The present invention provides a method and apparatus for producing nitrogen
trifluoride. The method comprises contacting a fluorine-containing feed stream
with liquid ammonium acid fluoride in a reaction zone for time and under conditions
sufficient to produce nitrogen trifluoride. During the contacting step, the effective
melt acidity value of the liquid ammonium acid fluoride is decreased and a reaction
product stream is removed. In one embodiment, a gaseous mixture of elemental fluorine
and hydrogen fluoride is contacted with a bulk liquid ammonium acid fluoride, such
that the initial effective melt acidity value is greater than the melt acidity
value of the bulk liquid ammonium acid fluoride in the reaction zone.