4 replies to this topic

[Victory]

I'm working in a consulting company in Russia. And we faced with the project about chemical factory. Our client was producing hydrofluoric acid and now thinking about replace this production with production of ammonium bifluoride. In this case it is not a mater of safety, but they think that it is easier for transportation, storage and use because ABF is dry. What do you think about this?
And another question. I wonder is ABF and HF totaly interchangeable or they have some different characteristics.

[mbeychok]

Victory:

I am not clear as to what you mean by ammonium bifluoride. Do you mean ammonium hydrogen fluoride (NH₄HF₂)? That is an ammonium salt of HF acid and it is solid.

There may be some uses where ammonium hydrogen fluoride is interchangeable with liquid HF acid ... but I don't know of any.

On the other hand, there are uses of liquid HF acid, such as the catalyst for the alkyaltion units in petroleum refineries, wherein the ammonium hydrogen fluoride salt could not be substituted for the HF acid.

[Victory]

Yes, I ment NH4HF2. I know, that it is solid, but I supose, that it is possible to mix it with water and then it could be interchangable even in case of petroleum refineries. What do you think?

[mbeychok]

Victory:

I really don't know, but I doubt very much that just mixing NH₄HF₂ with water would make it a suitable substitute for the HF acid used as a catalyst in petroleum refinery alkylation units. The ammonia would have to be removed somehow and then the solution would have to be adjusted to the correct concentration of HF acid.

Why not ask your client what markets or uses their ammonium hydrogen fluoride serves?

[Victory]

The problem is that our client wants to produce BFA and he is sure that it is totaly interchangeble with HF. But I think, it possible but not in all cases, so I have to learn it myself.