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On November 19, 2021, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) consulted on the Recommended List of Alternatives to Hydrochlorofluorocarbons in China (hereinafter referred to as the List), aiming to phase out HCFCs as part of its efforts to implement the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (hereinafter referred to as the Kigali Amendment) in China. The deadline for comments is December 31, 2021.
An overall phase-out strategy for HCFCs has been developed and implemented since 2011 without an available recommended alternatives. Only four types of alternatives to ODS, including perchlorofluorocarbons (PFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride (CTC) and methyl chloroform (TCA) have been recommended in China, which were listed in the draft Recommended List of Alternatives to Ozone Depleting Substances (First Batch) published in 2007.
At present, there are two main types of alternatives to HCFCs: (1) HFCs with high GWP, which have been widely used in developed countries for many years and have been industrialized on a large scale in China, and (2) alternatives with low GWP, including natural refrigerant, fluorinated olefins (HFOs), etc.
The following content were clarified in the List:
Uses and Applications of Alternatives
The List recommends 24 alternatives to three main types of HCFCs (HCFC-22, HCFC-141b and HCFC-142b) produced and used in China, including 9 alternatives for refrigerants, 6 alternatives for foaming agents and 9 alternatives for cleaning agents. They are widely used in products of room air conditioners and domestic heat pump water heaters, and industries of industrial and commercial refrigeration, foam, cleaning, etc.
Alternatives with Zero ODP and Low GWP
All alternatives in the List have an ODP of 0 and most of them have a GWP less than 20, which contributes to promoting green and low carbon alternative technologies while protecting the ozone layer. Only four alternatives have a GWP greater than 20: refrigerant HFC-32 with a GWP of 675, refrigerant R515B with a GWP of 287, refrigerant R513A with a GWP of 631, and cleaning agent 1,1,2,2,3,3,4-heptafluorocyclopentane (HFE-447) with a GWP of 243.
Hydrocarbon solvents, chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents, alcohol soluble and solvent free silicone fluids, and alcohol ether solvents are four special types of alternatives used in cleaning agents. They are included in the list instead of the substances they contain, for the latter are of great variety.
