METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING FLUORIDE COMPOUNDS

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A method for removing fluoride compounds entrained in a gas stream is disclosed. The method comprises contacting the gas stream with an adsorbent comprising one or more rare earth metal oxides to adsorb and remove the fluoride compounds from the gas stream. The adsorbent, when charged with fluoride compounds, may be used as a feed or for supplementing the feed of an electrolytic cell for the production of rare earth metals. Accordingly, the method may be readily adapted for recycling recovered fluoride compounds to the electrolytic cell from which they may have been originally generated as fumes, wherein the method comprises contacting the emissions with an adsorbent comprising one or more rare earth metal oxides to adsorb and remove the fluoride compounds from the emissions; recovering the adsorbent charged with fluoride compounds by separating said charged adsorbent from the fluoride compound- depleted emissions; and feeding the separated charged adsorbent to the electrolytic cell. An apparatus and system for employing these methods are also disclosed.