A method of treating a fluorocarbon feedstock includes generating, in a
high temperature zone, an electrical arc between at least one cathode and
at least one anode, generating in the high temperature zone and by means
of the electrical arc and a plasma gas, a thermal plasma having a tail
flame, allowing a fluorocarbon feedstock comprising at least one
fluorocarbon compound to form a reactive thermal mixture with the thermal
plasma tail flame, with the fluorocarbon compound dissociating into at
least one fluorocarbon precursor or reactive species having fewer carbon
atoms than the fluorocarbon compound, and cooling the reactive thermal
mixture to form, from the fluorocarbon precursor or reactive species, a
fluorocarbon product.