| abstract |
The invention provides an improved point-of-use PFC/HFCnabatement process involving an electrochemical route to abatement.nPFCs/HFCs are treated with a relatively strong chemical reducing agent,ntypically an alkali such as lithium, potassium, or sodium, in a systemnthat promotes ionization of the alkali, e.g., by inclusion of ammonia ornother compound that promotes dissolution of the alkali to ions. Thenelectrochemical potential arising from the ionization process providesnsufficient energy to extract the fluorine atoms from the PFCs/HFCs. Thensystem also contains a weak acid proton donor to provide anhydrogenation source. The weak acid is believed to displace the reactionnequilibrium by protonation, to allow the reaction to proceed at ansufficient rate. |