TITLE:
An Updated Inventory of Fluorspar CaF2 Production, Industrial Use, and Emissions of Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA) from 1930, Including the Period from 2000 to 2020
AUTHORS:
Andrew A. Lindley
KEYWORDS:
Fluorspar, Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA), HFCs, Pesticides, Anesthetics
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.13 No.11,
November
21,
2025
ABSTRACT: The publication of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) concentrations in the Atlantic Ocean in 2022-2023 prompted an inventory update to include the period 2000 to 2020 for fluorspar (CaF2) production, use, TFA emissions, and their contribution to TFA in the Atlantic Ocean. The update accounts for 90% of the acid spar used to produce hydrogen fluoride in the period 2000 to 2020. Emissions of TFA due to fluorocarbons (HFCs, HFOs, HCFOs, HCFCs, and anaesthetics) are estimated at 503,700 tonnes in this period. Generation of TFA from the use of pesticides is estimated at 239,000 to 796,000 tonnes globally, assuming a 30% to 100% yield of TFA. In total, estimated emissions of TFA, from 1930 to 2020, are 1,019,000 tonnes, with a theoretical upper limit of 2,283,000 tonnes, which includes the quantity of TFA manufactured, where production is assumed to equal emissions. The estimated emissions of TFA to the Atlantic Ocean from 1930 to 2020 are 467,000 tonnes, with a theoretical upper limit of 1,215,000 tonnes. This is not consistent with the measured TFA concentrations, which suggest the Atlantic Ocean contains at least 40 million tonnes of TFA, possibly over 80 million tonnes, and must therefore include a large natural burden.