ALUMINIUM FLUORIDE

Anhydrite, the calcium sulphate by-product, is sold to the building industry and cement industry. A comprehensive environmental protection design ensures maximum safety and protection for both personnel and the environment. The most corrosive stage of the process is localised in proprietary equipment including the Pre-Reactor that is fabricated in special materials of construction.

The Pre-Reactor is used for the initial reaction between fluorspar and sulphuric acid. It is such an efficient mixer with a high conversion rate that the stoichiometric ratio of sulphuric acid to fluorspar is used. This allows a lower temperature range in the rotary kiln and therefore the rate of corrosion is considerably reduced. This achieves long operating campaigns and results in major savings in operating costs.

Fluosilicic acid is produced in significant quantities as a waste product during conversion of apatite (phosphate rock) to phosphoric acid. Unless this is utilised or neutralised, the potential for serious pollution and environmental damage is given.

Our process for the manufacture of aluminium fluoride from fluosilicic acid and sulphuric acid combines the design knowledge and operating experience of Buss ChemTech AG with that of Chemical Works Lubon S.A., Poland, to create a proven technology for the recovery of anhydrous hydrofluoric acid and its conversion to aluminium fluoride. The technology uses fluosilicic acid waste liquor from the phosphate fertiliser industry as the raw material. Hydrogen fluoride is reacted with aluminium fluoride using our fluid bed technology.

With this technology, plant capacities up to 30'000 MTPY can be built in one process line to provide a high yield of aluminium fluoride with efficient raw material consumption and low cost. With a high plant availability of 330 days per year, annual maintenance costs are 2-3% of initial capital investment.

Product aluminium fluoride is tailored optimally to meet your requirements. Sulphuric acid, used as a catalyst in the process, is recycled to the fertiliser plant. A comprehensive environmental protection design ensures maximum safety and protection for both personnel and environment.