Autocatalytic degradation of the extremely potent greenhouse gas SF6 in basic alcoholic solution

Abstract

Abstract Sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ) is a persistent, highly potent greenhouse gas that is accumulating in the atmosphere at an increasing rate, exacerbating climate change. Whereas current degradation methods rely on forcing conditions to dissociate the inert molecule and additionally require post-treatment with basic solution to obtain harmless products, we show that SF 6 is mineralized in a single step at ambient temperature using potassium hydroxide in water/isopropyl alcohol mixtures under UV irradiation. The reaction proceeds via an autocatalytic mechanism, where in situ-generated acetone acts as a photosensitizer, leading to the selective formation of potassium sulfite and fluoride salts. Compared to existing methods, this approach eliminates the need for extreme temperatures, hazardous catalysts, or post-treatment, providing a scalable and easy-to-apply strategy for SF 6 degradation.