Overview of Cfc Replacement Issues for Household Refrigeration

In 1974, the famous ozone depletion theory by Rowland and Molina claimed that CFCs diffuse into the stratosphere where they are broken down by photolysis to release chlorine atoms that catalytically destroy ozone. Although the understanding of the science is still imperfect, there is little doubt that CFCs play a major role in the Antarctic ozone hole phenomenon and the decline in ozone observed in the rest of the world. Another issue that has become increasingly important is the potential of CFCS to change the Earth’s temperature and to modify the climate. While the main impact in global warming comes from increased concentrations of carbon dioxide, CFCs and other trace gases also contribute to this effect. In an effort to respond to the global environmental threat, a CFC protocol was adopted during a diplomatic conference in Montreal. This document, known as the Montreal Protocol, was ratified by a sufficient number of countries in 1988 so that it was put into force January 1, 1989.