# Hydrofluoric acid: Emissions

Low carbon to make, but the F-gases come after

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrofluoric_acid/emissions/

What this tab covers The greenhouse-gas footprint per tonne, split by lifecycle phase (feedstock, production, movement, use, end of life), the global total, other environmental impacts, levers and low-carbon routes, India's position, and where the investment opportunity lies. Emission intensity 0.75 t CO2e per t range not published · fully loaded, cradle-to-gate Global emissions per year 2.30 Mt CO2e per year 2025 · 0.75 t/t x about 3 Mt HF; excludes downstream F-gas emissions

Per t of anhydrous HF, cradle-to-gate including fluorspar supply. Intensity: Thunder Said Energy HF economics model via fluorspar tile (indicative). Global total: Fluorspar tile (derived).

#### Share of footprint by lifecycle phase
 Feedstock 44% Production / process 51% Movement 5%

#### Footprint by lifecycle phase

| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Feedstock** | about 0.33 t CO2e per t HF | 44% | Fluorspar mining and flotation (about 2.15 t per t HF) and sulphuric acid (2.6 t) | Indicative split | Indicative |
| **Production / process** | about 0.38 t CO2e per t HF | 51% | Kiln heating by gas or oil, distillation | Electrified kilns would cut this | Indicative |
| **Movement** | about 0.04 t CO2e per t HF | 5% | Shipping fluorspar from Mexico, Mongolia, South Africa | Indicative | Indicative |
| **Use** | outside the cradle-to-gate total; can be very large | – | HFC leakage from equipment; HFC-23 by-product at HCFC-22 plants (GWP 14,600) | Downstream fluorocarbon emissions dwarf HF production emissions | Indicative |
| **End of life** | not applicable to HF | – | Refrigerant recovery and destruction; PFAS persistence | Fluorine is mostly dissipated; EU recycling input 1% | EU CRM 2023 via fluorspar tile |

#### Other environmental impacts

Acute toxicity in accidents; anhydrite waste; PFAS persistence from fluoropolymer manufacture and some fluorochemicals; HFC-23 and other F-gas emissions downstream.

#### Levers to cut emissions

- Using FSA from phosphate plants instead of mined fluorspar
- Electric or heat-pump assisted kiln heating
- HFC-23 destruction at HCFC-22 plants (mandated in India since 2016)
- Refrigerant recovery and reclamation to cut virgin HF demand
- Using anhydrite in cement and plaster

#### India

India's HF footprint is small, but its fluorochemical makers carry Kigali and HFC-23 obligations; India mandated HFC-23 capture and destruction in 2016. Plant-level HF emission data were not found.
 Emission figures are indicative global averages from the life-cycle studies named; actual footprints vary widely by site, energy mix and method.

#### Low-carbon routes

| Route | Intensity | Cost premium | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **FSA-to-HF from phosphate by-product** | not published; avoids mining and some acid use | can be lower cost where FSA is available (indicative) | Aurora, North Carolina plant; Chinese phosphate groups (indicative) | USGS MCS 2026 |

 For a climate investor The climate impact of HF is mostly downstream: refrigerant leakage and by-product F-gases. Opportunities are in refrigerant reclamation, low-GWP HFO and natural refrigerant systems, FSA-based fluorine supply from Indian phosphate plants, and non-Chinese LiPF6 and electronic-grade HF. Navin Fluorine, SRF and Gujarat Fluorochemicals are expanding in India; the case depends on secure acidspar supply and on PFAS rules in export markets.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrofluoric_acid/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrofluoric_acid/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrofluoric_acid/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrofluoric_acid/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrofluoric_acid/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrofluoric_acid/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrofluoric_acid/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrofluoric_acid/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrofluoric_acid/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrofluoric_acid/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrofluoric_acid/characteristics/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrofluoric_acid/links/index.md)