Newswise — Researchers in South Korea have developed a domestic technology for localizing an essential industrial raw material that was previously entirely imported from a specific global company.
Dr. Sang Goo Lee’s research team at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) has enhanced the conventional electrochemical fluorination method, which replaces hydrogen (H) atoms in carbon-hydrogen compounds with fluorine (F). By incorporating a specialized fluorinated conductive additive, the team significantly improved conversion efficiency, enabling the direct production of hydrofluoroether (HFE), a crucial industrial raw material and fluorinated fluid, with South Korean technology.
Fluorinated fluids are essential chemicals widely used as coolants and cleaning agents in electronics, semiconductors, and precision equipment. However, fully fluorinated fluids, in which all hydrogen atoms are replaced with fluorine, have a high global warming potential (GWP), making their replacement with eco-friendly alternatives imperative for achieving carbon neutrality.
As a result, research into eco-friendly alternative materials has been gaining traction, with particular attention given to hydrofluoroether (HFE).
HFE is an eco-friendly material with low global warming impact, low surface tension for easy spreading, and excellent electrical insulation, making it widely applicable across various industries. It is especially crucial as an immersion cooling refrigerant, an electronic component cleaner, and a solvent diluent in the semiconductor, electronics, and chemical industries.
As of 2022, the global HFE market was valued at approximately $289.1 million and is projected to grow at an annual rate of 5.4%, reaching $396.4 million by 2028. However, over 90% of the market share is dominated by a specific foreign company, making South Korea entirely dependent on imports for its chemical industry applications.
To address this issue, the research team developed a new HFE manufacturing technology that localizes production while securing superior material properties by incorporating a conductive fluorinated additive into the conventional electrochemical fluorination method.
Typically, in fluorination reactions, hydrogen atoms in hydrocarbon raw materials are replaced with fluorine to create an intermediate compound, which then undergoes alkylation* to produce HFE. The key challenge is in synthesizing this intermediate compound. The research team introduced a fluorinated conductive additive, absent in previous technologies, to enhance this step.
*Alkylation: A chemical reaction that modifies the properties of a substance by adding small carbon-hydrogen molecules.)
For this purpose, they designed and manufactured a reactor equipped with a multi-layer nickel electrode plate, ensuring an optimal environment for efficient electrochemical reactions. After pilot operations and precision testing, they successfully built a stable electrochemical fluorination system.
The previous technology had a conversion rate of 50–55% in the transformation of raw materials into intermediates. However, with the newly developed additive, the fluorination reaction was significantly enhanced, increasing the conversion rate to 62–66%, an approximate 20% improvement over existing methods.
Additionally, the reduction of unnecessary byproducts has significantly increased HFE production efficiency, while precise control of the fluorination reaction enables the efficient production of high-purity fluorinated compounds.
This technology has been transferred to Pureman Co., Ltd. (CEO Tae-Han Kim), a specialized manufacturer of refrigerants and fire suppression agents, with follow-up research currently underway for commercialization.
Dr. Sang Goo of KRICT emphasized, “This research marks a crucial step toward securing fundamental technology for key fluorochemical materials, reducing dependence on global corporations, and accelerating technological self-sufficiency.” He added, “Through further research, we aim to lead the development of advanced materials applicable across various industries.”
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KRICT is a non-profit research institute funded by the Korean government. Since its foundation in 1976, KRICT has played a leading role in advancing national chemical technologies in the fields of chemistry, material science, environmental science, and chemical engineering. Now, KRICT is moving forward to become a globally leading research institute tackling the most challenging issues in the field of Chemistry and Engineering and will continue to fulfill its role in developing chemical technologies that benefit the entire world and contribute to maintaining a healthy planet. More detailed information on KRICT can be found at https://www.krict.re.kr/eng/
This study was conducted with support from KRICT’s Basic Research Program.
