LIFE SYNFLUOR was one of the highlights of the 2025 edition of the Fluorine Forum, held in Italy against the stunning backdrop of Lake Maggiore and organised by IMFORMED. The leading international event for the fluorine and chemical industries also featured a presentation by Michele Lavanga, Special Projects Director at FLUORSID, who illustrated the project’s vision and progress.
“A technological challenge, developed and patented by FLUORSID in collaboration with Pirelli, that stands as a tangible example of circular economy applied to industrial chemistry,” said Lavanga, emphasising the project’s potential not only to reduce the environmental impact of production processes, but also to create new opportunities for the reuse of resources that would otherwise be treated as waste.
The recovery of hexafluorosilicic acid (FSA) — a by-product of phosphate fertiliser production — for the generation of synthetic calcium fluoride and precipitated silica represents a valuable opportunity for companies across the sector seeking solutions to enhance raw materials. “For the first time, three distinct industrial sectors — fluorine, fertilisers and tyres — are working together on a shared project driven by innovation and aimed at promoting a new sustainable model,” Lavanga added.
Just over a year since its official launch, LIFE SYNFLUOR has entered the full construction phase, transforming FLUORSID’s Cagliari plant into an open-air innovation site equipped with cutting-edge technologies. This marks the project’s first major milestone: demonstrating the process effectiveness through the start-up of the pilot plant — a crucial step towards the next stages of industrial validation.
