How to destroy the R12?

[rtamayo]

I know that it is illegal to do anything with any CFC, but we have a lot of cilinders of R12, the warehouses of the local goverment institution dedicated to keep the cilinders of CFC is almost full and it is a great trouble.

Do you know the legal alternatives to destroy it? :(

[bruisermac]

ship it to north america..it sells hot for about 100 per pound!!

[rtamayo]

No, we can´t and don´t want buy it. We want destroy it. ... We are green. ;)

[The MG Pony]

Good for you! There are companies that incinerate it at extream temps via plasma furnaces, a carbone arc furnace will do well with exuast scrubbers.

[Argus]

Good for you! There are companies that incinerate it at extream temps via plasma furnaces, a carbone arc furnace will do well with exuast scrubbers.

Absolutely.

In the EU where I am all the refrigerants, including HFCs, HCFCs, CFCS etc. are classed as a Hazardous Waste as is the case in many other plaaces.

Correct disposal is only through high temperature incineration in specialist licensed plant. There are only a few in each country in the EU for example, who are licensed to do this work.

I don't know if you have such facilities in Peru, if not you will need to export it specifically for destruction, but export / import licenses of CFCs are difficult to arrange. Transport across borders is stricly controlled.

I think that Peru is an article 5 country under the Montreal Protocol on Ozone gases. This means that there are relaxations on the use bans of CFCs, also, there may be special arrangements in place to cover getting rid of it. Try contacting the Ozone secretariat at UNEP. Google will give you sites.

As pointed out previously, there is a black market in this stuff..... but stay away from that - there are big penalties.


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[rtamayo]

Ok, MG Pony but the R12 at high temperature it generates Chloridric acid, sulph acid and other hazard gases; Argus, Peru doesn´t import R12 since some years ago; I tried to find as you suggested. Thank you

[The MG Pony]

Yes it does produce the acids, this is where the exuast scrubbers come in, the waste water is chemicaly neutralized and scrubbed.

[rtamayo]

Are there any alternative procedure to destroy the R12?

[Argus]

No.

We already told you that it is destryed by high temperature controlled incineration.

If you don't have those facilities in your country you must arrange legal export to a country that has them.

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[rtamayo]

OK, I´ll contact to the local goverment institution

[Argus]

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Firstly well done for trying to do this properly – it’s not easy even in countries with the facilities.

I suggest that you read up on UNEP (United Nation Environmental Programme) – Ozone secretariat.

Here’s a link: http://ozone.unep.org/ It’s in English, French and Spanish.

This one’s in Spanish, if it helps http://ozone.unep.org/spanish/

If you contact them, they should be able to tell you the name of the government office in Peru that deals with Ozone issues.

You will need to find out who in your government deals with Ozone issues (UNEP May help you there). They should be able to tell you how to do it.

Arrange legal export AND legal import into the country of destination where it will be destroyed. The destruction plant must registered for this work and you should keep all the papers.