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On June 12, 2023, China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released a notice to issue Recommended List of Alternatives for Ozone Depleting Substances in China, aiming to accelerate the phase-out of HCFCs as mandated by the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
As a signatory of the Montreal Protocol, China has issued the First Batch of Recommended List of Alternatives for Ozone Depleting Substances(ODS) in 2004 and later its amendment in 2007 to replace and eventually phase out the production and consumption of four ozone-depleting substances (ODS), namely CFCs, halon, methyl bromide and methyl chloroform. Now, China is carrying out the phase-out and replacement of the final type of ODS— hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).
At present, there are five types of HCFCs produced and used in China, with HCFC-22, HCFC-141b, and HCFC-142b accounting for 99% of total production. The List recommends 23 substitutes for these three HCFCs, including 7 refrigerants, 7 foaming agents, and 9 detergents substitutes, covering room air conditioners, heat pump water heaters, industrial and commercial refrigeration, foaming, and other industries.
The recommended list is shown below.
| No. | Type of use | Alternative name | ODP | GWP in 100 years | Main applications | Replaced HCFCs |
| 1 | Refrigerant | Propane (R290) | 0 | <1 | Room air conditioners and heat pump water heaters, commercial self-contained refrigeration systems, industrial refrigeration systems | Chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22) |
| 2 | Refrigerant | Isobutane (R600a) | 0 | <1 | Commercial self-contained refrigeration systems | Chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22) |
| 3 | Refrigerant | Carbon dioxide (R744) | 0 | 1 | Domestic heat pump water heater, industrial or commercial heat pump water heater, industrial or commercial refrigeration system, cold storage | Chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22) |
| 4 | Refrigerant | Ammonia (R717) | 0 | 0 | Industrial refrigeration system, cold storage, compression condensing unit | Chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22) |
| 5 | Refrigerant | Difluoromethane (HFC-32) | 0 | 675 | Unitary air conditioners, chilled water (heat pump) units, industrial or commercial heat pump water heaters | Chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22) |
| 6 | Refrigerant | Fluoroethane (HFC-161) | 0 | 5 | Room air conditioners | Chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22) |
| 7 | Refrigerant | Propane and isobutane mixture (R436C, R290/R600a, mass fraction 95/5) | 0 | 1 | Room air conditioners | Chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22) |
| 8 | Foaming agent | Carbon dioxide | 0 | 1 | Polyurethane foam, extruded polystyrene foam | Chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22); 1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b); 1-Chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-142b) |
| 9 | Foaming agent | Cyclopentane | 0 | 11 | Polyurethane foam (except spray foam) | 1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) |
| 10 | Foaming agent | Pentane | 0 | 11 | Polyurethane foam (except spray foam) | 1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) |
| 11 | Foaming agent | Isopentane | 0 | 11 | Polyurethane foam (except spray foam) | 1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) |
| 12 | Foaming agent | Water | 0 | 0 | Polyurethane foam | 1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) |
| 13 | Foaming agent | Carbonic acid organic alcohol amine salt | 0 | 0 | Polyurethane foam | 1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) |
| 14 | Foaming agent | 1,1-Difluoroethane (HFC-152a) | 0 | 124 | Extruded polystyrene foam | Chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22); 1-Chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-142b) |
| 15 | Detergent | Ethanol | 0 | 0 | Cleaning agent, silicone oil thinner | 1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) |
| 16 | Detergent | Isopropanol | 0 | 0 | Cleaning agent, silicone oil thinner | 1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) |
| 17 | Detergent | Trans-dichloroethylene （HCC-1130(E)) | 0 | 1 | Cleaning agent, silicone oil thinner | 1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) |
| 18 | Detergent | 1,1,2,2,3,3,4-Heptafluorocyclopentane (HFC-C447) | 0 | 231 | Cleaning agent, silicone oil thinner | 1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) |
| 19 | Detergent | C8-C12 n-paraffin and isoparaffin solvents | 0 | <20 | Cleaning agent, silicone oil thinner | 1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) |
| 20 | Detergent | Alcohol-soluble silicone oil, solvent-free silicone oil | 0 | <20 | Siliconization of needle tip and syringe | 1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) |
| 21 | Detergent | Propylene glycol ether, diethylene glycol ether, dipropylene glycol ether and other alcohol ether solvents | 0 | <20 | Cleaning agent for metal and electronics industry | 1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) |
| 22 | Detergent | Hydrofluoroether (HFE) | 0 | <750 | Cleaning agent for electronics industry | 1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) |
| 23 | Detergent | 1,1-Difluoroethane (HFC-152a) | 0 | 124 | Propellant | 1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) |
