Chlorodifluoromethane - Environmental Effects

Environmental Effects

R-22 is often used as an alternative to the highly ozone-depleting CFC-11 and CFC-12, because of its relatively low ozone depletion potential of 0.055, among the lowest for chlorine-containing haloalkanes. However, even this lower ozone depletion potential is no longer considered acceptable.

As an additional environmental concern, R-22 is a powerful greenhouse gas with a global warming potential that is 1810 (which indicates 1810 times as powerful as carbon dioxide). Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are often substituted for R-22 because of their lower ODP, but these refrigerants also have high global warming potential. R-410A, for example, is often substituted, but has a GWP of 1725. Other substitute refrigerants are available with low GWP. Propane (R-290), for example, has a GWP of 3, although it is rarely used in refrigeration systems because of its flammability and potential for explosion.