Freon Decomposition Technology 1991

 There are two ways to decompose CFCs: one is to return them to their raw materials, such as hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride, and the other is to synthesize other compounds using CFCs as raw materials. The conversion to raw materials can be done in one of the following two ways

(1) Thermal decomposition and incineration method

(2) Plasma decomposition method

(3) Supercritical water splitting method

(4) Catalytic decomposition method

(5) Chemical reduction and decomposition method

(1) is a method of decomposing CFCs by heating through combustion, and the Environment Agency and others had begun research on its practical application (as of 1991).

(2) is a method developed by the Pollution and Resources Research Institute of the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, in which CFCs react with water in high-frequency plasma at ultra-high temperatures of 10,000 degrees Celsius to form hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride, which are then neutralized with alkali for recovery.

The right method, developed by the Chemical Technology Research Institute of the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, involves the reaction of chlorofluorocarbons with water at 400 degrees Celsius and 300 atmospheres of pressure. The decomposition rate of hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride is 95%.

Zeolite, alumina, mixed oxide titanium, and iron oxide activated carbon are listed as individual catalysts for the catalytic decomposition method in (4).

In method (5), chlorine atoms contained in CFCs are reduced to salts such as sodium chloride by sodium naphthalenide reagents.