RESPONSIBLE CARE - PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP FOR REFRIGERANTS

摘要

Product stewardship summarizes the concept of following products beyond their production and through their complete lifetime all the way to environmentally benign recycling, destruction or disposal. The concept has found wide acceptance throughout various manufacturing segments including the chemical industry. This paper describes a European manufacturer's approach for applying the concept to fluorinated refrigerants. Even though the producer of the substances fulfils essential tasks within the concept, it requires co-operation with others who are involved during the product's lifetime. The paper will describe the responsibilities of different parties. Even though regulations and legal requirements do apply to ensure proper use of fluorinated refrigerants, many aspects rely on voluntary measures within the industry. The paper will further focus on primary recycling of refrigerants, meaning to process used refrigerants to fresh product specifications. Secondary recycling refers to product that for different reasons cannot be processed into fresh material quality. The paper further describes a thermal separation unit, that provides secondary recycling to hydrofluoric acid and hydrochloric acid: substances that are widely used both in the chemical industry and in other industries. The described concept is targeted at providing a closed cycle of the materials involved.