OAR Box 1878 

Prepped by Charmelle Mathews 

Document Number: 

68) 11-1-47 

Docket Number: 

A-90-19 

Printed 11/28/2008 11:47:27 AM Sheet 68 of 68 

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A-90-19 

&UmloU PUUMCU S+ntfiiti | M _4 7 

SEPTEMBER 1988 

Fte^Ise-t-Jun a 1987 CHLOROFOR M 

FOCUS....Chloroform, aieo known as trichloromethene, la a volatile organic compound. It ie one of the commodity chemical family of chlorinated hydrocarbons. Synthesis of monochlorodifluoromethane, fluorocarbon 

22 (F-22, aleo commonly referred to as CFC 22), accounts for over 931 of US chloroform consumption. The 

major use for fluorocerbon 22 ia as a refrigerant. F-22 aleo ia used 88 a reeln intermediate, propellent 

oas, and as a foam blowing agent for aome applications. It haa relatively minor solvent applications. 

industriea. A high level of refrigerator and auto production requiree more refrigerant gaaea for air conditioners and fluoropolymers for inaulstion and other applications.. 

After dropping below 300 million pounde In 1962, US chloroform' production was about 524 million pounde 

ln 1988 baaed on preliminary data from the US International Trade Commission (USITC). In recant years, 

demand forre frigerente hee fluctuated although there haa been relatively strong growth ln fluoropolymere. 

Estimated 1988 US chloroform demand of 491 million pounde waa a record high as consumer spending continued 

etrong. In addition to good businsss conditions, another major reaeoh for etrong chloroform demand viae the 

environmental conaideration. F-22 ia one of the few algnlficent chlorofluorocerbona (CFCe) not reetrlcted 

hy th« Montreal Protocol. The Montreal Protocol ia the international agreement that, ealla for a freeze in 

CFC uee et 1986 levels in 1989, e 205 cutback in use by 1994, and a further 5GS cut In certain CFC 

emissions by 1998. Ths US EPA and major CFC producera are committed to a pheaeout of CFCs ae feBt aa safe 

substitutes can be introduced. F-22 reportedly hae 95* leee ozone draining .potential than F-12. Therefore, 

•""•44 ± o UBlii<y WSOU • • a •ub«kil>Uk l9 fy » ewnc ay^H m nvi >o v f r-i i «i u r-\ t nliii_| . mi. W liihluwa< J A M U IB 

Protocol. F-ll la used ss e foam blowing agent whereas the principal applications for CFC 12 are in refrigeration and air conditioning, The 1988 increase ln US chloroform consumption was accompanied by a rise 

in exports. Exports increased ln 1968 with the weak dollar and strong world demand. Imports of chloroform 

remained relatively eonatant during the 1980'e, in the range of 25-30 million pounde. 

OUTLOOK....Unless environmental concerns related to ozone depletion by fluorocarbons mandate a reduction 

in uee of F-22, long-term chloroform consumption should increaae. Although short-term demand patterne may 

fluctuate with economic conditione end coneumer apanding for dureble goode, the overall trend for chloroform consumption should be upwards. A high rate of automobile production, housing, and other construction 

stimulates demand for air conditioning, refrigeration, and fluoropolymere. Demand growth in 1989/1990 will 

not be ae great aa in 1987/1988 with a projected slowdown in housing and automotive. 

After the replacement of F-H and F-12 ia accomplished, most long-term fluorocerbon 22 demand growth 

will continue to come from increased installation of reaidentlal air conditioning. In addition to new 

installations, the replacement market will be important. The development of mora efficient equipment and 

dual-purpose heat pumps will obsolete aome existing units, crsatlng an expanding replacement market. 

PRICING....Most chloroform output la sold to manufacturers of monochlorodifluoromethane on negotiated 

hwiiUawle, y»n*iali 7 r«i Lwioti published iia t price*. Ne US chlozofosm producera make chiecoflwesocecbene. 

The sverage galea and foreign trede values are indicative of trends in actual selling prices. In mid 1988, 

major producera initiated e one cent lncreeee in off-liet pricea. 

AVERAGE PRICE RANGE - CHLOROFORM 

Cente Par Pound • Technical • Bulk* Delivered - Conaumer 

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1992 

Trade Liet "T7~ "TT 17-f "VT IM wf ~T-\J AK$ ~3tT ~1Sf "JSf lE f 

Avg. Sales 10 8 6 16 21 • 20 20 • 20 21(E) .* 

Export Seles 19 17 18 19 19

 r

 r " 

£ erage sales vslue beeed on USITC data reflects distributor discounts, export ealee, and 

negotiated pricee to lerge volume fluorocerbon producsrs. * The average eelee veluee included 

herein for 1985 and 1987 have been estimated alnca the value reported by the USITC waa probably 

understated. Export aalea valuee are based on 15 Bureau of the Ceneua raporta. 

SUPPLY AND DEMAND Millions of Pounds Cstimeted....Domestic US 

Capacity 65 

Production 76 151 240 

975 in 

262 

6 

12 

256 

1980 

517 

353 

•• 

17 

336 

1985 

460 

385* 

33 

44 

374 

1986 

460 

416 

31 

42 

405 

1987 

500 

462 

24 

35 

451 

/ 

i988' 

52a A 

M /a 

1989 

"571 

520 

Imports 

Exports 

Demand 256 336 374 405 451 /491\ 520 

* 1985 Production la estimated since finel data ae reported by the USITC wee probably 

Incorrect although industry eelea volume wee apparently within proper order of magnitude. 

