Published January 1991
In this report, we summarize the current actions that government agencies and producers of CFCs are taking to limit their future use of CFC. We also survey and summarize important technical developments and present economics for the most promising alternative compounds.
Production and use of chlorofluorocarbons are being phased out under international agreements to protect the ozone layer, which reduces the amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth's surface. This report summarizes the status of the chlorofluorocarbon industry and the applications of the compounds. Using patent information, three processes are evaluated for the manufacture of promising alternatives. The first process produces HFC-134a (CH2FCF3). The second produces HCFC-123 and HCFC-124 (CHCl2CF3 and CHClFCF3, respectively). The third produces HCFC-141b (CH3CCl2F). Other potential substitutes and properties are also reviewed.
