Control technology overview report: CFC-11 emissions from flexible polyurethane foam manufacturing. Final report, March-October 1986

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5482616

Farmer, R W; Nelson, T P

The report gives results of an engineering evaluation of technical options to reduce chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) emissions from flexible slabstock and molded polyurethane foam manufacturing plants. Among the technical options studied were recovery and recycle of CFC-11, alternative chemicals and processes, and substitute products. Two possible emission control methods were studied in detail: substitution of methylene chloride as the auxiliary foam blowing agent and carbon adsorption/recycle of exhausted CFC-11 vapors. Promising near-term control options identified for slabstock production were methylene chloride substitution for CFC-11, and establishment of a minimum foam density to reduce the amount of auxiliary blowing agent used. For molded polyurethane foam production, use of chemical systems which eliminate the need for auxiliary blowing agents appeared to be a near-term option. Possible longer-term options included carbon adsorption with CFC-11 recovery, development of chemical systems requiring little or no auxiliary blowing agents for slabstock production, and commercialization of new alternative blowing agents. Each longer-term option has in common a need for additional information to adequately define the optimal implementation strategy.

• Research Organization: Radian Corp., Austin, TX (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5482616
• Report Number(s): PB-88-160387/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
COLLOIDS
CONTROL
DISPERSIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
FOAMS
FREONS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
MANUFACTURING
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLYAMIDES
POLYMERS
POLYURETHANES
PROGRESS REPORT
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS