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International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
Act Ozone Friendly - Stay Sun Safe!
Ozone Friendly Products
Alternative ozone-friendly products are now manufactured widely in
all the industrialized countries under both well-known and other brand
names. Many developing countries such as India, China, Brazil, etc have
begun to manufacture ozone friendly products. The suppliers and traders
are now well aware of the distinction between CFC products and ozone
friendly products.
Many of these products have labels indicating that they are
ozone-friendly. Even if they do not have such labels, verification of
the contents, normally detailed on the product itself or in the brochure
attached to the product, will show whether it contains CFCs or
ozone-friendly alternatives. Given below are the current alternatives to
CFCs in products of each sector.
1. Refrigeration Sector
(a) New refrigeration units
The alternatives are HFC134a, Hydrocarbons, HFC blends, HCFC
blends, HCFC 22, Ammonia.
(b) Air-cooled air conditioning units
HFC 134a, HFC blends
(c) Chiller equipment
HFCs, HCFC and HFC blends.
(d) Mobile Air Conditioners
HCFC blends, HFC-134a.
2. Foam Sector
For foams, zero ODP alternatives include carbon dioxide,
hydrocarbons, HFC-152a or HFC-134a. In some markets, HCFCs are used
for rigid thermal insulating foams.
3. Aerosols
The alternatives include hydrocarbons such as propane, butane and
iso-butane, HCFCs, HFCs, Dimethyl, Ether and perfluorolethers. Other
ozone friendly, CFC-free products are manual pump sprayers and dry
powder inhalers.
4. Sterilants
The zero ODP alternatives include 100% ethylene oxide, ethylene
oxide/carbon-dioxide mixtures, sterilization and formaldehyde. Some
sterilants use HCFCs .
5. Carbon tetrachloride as solvent
Carbon tetrachloride has been used as solvent in developing
countries but there are now many options available as alternatives.
These include organic solvents such as alcohols, ketones and esters,
and chlorinated solvents such as per-chloroethylene. Each of these
alternatives has it's own advantages and disadvantages.
6. Fire-fighting Sector
The choice of fire fighting systems depends on the circumstances.
Halons are considered necessary only in a few critical cases such as
fire-fighting systems for control rooms, aircraft, etc. Alternative fire
fighting equipment contains carbon dioxide or dry powder. Apart from
gaseous alternatives to halons new systems such as water mist
technologies and combustion generated aerosols are developed as
alternatives to halons fire fighting equipment. The halons are now
available in vast quantities in equipment which is located in none
critical circles. This halon can be banked for use in critical areas.
The production and consumption of halons can be phased out completely
through the use of such banks of halons.
7. Solvents Sector
Alternatives for CFC-113 and Methyl chloroform
No-clean technologies, aqueous and semi-aqueous cleaning,
Hydrocarbons, non-ozone depleting chlorinated solvents, HCFCs,
Perfluorocarbons and non-solvent cleaning processes.
8. Methyl Bromide
Alternatives for soil fumigation include processes such as
solarisation, steam, Biological control, crop rotation, soiless culture
etc. and chemicals such as chloropicrin, Metham sodium, Dazomet
http://www.unep.org/ozone/Events/ozone_safe.asp
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