fluorine-containing chemicals and reduces the environmental impacts from the disposal of fluorine containing waste streams. This presentation will further describe major features and events in the fluorine market and the opportunities and challenges in supplying a fluorine raw material alternative to fluorspar.