Overview
- Researchers at Newcastle University and the University of Birmingham used mechanochemistry to grind PTFE with sodium metal in a sealed ball mill at ambient conditions.
- The reaction breaks carbon–fluorine bonds to yield carbon and sodium fluoride, eliminating the need for high heat or solvents.
- The recovered sodium fluoride was used directly to make fluorine-containing molecules and is suitable for applications such as toothpaste and drinking-water additives.
- The study, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, highlights a potential route to a circular supply of fluorine for pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals.
- By avoiding incineration that can release persistent PFAS pollutants, the lab-scale approach signals a cleaner option for PTFE waste that will require scale-up and safety validation.