Network Flow Model Analysis of the Impact of Chlorofluorocarbon Phaseout on Acid-Grade Fluorspar

摘要

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) are being phased out and eventually banned underextensive international agreements because the chlorine in CFC's is thought to deplete the Earth's ozone layer. As a result, the fluorspar mining industry, which is the source of fluorine in fluorocarbons through intermediate hydrofluoric acid, is being affected. Concern for this impact has led the U.S. Bureau of Mines to employ its capabilities to analyze various scenarios in the evolution of CFC replacements and substitutes to determine their effect on fluorspar mining. This report utilizes a network flow model to examine the effects of proposed replacements for CFC's, in terms of fluorine content, on fluorspar operations worldwide and on hydrofluoric acid plants in North America and Europe.