ES&T PRECIS remarkable thing has happened to the effort to protect the ozone layer: It is advancing much faster than anyone would have predicted at the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987. Industry, governments, alliances, and world bodies have combined efforts to accelerate the phase-out of ozone-destroying chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons. Even better, according to James Wolf, chair of the Alliance for Responsible A t m o s p h e r i c Policy, "The cost of achieving the transition from ozone depleting chemicals is less than we first thought." Wolf spoke at the 1993 International CFC and Halon Alternatives Conference (Oct. 20-22 in Washington, DC), the annual meeting of experts who are developing halocarbon alternatives and formulating policy and the users affected by the phase-out. Speakers promoted the newest alternatives to CFCs and halons now in commercial production, discussed the next generation of alternatives being rapidly developed, reported on progress toward a complete phase-out, and outlined efforts at international cooperation and technology transfer to developing countries.
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CFC PHASE-OUT MOVING QUICKLY I
"Strongest imaginable response" Speaking at the conference, Paul Norris, president of AlliedSignal Chemicals and Catalysts, reported that worldwide CFC production has plummeted by more than 50% since 1986—by 15% in the last year alone. More tiian 90% of all new vehicle air-conditioning systems are being manufactured to use HFC-134a (an alternative hydrofluorocarbon, CF3CH2F), almost all manufacturers of polyisocyanurate insulation have shifted to the blowing agent HCFC141b ( h y d r o c h l o r o f l u r o c a r b o n CC12FCH3), and sectors such as medicine and refrigeration are rapidly switching to CFC alternatives. "Worldwide, there has been an enormous, collaborative effort to meet global environmental objectives in
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Précis articles are reports of meetings of unusual significance, international or national developments of environmental importance, significant public policy developments, and related items. 0013-936X/94/0927-35$04.00/0 © 1993 American Chemical Society
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an increasingly ambitious timeframe," Norris said. L e g i s l a t i o n in m o s t d e v e l o p e d countries m a n d a t e s that CFCs disa p p e a r from p r o d u c t i o n by 1996, and in some European countries as early as 1995. Although U.S. law allows for e x e m p t i o n s for essential uses, such as key defense c o m p o nents, Stephen Andersen, deputy director of EPA's Stratospheric Protection Division, reported that there have been only 15 applications for exemptions in the United States to date. "This is the strongest imaginable response," h e declared. A n d e r s e n also r e p o r t e d t h a t by the end of last year the U.S. electronics i n d u s t r y h a d nearly completely p h a s e d out CFCs. The Japan Electrical M a n u f a c t u r e r s Association predicts that its members will phase CFCs out by 1995. Other high-technology operations, accustomed to rapid changes b e c a u s e of i n n o v a t i o n s , are also quickly m o v i n g away from CFCs. Most notable is NASA, w h i c h , ironically, uses CFCs in the construction of u n m a n n e d rockets a n d the Space Shuttle's external rocket boosters, w h i c h in turn are used to l a u n c h s a t e l l i t e s to m o n i t o r t h e ozone layer. "If you can solve the problems of aerospace then you can solve other p r o b l e m s , " A n d e r s e n said. These massive changes are estim a t e d to cost U.S. c o m p a n i e s as m u c h as $8 billion by the year 2000. " A s t h e s u b s t i t u t e s to CFCs a n d h a l o n s come into use, c o n s u m e r s will find themselves paying for the ozone d e p l e t i o n p r o b l e m , " w a r n s Wolf. In the United States CFC rep l a c e m e n t w i l l affect m o r e t h a n $135 billion w o r t h of e q u i p m e n t in more than 3500 applications. With developed nations moving ahead, efforts are u n d e r way to disseminate ozone reduction technology to poorer countries. The Industry C o o p e r a t i v e for O z o n e Layer Protection (ICOLP), a collaboration of 14 h i g h - t e c h n o l o g y c o m p a n i e s a n d 18 governmental a n d nongovernmental organizations worldwide, recently signed an agreement with the World Bank to aid several developing countries in phasing out ozone-depleting solvents. As part of this aid, ICOLP, Thai A i r w a y s , a n d other t e c h n i c a l experts h a v e just p r o d u c e d a h a n d book on commercial airplane maintenance that eliminates the use of CFCs. Other efforts involve ICOLP members running workshops, s u c h as a recent event directed by Motor36 A Environ. Sci. Technol., Vol. 28, No. 1, 1994
ola in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In another international arena, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is developing "a set of challenges" to replace ozone-destroying chemicals i n m i l i t a r y a p p l i c a t i o n s for cleaning a n d for fire and explosion protection. Finally, Sherwood Rowland (University of California at Irvine), one of the co-discoverers of the ozonedepletion m e c h a n i s m , confirmed to the conferees that although concentrations of CFCs continue to rise, the yearly rate at w h i c h they leak into
Worldwide CFC production has plummeted by more than 50% since 1986-by 15% in the last year alone. the atmosphere has slowed (see Currents, Nov. 1993, p. 2262). Rowland attributed this decline to the Montreal Protocol. Moreover, samples recently collected by his group in Paris revealed trace amounts of HCFCs—another sign that the phase-out is progressing. New problems However, CFC replacement faces additional challenges. President Clinton's recent voluntary guidelines on greenhouse gas emissions (see Dec. 1993 Currents, p. 2622) s i n g l e d out HFC-23 (HCF 3 ), a byproduct in the production of HCFC-22 (HCC1F2), as a greenhouse gas slated for reduction. EPA estimates that 3 million kg of HFC-23 are released each year by U.S. manufacturers. Manufacturers have pledged to cut that amount by 50%—and by more if EPA's estimate proves low. A 50% HFC-23 reduction would cut the U.S. total global warming contribution by a mere 0.6%. How-
