Fluorinated gases
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Fluorinated gases (F-gases) are a group of gases containing fluorine. They are divided into several types, the main of those are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). They are used in refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pumps, fire suppression, electronics, aerospace, magnesium industry, foam and high voltage switchgear. As they are greenhouse gases with a strong global warming potential, their use is regulated.[1]
Types of F-gases
The most common F-gases are
Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) is used primarily as an etchant for microelectronics fabrication.
Use history
HFCs were developed in the 1990s to substitute for substances such as
PFCs and SF6 were already in use prior to the Montreal Protocol.
NF3 use has grown since the 1990s along with the rapid expansion of the microelectronics fabrication industry.
Environmental impact of F-gases
F-gases are ozone-friendly, enable energy efficiency, and are relatively safe for use by the public due to their low levels of toxicity and flammability. However, most F-gases have a high global warming potential (GWP), and some are nearly inert to removal by chemical processes. If released, HFCs stay in the atmosphere for decades and both PFCs and SF6 can stay in the atmosphere for millennia.
The total atmospheric concentration of F-gases, CFCs, and HCFCs has grown rapidly since the mid-twentieth century; a time which marks the start of their production and use at industrial scale. As a group in year 2019, these unnatural man-made gases are responsible for about one-tenth of the direct radiative forcing from all long-lived anthropogenic greenhouse gases.[3]
F-gases are used in a number of applications intended for
Regulation of F-gases
International level
Although the Montreal Protocol regulates the phasing out of HCFCs, there was no international agreement on the regulation of HFCs until late 2016 when the Kigali Amendment under the Montreal Protocol was signed, which has put compulsory phase wise phasing out of CFC gases. Efforts are ongoing to develop a global approach for the control of HFCs. Most recently, this has taken the form of a declaration of support for a global phase-down as part of the outcomes of the "Rio+20" United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.[6]
US-level
In the United States, the regulation of F-gases falls under the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency's overall attempts to combat greenhouse gases.[7] The United States has put forward a joint proposal with Mexico and the Federated States of Micronesia for a phase-down of HFCs by 2030. The American Innovation and Manufacturing Act is federal legislation that mandates at 85% reduction in the production and consumption of HFC refrigerants by 2035, in compliance with the Kigali Amendment.[8]
EU-level regulation
In order to combat the potential global warming effects of F-gases, and as part of the EU's
On 26 September 2011, the Commission issued a report on the application, effects and adequacy of the Regulation, drawing from the results of an analytical study it commissioned from German environmental research institute, Öko-Recherche. A further study, conducted by the Armines Centre energétique et procédés and by Energy Research Innovation Engineering (ERIE) found that emissions reductions of up to 60% can be achieved by improving containment measures and accelerating the changeover from high GWP refrigerants to ones with lower GWP.[9]
On 7 November 2012, the European Commission published the proposal to revise the F-gas Regulation. In December 2013, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU agreed the text of the revised regulation, which shall be applied from 1 January 2015.
China
There are no regulations regarding
See also
References
- ^ "What are fluorinated gases?". Netregs. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Climate change indicators - Atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases - Figure 4". United States Environmental Protection Agency. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- ^ NOAAGlobal Monitoring Laboratory/Earth System Research Laboratories.
- ^ "Refrigerant Market Size Worth $30.37 Billion By 2025 / CAGR: 5.3%". Grand View Research. 2018-01-31.
- ^ Mark Williams (2020-09-13). "Sulfur Hexafluoride Market is Thriving Worldwide 2020-2027". The Daily Chronicle.
- ^ "The future we want - Outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development" (PDF). United Nations. 2012-06-22. p. 39.
- ^ "Greenhouse gas emissions". Epa.gov. 17 November 2015. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- ^ "PHASING DOWN HFCS: THE AIM ACT - U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works". www.epw.senate.gov. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-07-20. Retrieved 2013-01-14.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ An, Minde (5 March 2024). "Sustained growth of sulfur hexafluoride emissions in China inferred from atmospheric observations". Nature Communications. 15. Retrieved 2 April 2024.