Photodissociation of CF3CHO provides a new source of CHF3 (HFC-23) in the atmosphere: implications for new refrigerants.

Abstract Throughout the last century, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) were the most widely used refrigerants. However, it was discovered that they released reactive chlorine in the upper atmosphere causing the hole in the ozone layer and they were phased out by the 1987 Montreal Protocol [1]. They were replaced by hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which contain no chlorine and do not damage the ozone layer. However, HFCs are potent greenhouse gases and they were phased out in a 2016 amendment to the Montreal Protocol [2]. The latest evolution of these refrigerants is the hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs). These molecules have no chlorine and incorporate a carbon-carbon double bond to greatly reduce their atmospheric lifetime, and hence their contribution as a greenhouse gas. In this work, we demonstrate that one of the most important HFOs in current use ultimately decomposes partially into HFC-23 (CHF3) in the atmosphere. HFC-23 is one of the most potent greenhouse gases known, and the most potent HFC. Despite its phaseout, the observed emissions of HFC-23 have been increasing recently and were the largest in history in 2018 with no conclusive explanation [3]. This work suggests that the production of HFOs might be partially responsible.