TRANSITIONING TO LOW-GWP ALTERNATIVES IN NON-MEDICAL AEROSOLS Background This fact sheet provides current information on low-Global Warming Potential (GWP) alternatives for non-medical commercial aerosols (i.e., excluding metered-dose inhalers (MDIs)) that have historically relied on ozone depleting substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer} Aerosols use liquefied or compressed gas to propel active ingredients in liquid, paste, or powder form in precise spray patterns with controlled droplet sizes and amounts. Typical aerosol products use a propellant that is a gas at atmospheric pressure, but is a pressurized liquid in the can. Some aerosols also contain a solvent. In some cleaning applications, the propellant disperses the solvent; in other applications, the solvent product and propellant solution are evenly mixed to improve shelf-life and product performance, such as by preventing dripping and ensuring uniform film thickness for spray paints. Non-medical commercial aerosols can be broken down into the following two product categories: Consumer Aerosols » Tire inflators/sealants Safety signal horns Animal repellants Personal care products (e.g., cosmetic aerosols, hairspray, deodorants, wound care sprays,2 taping base3) » Food dispensing products Freeze sprays (e.g., food freezing, animal waste freezing, cold sprays4) Spray paint Novelty aerosols (e.g., artificial snow, plastic string, noise makers, cork poppers) Miscellaneous consumer aerosols (e.g., household cleaning products, brake cleaners,5 eyeglass and keyboard dusters, room fresheners, spray adhesives) Technical Aerosols Dusters6 (e.g., for photographic negatives, semiconductor chip manufacture, specimens for observation under electron microscope) « Cleaners (e.g., electronic contact cleaners,7 flux remover8) Pesticides (e.g., wasp and hornet sprays, aircraft insecticides) Miscellaneous technical aerosols (e.g., document preservation sprays, freeze sprays9) Although a large portion of the aerosol market has avoided HFC propellants and solvents by transitioning directly to low-GWP options and "not-in-kind" (NIK) alternatives, in 2010, global HFC consumption from aerosols was estimated at 54 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTC02eq.).Twenty-four percent of this amount was from the non-medical commercial end- uses described above. Developed countries accounted for nearly all of the global HFCs used in commercial aerosols. 2010 HFC Consumption (Estimates Presented in MMTC02eq.) Fire Extinguishing Solvents Foams 11% Ref/AC 79% Aerosols 5% Non-Medical Aerosols 24% Medical Aerosols 76% Global HFC Consumption Total: 1,087 MMTC02eq. Global HFC Consumption Aerosol: 54 MMTC02eq. ------- HFC Alternatives and Market Trends Historically, CFC-12 was used as a propellant and CFCs (e.g., CFC- 11 and -113) and methyl chloroform were often used as solvents in aerosols. In response to the CFC phaseout, these were replaced with a variety of alternatives, including HCFCs, hydrocarbons (HCs), oxygenated organic compounds, and NIK alternatives. HCFCs included primarily HCFC-22 for propellants and both HCFC-141b and HCFC-22Bca/cb for solvents.10 HCFC propellants have in turn been replaced with high-GWP HFCsincluding HFC-134aas well as a variety of low-GWP substitutes, such as HCs, compressed gases, NIK alternatives, and HFC-1 B2a. Likewise, HCFC solvents have been replaced by HFC-43-10mee, HFC-36Smfc, HFC-24Sfa, trans- 1,2-dichloroethylene, HCs, oxygenated organic compounds, and hydrofluoroethers (HFEs). Other low-GWP fluorinated compounds are also in use or under development, including HFOs.11 These alternatives are described further below. HCs Propane, butane, and isobutane blends used for propellants Hexane, heptane, and other HCs used as solvents Used in technical and some consumer aerosols Plant modifications needed to address flammability/ safety concerns Local use restrictions may apply due to concerns over volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, in particular in the United States Oxygenated Organic Compounds Dimethyl ether (DME) used for propellants Esters, ethers, alcohols, and ketones used as solvents Used in technical and consumer aerosols Plant modifications needed to address flammability/ safety concerns Local use restrictions may apply due to concerns over VOC emissions, in particular in the United States NIK Finger/trigger pumps, powder formulations, sticks, rollers, brushes, bag-in-can/piston-can systems, wipes, sand-blasting, brushing, and abrasion used in place of propellants and solvents in technical and consumer aerosols Mixing balls and dip tubes also used in place