Sina Ebnesajjad - Concise Handbook of Fluorocarbon Gases

There are many types of specialty fluorochemicals with important applications. They are usually quite expensive and are used in small quantities. Here are some examples. Fluorinated surfactants, significant as they are, are consumed in relatively small quantities. They have not been included in this book because there are already competent books about them [22].

Another group of “fluorinated” compounds are drugs and pharmaceuticals, nearly 20%, containing one or more atoms of fluorine in their structures. Examples of common medicine containing fluorine include Prozac, Cipro and Paxil. In spite of minor presence in the structure of drugs fluorine atom affects the characteristics of pharmaceutical substantially. They are not covered in this book because a separate volume would be needed for their coverage. Journal articles and other books continue to publish information about research and development of new fluorinated chemicals synthesized [23–25].

Another important group of fluorocarbons are used in surgeries as inhalation anesthesia. The benefits over the old compounds include non-toxicity, non-flammability, general metabolically stability, ease of detoxification in the liver, rapid recovery and very few side effects. Commercial examples of those fluorocarbons include methoxyflurane, isoflurane, sevoflurane and desflurane. A popular compound was enflurane which is no longer commonly used but it is effective in relaxing the uterus in pregnant women.

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Fluorine is present in the air we breathe, the water we drink and the rocks beneath us, as well as in numerous synthetic polymers, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and other formulations. Fluorine in the atmosphere, oceans, biosphere and earth’s crust might be grouped together as the fluorosphere to understand the effects of human activities on the environment [1].

This chapter begins with a short discussion of sources of fluorinated chemicals. Most existing fluorochemicals are organic and virtually all of them are synthetic, that is manufactured. Fluorochemicals as a class of materials are fairly new; all of them have been produced since 1930’s. The rest of this chapter primarily covers fluorocarbon gases and liquids. A short explanation of commercial fluoropolymers rounds off the Chapter.

Organic fluorine compounds rarely occur naturally in contrast to bromine and chlorine products. The most famous naturally existing organic fluorine-containing compound is probably monofluoroacetic acid (FCH 2COOH). This compound is found in a South African plant called “Gifblaar,” which is known to be so poisonous that ingesting only a half of its leaf is enough to kill a cow. In 2003, a Chinese research group discovered fluorine-containing compounds from the extract of a marine sponge called Phakellia fusca . Another example of a naturally occurring organic fluorine containing compound is called nucleocidin. Even the presence of elemental fluorine has been reported in fluorspar (CaF 2) containing radioactive uranium [2].

None of the rare natural organic compounds are useful as a source for C-F bonds for commercial production of chemicals. The easiest route to produce carbon fluorine (C-F) bond is via hydrofluoric acid (HF). Acid grade fluorspar (CaF 2) is combined with sulfuric acid to produce HF and calcium sulfate. Chloroform is produced by and chlorination of methane. Catalytic reaction of HF and CHCl 3produces CHClF 2, which is the starting point for producing many fluorocarbons.

Development of fluorine chemistry allowed economically viable fluorinated chemicals and polymers to be produced during the first half of 20 thcentury. The first commercial fluorine products of any kind go back to 1930’s, developed to meet the evolving industrial needs for compounds such as new refrigerants. The traditional agents used in refrigeration included ammonia, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrocarbons and methyl chloride. These refrigerants suffered from shortcomings including toxicity, flammability, instability and poor efficiency in the refrigeration cycle. Consequently, the challenges in the development of new agents consisted of the following characteristics: