An Inventory of Fluorspar Production, Industrial Use, and Emissions of Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA) in the Period 1930 to 1999

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.