of high-GWP solvents in technical aerosols; propellants still required Europe's Experience Europe is the world's largest producer of aerosols, with 5.5 billion units produced in 2011 representing nearly 46% of global production. Of these, 5.1 billion were produced in the European Union (EU). Shortly after the signing of the Montreal Protocol, the EU aerosol industry transitioned from CFCs to HCFCs for the majority of non-medical aerosols in 1989, and then transitioned away from HCFC propellants to HFCs (primarily HFC-134a), HCs, and NIK devices by 1995. In 2002, the European industry voluntarily began the transition away from HFCs through the Code of Practice on HFC Use in Aerosols of the European Aerosol Federation, which specified that HFC propellants only be used when no other safe, practical, economic, or environmentally acceptable alternatives exist. This transition was later boosted by EU regulation (Regulation (EC) No. 842/2006), which banned HFC use in novelty aerosol products as of July 2009. Chemical GWP ODPa Propellant CFC-1 2 HCFC-22 HFC-1 34a N2O HFC-1 52a HFO-1234ze(E) Butane Propane Isobutane CO2 DME 10,900 1,810 1,430 298 124 6 4 3.3 3 1 1 1 0.055 0 0.017 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Solvent CFC-1 13 CFC-1 1 HFC-43-10mee HFC-245fa HFC-365mfc HCFC-141b HCFC-225cb HFE-449s1 (HFE-7100) Methyl chloroform HCFC-225ca HFE-569sf2 (HFE-7200) Oxygenated Organic Compounds -1233zd(E)(HBA-2) Hexane Heptane 6,130 4,750 1,640 1,030 794 725 595 297 146 122 59 <20 4.7-7 3 3 0.8 1 0 0 0 0.11 0.033 0 0.1 0.025 0 0 ~0 0 0 aODP = ozone depletion potential ------- Compressed Gases Includes C02, air, nitrous oxide (N20), and nitrogen Used as propellants in some technical and consumer applications (e.g., dusters) » N20 commonly used in food dispensing aerosols HFEs Used as solvents in technical aerosols No flammability May be mixed with other, more flammable compounds with higher solvency, such as fra/?s-dichloroethylene HFC-152a Although an HFC, the GWP is 91 % lower than HFC-134a Used as a propellant in technical and consumer aerosols, particularly where VOCs are of concern, such as in the United States Moderate flammability Propellant Transition in Consumer and Technical Aerosol End-Uses Low-GWP Fluorinated Compounds HFO-1234ze(E) used as a propellant in technical and consumer aerosols Other low-GWP fluorinated compounds are becoming available as propellants and solvents (e.g., -1233zd(E)12 used as solvent) Depending on solvency of the fluorinated compound, it may be mixed with other, more flammable compounds with higher solvency * Some exhibit low flammability, others non-flammable Few facility modifications required to transition from HCFCs or MFCs Low-GWP Fluorinated Compounds Solvent Transition in Technical Aerosol End-Uses HCFCs 141b,225ca/cb) HFCs(43-10mee 365mfc, 245fa] Dxygenated Organic Compounds Low-GWP Fluorinated Compounds 3ted ------- Challenges to Market Entry and Potential Solutions Alternative HCs, Oxygenated Organic Compounds (Propellant and Solvent) NIK (Propellant and Solvent) Compressed Gases (Propellant) HFEs (Solvent) HFC-152a (Propellant) Low-GWP Fluorinated Compounds (Propellant and Solvent) Challenges to Market Entry Highly Flammable VOC Regulation and Air Quality Impacts Lower Performance for Some Applications Fewer Blasts per Can Compared to MFCs Lower Performance for Some Applications Moderate Flammability Some Are Still Entering World Markets Potential Solutions Engineering Controls Standards and Safety Regulations Training and Education Engineering Design Engineering Design Mixing with Other, More Aggressive Solvents Engineering Controls Standards and Safety Regulations Training and Education Field Testing Future Outlook Much of the aerosol sector has avoided the use of MFCs, transitioning from CFCs or HCFCs directly to low-GWP alternative chemicals and NIK solutions. Together, the suite of known alternative chemicals and NIK options can significantly reduce the remaining HFC consumption in both the near and long terms, while simultaneously helping to complete the HCFC phaseout. Although more work remains to fully adopt these alternatives, the industries currently using HCFCs and HFCs have proven through the ODS phaseout that they can move quickly to protect the environment. 1 Although MDIs are also transitioning away from CFC propellants to HFC propellants, critical use exemptions allow the limited use of CFCs for safety and technical reasons. 2 Wound care sprays include germicides and spray-on bandages. 3 Taping base is used on injuries to help secure tape, underwrap, and elastic wraps. 