The process Metalysis uses has a very low environmental impact and provides substantial environmental benefits over conventional processes.
Lower temperatures:
- The process operates at lower temperatures (in the range 550-850°C) and analysis has shown it to be energetically favourable to many traditional extraction techniques.
Less toxic chemicals:
- Conventional processes necessitate the use of hazardous and difficult reactants, such as liquid sodium or magnesium, hydrogen fluoride and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). In contrast, the only reagent used in the FFC Cambridge process is a salt, typically calcium chloride, which is no more toxic than table salt.
No toxic by-products:
- Conventional processes also yield hazardous by-products such as ammonium fluoride gas and magnesium fluoride. The only by-product of the Metalysis optimised FFC Cambridge process, when using an inert anode, is oxygen.
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