Necsa develops low-cost pentafluoride production method
Scientists from the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) and Necsa fluorochemical subsidiary Pelchem have developed a lower-cost method to produce high-purity phosphorus pentafluoride (PF5), which is used to manufacture lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) – the electrolyte used in most lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.
The work was completed as part of a doctoral thesis at the University of Pretoria and a patent had been filed for the new process.
LiPF6 is a white crystalline solid in its pure form and is used as a dissolved salt solution in batteries, with its supply considered “critical” for the expansion of the Li-ion battery industry.
The current commercial processes involved in producing PF5 use either high-cost raw materials or produce undesirable waste products.
The Necsa process, however, uses low-cost start-up materials through which the PF5 could be produced in high purity.
The electrical vehicle and electronics for commercial aircraft markets are considered a growing market for Li-ion batteries, with growing interest in bulk energy storage systems. The global market for Li-ion batteries was $11-billion in 2012 and is expected to grow to $35-billion by 2020.
As a result of the product’s importance, the South African Department of Trade and Industry had embarked on a Fluorochemical Expansion Initiative aimed at increasing the local beneficiation of the country’s fluorspar mineral reserves, with strategic research and development support from the Department of Science and Technology.
South Africa has the largest global reserves of fluorspar, at 40-million tons.
Article Enquiry
Email Article
Save Article
Feedback
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
Research Reports
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Showroom
Design, Construction and Maintenance of Site Erected, Welded Bulk Storage Tanks for the Petrochemical, LNG, Ammonia and Sustainable fuel Sectors.
VISIT SHOWROOM
FLANDERS Southern Africa provides integrated solutions for mining and industrial operations, covering field services, automation, electrification,...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