ever, m a n u f a c t u r e r s are eager to avoid another environmental problem. As a result, they are evaluating all future CFC a n d h a l o n replacements for their potential for greenh o u s e w a r m i n g a n d e n e r g y efficiency, as well as ozone-depleting potential. M a n u f a c t u r e r s of CFC a l t e r n a tives find themselves u n d e r attack on a n o t h e r front. Because HCFCs and HFCs still possess some ozone destruction potential, they must be replaced by a third generation of h a l o c a r b o n s w i t h very l o w or n o ozone depleting potential. Some environmental groups, citing die severity of the ozone depletion problem, have advocated the acceleration of the 2020 deadline for the phase-out of production of these intermediate alternatives. "The use of HCFCs and HFCs is critical to the rapid phaseout of CFCs," warns Norris. According to Norris, by the year 2000 3 0 % of the current market for n e w CFCs will shift to conservation practices such as improved refrigeration m a i n t e n a n c e and solvent recycling. Another 30% of the market w i l l s t o p u s i n g h a l o c a r b o n s entirely, following the electronics industry, w h i c h is switching to aqueo u s s o l u t i o n s for c l e a n i n g or eliminating cleanup altogether. H o w e v e r , t h a t leaves 4 0 % of the current market, w h i c h Norris says must be filled by HCFCs and HFCs. N o r r i s a r g u e s t h a t o p p o s i t i o n to these alternatives sends a message to d e v e l o p i n g countries that they s h o u l d delay their CFC phase-out rather than adopt alternatives. At the same time, some members of Congress w h o are l o o k i n g for w a y s to raise r e v e n u e s h a v e suggested taxing HCFCs. Here too, Norris sees trouble. " T h e proposed tax sends the very negative message to the rest of the world that w e view HCFCs as part of the problem, not part of the solution." Research continues As the commercialization of CFC replacements gears u p , the research on n e w m a t e r i a l s c o n t i n u e s . O n e n e w area of investigation is fluoroiodo c o m p o u n d s . These materials absorb strongly in the near-UV s p e c t r u m , l e a d i n g to loss of t h e c a r b o n - i o d i n e b o n d . As a result, these c o m p o u n d s are expected to have short atmospheric lifetimes in the troposphere and thus essentially no ozone-depleting potential. Recent studies at the University of N e w Mexico suggest that iodo c o m p o u n d s c o u l d replace h a l o n s .
134a at plants in the United States, Japan, and, beginning this year, in The Netherlands. AlliedSignal has also moved aggressively in this market, offering 15 HCFC and HFC products or mixtures. The company has recently acquired the U.S. sterilant gas business of Praxair, providing an outlet for its HCFC-124 alternative for medical applications. In addition, AlliedSignal has announced four Still a good business? candidate non-ozone-depleting foam-blowing agents for polyureGiven the tremendous changes to thane that it is developing for comand political pressures on the halomercialization. AlliedSignal officarbon market, is it still a good busicials predict that they will be able to ness? Manufacturers are saying yes. move these third-generation haloEven with the temporary alternative HCFCs and HFCs, companies are carbons from R&D to market in just betting they will be able to make 29 months. back the cost of development and In part, international cooperation plant construction. and information sharing through groups such as the Alliance and For instance, DuPont, once the ICOLP have facilitated these accelworld's largest producer of CFCs, now markets 10 HCFC and HFC erated schedules. But manufacturers and users have taken unprecechemicals or blends as refrigerants, plus a non-ozone-depleting replaced e n t e d risks in a d o p t i n g n e w ment for Halon 1301. The chemical products. For instance, automobile giant has already converted a CFCmanufacturers began using the re11,-12 plant in Deepwater, NJ, to frigerant HFC-134a in air conditionmanufacturing HCFC-124 and HFC- ers before time-consuming toxico125 (HCCIFCF3 and HCF 2 CF 3 , relogical tests were completed. "As a spectively) and is producing HFCresult," says Norris, "CFC-free sys-
For instance, CF3I is a promising replacement for halon 1301 (CF3Br). The iodo compound appears to be nontoxic at levels required to extinguish fires and demonstrates firefighting capabilities similar to those of halon 1301. However, there will be a weight penalty in switching to iodo compounds, and researchers still need to answer questions about long-term stability and toxicity.
tems were developed in only three years, as opposed to the 10 years it could have taken had car makers adopted a wait-and-see attitude." Moreover, government has used its muscle to make CFC replacement good business. For instance, U.S. military specifications are being introduced that require reliable electronic components that are built and maintained without CFCs. Also, EPA has produced what could be a dreaded label for consumer goods warning that a product contains or was produced with CFCs. "There are no barriers to complying," said Andersen. "There are companies that are waiting too long." In fact, says Andersen, with the phase-out fast approaching, businesses that haven't switched to an alternative will be at a competitive disadvantage. "We've done a lot of things right to date," said Norris. "but it won't take much for the wheels to come off this whole effort if we stumble over the next two years." Alan Newman is associate editor on the Washington staff of ES&T.
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