Exploring chemical adsorption of effluent HF and HCl onto targeted media following waste refrigerant destruction in a microwave plasma reactor

Under the Refrigerant Management Canada program, Referigerant Services Inc. (RSI) in Dartmouth, NS,provides a collection service for surplus CFC and HCFC refrigerants generated by the stationary HVAC/Rindustry. During reclamation of these refrigerants, significant quantities of waste CFCs are recovered and mustbe transported to either Texas or Alberta for disposal. The cost and environmental risk associated with off-sitetransport and disposal has prompted RSI to explore on-site destruction using microwave plasma reactortechnology coupled with effluent gas treatment.This work explores the physical and chemical adsorption performance of target media (i.e. limestone andcement constituents) to remove HF and HCl generated during refrigerant destruction. To do so, a unique testfacility will be constructed at Dalhousie University from specialty alloys suitable for these highly corrosive andhazardous chemicals. Using a simulated reactor effluent stream, the adsorption capacity of select target mediawill be determined and the resulting fluorinated and chlorinated products characterized for value-addedproperties and long-term stability.This project has significant potential to increase the technological capabilities of an established serviceprovider in Atlantic Canada and decrease environmental risk associated with CFC and HCFC storage andtransport. While dependent on the final performance of the target media, potential long-term economicbenefits may exist in the form of reduced refrigerant disposal costs for the Canadian HVAC industry and thelocal production of value-added fluorinated compounds.