Destruction Processes

Fluorinated material such as Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) are noted for their high degree of stability. Cracking of CFCs into smaller units is only possible with high energy in-feed. An important problem with ODS is the decomposition in the presence of oxygen which in turn produces toxic molecules of high concentration (COCl, COF, COCl₂, COF₂). This reaction can be supressed in the presence of water. The optimal process for destruction of ODS was determined by highly sophisticated research. At the end remain three processes for the destruction of fluorinated compounds to be recommend.

• Reactor cracking process for big amounts of ODS material in case inexpensive hydrogen is available on manufacturing site.
• Plasma cracking for smaller amounts of ODS material in the case not any inexpensive hydrogen is available.
• Porous burner cracking for smaller and middle size amounts of ODS material in the case not any inexpensive hydrogen and sufficient electrical power are available.

Any process not especially optimized for the destruction of ODS materials should not be used when disposing of ODS material e.g. normal incineration facilities, municipal solid waste incinerators or rotary cement kiln.