TITLE:
An Inventory of Fluorspar Production, Industrial Use, and Emissions of Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA) in the Period 1930 to 1999
AUTHORS:
Andrew A. Lindley
KEYWORDS:
Fluorspar, Trifluoroacetic Acid, TFA, HFCs, Pesticides, Aluminium, Steel, Anaesthetics
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.11 No.3,
March
13,
2023
ABSTRACT: There is a generally accepted conclusion that trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)
does occur naturally, in part based on the large quantities of TFA in the
oceans (61 - 205 million tonnes, measured in 1998-2002). However, the recent
review paper “Insufficient evidence for the existence of natural
trifluoroacetic acid” concludes that “the presence of TFA in the deep ocean and lack of closed TFA budget is not sufficient evidence that TFA occurs naturally, especially without a reasonable mechanism of formation”. Industrial sources of TFA can only result
from the use of fluoride minerals in industrial processes. Major industrial
uses of fluorspar started significant expansion from about the same time
(1930s). Over 190 million tonnes of fluorspar have been mined in the period
1930 to 1999. An inventory has been developed (1930-1999), accounting for most
of the fluorspar production (86%) and estimating emissions of TFA. Industrial
emissions of TFA are estimated as 230,000 to 470,000 tonnes. Significant other
industrial uses of fluorides have not been identified that could account for the
large burden of TFA in the oceans. This inventory provides complementary
evidence that the quantity of TFA in the oceans must include a large natural
burden.