ANHYDROUS HF

Approximately 25% of the hydrofluoric acid produced world wide is manufactured using our technology. Plants have been supplied in the range 10,000 to 40,000 MTPY to operate with one process line to provide a high yield of hydrofluoric acid with efficient raw materials consumption. A high plant availability of 320-330 operating days per year is achieved and annual maintenance amounts to 4-5% of initial capital investment.

Product hydrofluoric acid is tailored to meet your requirements. 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 environment. The most corrosive stage of the process is localised in specific equipment including the Prereactor using special materials of construction.

The Prereactor is a special feature of our process technology. It is used for the initial reaction between fluorspar and sulphuric acid and it is such an efficient mixer with a high conversion rate that it is possible to use essentially the stoichiometric ratio of sulphuric acid to fluorspar. This allows a lower temperature range in the rotary kiln and therefore the rate of corrosion is considerably reduced. This achieves long operating campaigns for the plant and results in major savings in operating costs.

Our process for the manufacture of anhydrous hydrofluoric acid from fluosilicic 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 uses fluosilicic acid waste liquor from the phosphate fertiliser industry as the raw material. Fluosilicic acid is produced in significant quantities as a waste product during conversion of apatite (phosphate rock) to phosphoric acid and unless it is utilised or neutralised, the potential for serious pollution and environmental damage is high.

With this technology, plant capacities up to 20,000 MTPY can be built in one process line. Our technology provides a high yield of anhydrous hydrofluoric acid with efficient raw materials consumption and cost. A high plant availability of 330 days per year can be achieved and maintenance costs are 2-3% of initial capital investment.

Product hydrofluoric acid 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.