Investigation of the Production of Trifluoroacetic Acid from Two Halocarbons, HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf and Its Fates Using a Global Three-Dimensional Chemical Transport Model

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a highly soluble and stable organic acid, is photochemically produced by certain anthropogenically emitted halocarbons such as HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf. Both these halocarbons are used as refrigerants in the automobile industry, and the high global warming potential of HFC-134a has promoted regulation of its use. Industries are transitioning to the use of HFO-1234yf as a more environmentally friendly alternative. We investigated the environmental effects of this change and found a 33-fold increase in the global burden of TFA from an annual value of 65 tonnes formed from the 2015 emissions of HFC-134a to a value of 2220 tonnes formed from an equivalent emission of HFO-1234yf. The percentage increase in surface TFA concentrations resulting from the switch from HFC-134a to HFO-1234yf remains substantial with an increase of up to 250-fold across Europe. The increase in emissions greater than the current emission scenario of HFO-1234yf is likely to result in significant TFA burden as the atmosphere is not able to disperse and deposit relevant oxidation products. The Criegee intermediate initiated loss process of TFA reduces the surface level atmospheric lifetime of TFA by up to 5 days (from 7 days to 2 days) in tropical forested regions.

Automated summary

The study shows that transitioning from HFC-134a to HFO-1234yf leads to a significant increase in the global burden of TFA, with surface TFA concentrations increasing up to 250-fold in Europe. The increase in emissions from HFO-1234yf is likely to result in a substantial TFA burden as the atmosphere is unable to disperse relevant oxidation products.