Flash-encapsulated fluorination for circular valorization of fluorine waste streams

Abstract

Fluorine-containing wastes are persistent and bioaccumulative pollutants. Although numerous efforts have been made to degrade toxic organofluorine into non-toxic inorganic species to mitigate environmental risks, the vast fluorine resources embedded in waste streams remain underutilized. Here we introduce a flash-encapsulated fluorination method to sustainably recycle waste-derived fluorine into reagent-grade fluorochemicals. Specifically, silver-containing ash derived from discarded conductive films serves as a reactive medium to convert waste fluorine into silver fluoride within 10 s, achieving a fluorine utilization ratio of ~90% and organofluorine removal efficiency of >99.9%. The resulting silver fluoride subsequently functions as a representative fluorination reagent for pharmaceutical syntheses. The silver residues produced post-synthesis were readily recovered and re-fluorinated into silver fluoride, maintaining a high silver recovery efficiency (>90%) and consistently high product yields over multiple cycles. This circular approach transforms waste-derived fluorine into high-value fluorochemicals, establishing a sustainable pathway toward a circular fluorine economy. Fluorine waste streams pose environmental challenges and containing valuable fluorine resources. Here the authors develop a flash-encapsulated fluorination process that transforms waste fluorine into recyclable silver fluoride reagents, coupling pollutant remediation with fluorochemical production through a rapid circular fluorine utilization pathway.