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Upcycling of PTFE and PVDF to fluorochemicals through mechanochemical process
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A mechanochemical process using potassium metal efficiently degrades PTFE and multiple PFAS compounds within one hour at ambient temperature, converting them into reusable fluorochemicals. This approach offers a promising pathway for destroying persistent fluoropolymer pollutants—including those shed as microplastic particles—without high-temperature processing.
The polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) industry has undergone significant expansion since the 1940s. However, the waste from PTFE products at the conclusion of their life cycle has rarely been subjected to recycling processes due to PTFE's highly crystalline structure and high melting point. Despite considerable efforts, current approaches remain insufficient for the reuse of PTFE products. Herein, we present a method for upcycling of PTFE as a fluorinating reagent through reductive mechanochemical process mediated by potassium metal. This process efficiently degrades PTFE, including the commercial PTFE thread seal tape, within a short reaction time of 1 h at an ambient temperature to KFPTFE-Carbon. The KFPTFE-Carbon, consisting of potassium fluoride and carbon black (spectroscopic techniques suggest the carbon black possesses characteristics of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) after the washing process), can be directly used in fluorination reactions, yielding fluorochemicals in moderate to excellent results. The process can be extended to the destruction of a series of multiple per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), resulting in a high recovery ratio of fluorine content.
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