Findings could make a major contribution to protecting the endangered ozone layer

via Path Decorations Pictures

Scientists from Mainz and Aschaffenburg developed a method to protect the ozone layer from the damaging effects of the chlorofluorocarbon Freon 11

Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences have managed to make a breakthrough when it comes to dealing with the extremely ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbon Freon 11. Their findings could make a major contribution to protecting the endangered ozone layer.Freon 11 is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC). These substances were previously used, among other things, as coolants in refrigerators and as foaming agents for polyurethane foams. In the 1970s scientists realized that CFCs were damaging the protective ozone layer in the upper atmosphere and were also responsible for the appearance of the ozone hole. In addition, Freon 11 is 4,750 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas, additionally contributing to global warming.Although the Montreal Protocol banned the production and trade of this CFC in the late 1980s, it is still released today when refrigerators are recycled and is even traded on the black market. The ozone-depleting substance has also recently been the subject of repeated scientific and media attention. A study published in the journal Nature reported an alarming recurrence and a sharp increase in the global release of Freon 11, which the authors were able to attribute to extensive illegal production and use of this substance in Chinese polyurethane foam factories. Being able to effectively adsorb and detect Freon 11 at an early stage, it would seem, is thus more important than ever. “If we can learn to safely handle this environmentally harmful substance, it would be not only of great scientific interest but also, and above all, a matter of worldwide benefit,” emphasized Professor Siegfried Waldvogel of JGU, corresponding author of the study.

Sustainable and environmentally-friendly method of binding Freon 11

In their paper in the journal Global Challenges, the scientists from Mainz and Aschaffenburg describe a method of effectively binding both airborne and liquid phase Freon 11 using modified cyclic sugar molecules, i.e., a substance called methyl-substituted ?-cyclodextrin. This would prevent the release of the environmentally harmful foaming agent into the atmosphere, where it additionally impairs the stratosphere’s ability to protect against UV radiation. The process of Freon 11 binding is reversible and the adsorbent medium can be fully regenerated under controlled conditions. The recovered material can also be reused. This makes the process a sustainable and environmentally-friendly method of binding this extremely ozone-depleting substance, a method that can be readily employed when old refrigerators are scrapped, for example.

In addition, the research teams at Mainz and Aschaffenburg have been able to transfer this concept to an optical sensor device, making it possible to detect low concentrations of Freon 11 quickly and reliably.

The Latest on: Ozone layer

Tracing Changes in Ozone-Depleting Chemicals - nasa.gov
February 18, 2021
Network Tracks the Recent Rise and Fall of Ozone Depleting Pollutants - NASA
February 17, 2021
Ozone layer 'rescued' from CFC damage - BBC News
February 11, 2021
China's clampdown on harmful emissions puts ozone layer rescue back on track - CNN
February 11, 2021
What is ozone? - Livescience.com
February 9, 2021
How Ozone Depletion Interacts with Climate Change | IE - Interesting Engineering
February 8, 2021
Paul J. Crutzen (1933–2021) - Nature.com
February 24, 2021
The Scientist Who Warned of Ozone Hole, Then Named Our Climate Age - Bloomberg
January 29, 2021
Earth's Ozone Layer Is Healing As China Stops Its CFC-11 Emissions - India Times
February 13, 2021
UN launches Reset Earth mobile game to raise awareness for protecting ozone layer - VentureBeat
February 10, 2021

via Google News

The Latest on: Ozone layer

Evaluation of Antarctic Ozone Profiles derived from OMPS-LP by using Balloon-borne Ozonesondes
on February 22, 2021 at 3:15 am
Predicting radiative forcing due to Antarctic stratospheric ozone recovery requires detecting changes in the ozone vertical distribution. In this endeavor, the Limb Profiler of the Ozone Mapping and ...
Low Level Ozone Now Being Used to Help Protect Care Home Residents and Staff.
on February 19, 2021 at 12:10 am
Ozone is the most powerful disinfectant known to man and is now being used in Residential Care Homes in their fight against coronavirus Many Care homes have been devastated by the coronavirus with ...
Tracking The Recent Rise And Fall Of Ozone Depleting Pollutants
on February 18, 2021 at 9:09 pm
A short-lived resurgence in the emission of ozone depleting pollutants in eastern China will not significantly delay the recovery of Earth's protective "sunscreen" layer, according to new research ...
NASA-funded network tracks the recent rise and fall of ozone depleting pollutants
on February 17, 2021 at 12:32 pm
A short-lived resurgence in the emission of ozone depleting pollutants in eastern China will not significantly delay the recovery of Earth's protective 'sunscreen' layer, according to new research ...
Larry Emdur, 56, shares a youthful photo of himself 'killing the ozone layer with hairspray'
on February 17, 2021 at 1:42 am
He is one of Australia's veteran television personalities. And on Wednesday, Larry Emdur shared a youthful throwback photo ...
Ozone Layer is Finally Healing After Years of Damage
on February 12, 2021 at 5:38 am
Scientists suggest that the levels of ozone-harming CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) chemicals are steadily declining. This follows a rather dangerous pause that ...
China doing its homework and ozone layer recovery back on track
on February 12, 2021 at 1:49 am
In recent years, scientists had been alarmed by a sudden unexplained rise in ozone attacking chemicals in the atmosphere. Higher levels of trichlorofluoromethane, also known as CFC-11, were showing up ...
Ozone layer recovery back on track after China slows CFC-11 production
on February 11, 2021 at 11:08 am
The international treaty to protect the ozone layer appears to be getting results. New analyses have shown that China has successfully cut the illegal production of ozone-destroying chemicals.
Ozone Layer Healing Again As Destructive Chemicals In Atmosphere Decline
on February 11, 2021 at 5:48 am
Levels of ozone-damaging CFC chemicals are falling again, assuaging fears that the ozone layer may have temporarily stopped healing. Two years ago, a series of atmospheric measurements showed a ...