Fluorine recovery in the fertilizer industry – a review.

The fluorine compounds liberated during the acidulation of phosphate rock in the manufacture of phosphoric acid and fertilizers are now rightly regarded as a menace, and the industry is now obliged to suppress emissions of fluorine-containing vapours to within very low limits in most parts of the world. As with any pollution control operation, it is highly desirable for the operator of the fluorine scrubbing operation to find a use or market for the recovered fluorine to help defray at least partially the cost of the operation.