4 Topical coolants and freeze sprays are used by medical trainers and athletes. After application, the spray evaporates from the skin, lowering the surface temperature to alleviate pain. 5 Brake cleaners remove oil, dirt, and other debris from vehicle braking systems. Brake cleaners previously used methyl chloroform and successfully avoided use of high-GWP HFCs by transitioning directly to perchloroethylene or carbon dioxide as a solvent/ propellant. 6 Duster sprays are com pressed gases used to blow off dust or dirt, particularly from computers and electronic equipment. 7 Electronic contact cleaners are used to dissolve and remove oil, grease, flux, condensation, and other contaminants quickly from delicate electronic circuitry and instrumentation. 8 Flux removers are used to clean excess flux and solder residue from circuit boards and electrical components. 9 Among other uses, freeze sprays are used to test electrical conductivity of components on circuit boards, and freeze and remove warts. 10 In the United States, the use of HCFC aerosols was banned for nonessential products in 1994. Only a few types of products were allowed. 11 HFOs (hydrofluoro-olefins) are unsaturated HFCs. 12 -1233zd(E), an unsaturated compound, is also referred toastrans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-eneand by trade names such asHBA-2. v>EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA430-F-13-013 www.epa.gov April 2013 r Printed on recycled paper ------- References American Chemical Council Solvents Industry Group. 2011. Benefits of Solvents: Aerosol Products. Available at: http://www. americanchemistry.com/s_acc/sec_solvents_doc.asp?CID=1490&DID=5729. Accessed May 5, 2011. Anderson, Stephen 0., K. Madhava Sarma, and Kristen N.Taddonio. Technology Transfer for the Ozone Layer: Lessons for Climate Change. 2007. Available online at: http://books.google.com/books?id=OvgA-hZrPOcC&pg=PA1 S6&lpg=PA156&dq=not-in-kind+alternatives+for+a erosols+in+europe&source=bl&ots=BSsjjZ8seF&sig=zTmlEGSSJy8h8xnCCrGjxOnBz30&hl=en&ei=ZX2xTZ2WMZSftweZI7mKDA&sa=X&oi= book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=OCBgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false. Accessed April 22, 2011. Center for Sustainable Production and Consumption (C-SPAC). 2005. "Ecofridge: Make the Right Choice Now." Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS). Available online at: http://www.cuts-international.org/sc98-1.htm.Accessed February 18, 2013. European Aerosol Federation. 2013. "Code of Practice on MFCs Use in Aerosols." Available at: http://www.eesc.europa.eu/self-and- coregulation/documents/codes/private/021-private-act.pdf. Last update: 02 January 2013. Accessed February 18, 2013. International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)/Technical and Economical Assessment Panel (TEAP). 2005. "Safeguarding the Ozone Layer and the Global Climate System: Issues Related to Hydrofluorocarbons and Perfluorocarbons," Chapter 10: Non-Medical Aerosols, Solvents, and HFC-23. Campbell, N., J. Hu, P. Lapin, A. McCulloch, A. Merchant, K. Mizuno, J. Owens, P. Rollet. Available online at: http://www.ipcc.ch/ pdf/spedal-reports/sroc/srodO.pdf. Accessed April 14, 2011. International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 2001. Third Assessment Report - Climate Change 2001: Mitigation. Aerosol Products, Excerpt from Appendix III of the Report. Available online at: http://unfccc.int/files/methods_and_science/other_methodological_issues/ interactions_with_ozone_layer/application/pdf/ipacat3.pdf. Accessed April 22, 2011. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). 2010. Chemicals Technical Options Committee 2010 Assessment Report. Available online at: http://ozone.unmfs.org/Assessment_Panels/TEAP/Reports/CTOC/CTOC-Assesssment-Report-2010.pdf. Accessed February 20, 2012. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). October 2009. 2009 Marginal Abatement Cost Curve Analysis for Reduction of MFCs in Traditional Ozone Depleting Substance End-Use Applications. Prepared for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, by ICF International. Draft Report. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). June 2006. "Global Mitigation of Non-C02 Greenhouse Gases." U.S. EPA #430-R-06-005. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). September 2004. The U.S. Solvent Cleaning Industry and the Transition to Non Ozone Depleting Substances. Prepared for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, by ICF International. Draft Report. Wenzel, H. and Hauschild, M. 1998. "Environmental Assessment of Products: Volume 2: Scientific Background." London, UK: Chapman & Hall. ------- |