On the Incinerability of Highly Fluorinated Organic Compounds

Abstract

The special problems associated with the destruction of highly fluorinated one and two carbon organics under combustion conditions are discussed in terms of their fundamental chemical kinetic properties. It is shown that the fluorinated compounds are in general more thermally stable than chlorinated organics and hydrocarbon fuels. Nevertheless, the conditions that are achievable in an incinerator are capable of effecting destruction to high levels. Special characteristics of the decomposition of highly fluorinated compounds are identified with the high strength of the C—F and H—F bonds and the weak HO—F and O—F bonds. We present results on the computer simulations of the combustion of methane and ethane in the presence of fluorinated compounds and suggest that this may be a means of making predictions regarding incinerability of such compounds. Perfluorinated methane, CF₄, is particularly stable and its destruction almost certainly guarantees destruction of other organic compounds in the same input stream. The problem of the formation of fluorinated combustion by-products is also discussed. The great stability and other properties of the fluorinated compounds make them particularly suitable as surrogates during hazardous waste incineration.

Keywords:

• Combustion
• incineration
• fluorinated compounds
• chemical kinetics
• computer simulations

Notes

∗Corresponding author.