AVAILABILITY....With the rapid increaee in US production in 1987 end 1986, accompanied by operating downtime for maintenance and procees convsrsions, eippliss of chloroform hevs been tight. Although thsrs is 

currently only nominal apparent US overcepscity for chloroform, there is still nameplate overcapacity for 

ehloromethanee. In general - if proceaa modifications are imda • other chloromethenea, including methylene 

chloride, can be made ln the same facilities. There ie nameplate overcapacity for methylene chloride end 

it la anticipated that demand for methylene chloride will decline over tne long term ae chloroform demend 

increasea. Therefore, aome producers have modified facilities to increaee chloroform output and Improve 

economice. Theee process modifications generally rsdues the overall capabilities of the unit. 

3/87 
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S-vNI bY-KIKi IM. U. il'lmm . Z-14- 8 1 . j-U'/r w < F\HUIMIM ounrun«i A win-* 413 u*o n-n w w 

v/ ~ rRUUUU.K» M4J LArALlI It s - tt*.UKl*UKM • MILLIONS If POUNDS 

PRODUCER LOCATION 19B8 CAPACITY 

Dow Chemical Freeport, TX 175 

Dow Chemical Plaquemine, LA 150 

LCP ChemiealB Moundsville, WV 50 

Occidental Chemical Belle, WV 40 

Vulcan Chsmicels Geiemar, LA 60 

Vulcan Chemicals Wichita, K5 110 

TOTAL 545 

'Capacity estimates are generally aeeumed to be that part of the oversll chloromethane 

• capabilitie s dedicated -to producing chloiv-rurm. Cayavilleo oic riexlUle aim's ultier 

ehloromethanes are made in ths Bams equipment. As market demand for methylene chloride 

declined, producers maximized output of chloroform. Some producers made permanent proceee 

«h*-»-*>*-'oo MKA« h tn.i...- . «hl->r*»^*».fp ar-d <»Jw» w -i-^lli/1—..t-i i»lil./«l.Ja weyawAl** « Tl.-ec-w *wl(«»<*^oo 

heve generally reduced overall chloromethanee capabilities. Both LCP Chemicals and 

Occidental plan to increase chloroform capacity to 60 million pounds by mid-1989. 

E N D uata....cniorororm (tricniorometnene) is a water-wnite, neavy liquid witn a pleasant etnereel nonixillatlrig odor. H lo to*it, r-on-rion-inoLlo, aid In Urn u-u-Jot'ale bullli'y tulnl «ii(J vulalAllly lanyo. Clilurequirsments of ths American Chemical Society Reagent Chemical Specifications. 

Chloroform ie predominantly used as the starting material for melting monochlorodif luoromethane, commonly known ee fluorocerbon 22 (f-22 or CFC 22). F.-22 ia produced by reacting chloroform and anhydrous 

hydrogen fluoride, using a partially fluorlnated antimony chloride catalyst, in a continuous liquid phsse 

process. Fluorocerbon 22 has e boiling point of 40.6° C, which ie significantly below thet of chloroform. 

f"-£2 AB UievcPut-B cooll y ooyoiolevJ ft-uin li e toocLmiUo nliiiHi m o i*OL*y*.le-J . Tlw major a-jpllcBllu n IVii' r**Z2 

ie ae a refrigerant in air conditioners end refrigerators. F-22 ie particularly useful in unite having 

high capacity and smell size, such as household room and automobilB air conditioners. Ths use of smaller 

refrigerator and air conditioning irtits brought increased demand for F-22 relative to F-127 However, eonverting stetionary refrigeration systems and mobile air conditioners from F-12 to F-2Z to reduce ozone depletion Mould require extenaive equipment redesign since the compressors operate st different pressures 

and temperatures thsn would bs nssdsd for operation with F-22. 

F-22 is an intermediate for making fluoroplaetic monomers. Tetrsfluoroethylane (TFE) monomer is produced by the pyrolytic dehydrochlorinstion of F-22 . TFE ie polymerlied to polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) 

resins. Theee fluoropolymers are used to coat kitchen ovens, cooking pots and pans, and other household 

uteneile or appliances that are subjected to high tsmpersturss. PTFE rseins are eleo used to provide a 

corrosion-resistant lining for piping end proceee vessels aa Nell aa for insulation and fabric coating. 

Hsxsfluoropropylene (HFP) monomer is made by the pyrolysis of TFE. HFP is used to make fluorlnated elastomers and specialty plasties. Relatively minor quantities of F-22 ere ussd aa degreasing solvents. 

Other chemical applications for chloroform include the manufacture of dyes, reaine, and fire- " 

extinguishing agents. As an Extraction solvent, it haa application in recovering naturally occurring substances such 88 penicillin, vitsmins, essential oils, and alkaloids. Because or environmental and health 

concerns, chloroform has lost position in other solvent, extraction, or ambient eir uses. Although it 

still haa some veterinary uae BB an anesthetic, chloroform has been largely replaced. 

END USE PATTERN - 1988 ESTIMATE 

DERIVATIVE PERCENT 

Monochlorodl fluoromethane 57 

MiscellensouB 3 

MANUFACTURING....Although other commercial routes ere available, the current dominant process for making 

chloroform is the hydrochlorlnetion of msthsnol with hydrogen chloride. Methyl chloride is ths initisl 

derivative of the reaction of methanol end HC1. Further chlorination of methyl chloride yields other 

chloromethsnes, including methylene chloride, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride. Through variations of 

process snd recycling, the desired chlorinated methane can be obtained ln quantities equated to market,, 

demand. If the future narket demand for methylene chloride declines too fsr, ths process may become less' , 

attractive. Whan output of chloroform squals or exceeds the production rete of methylene chloride, the 

product rstlo mey become uneconomic unless market values of coproducte can be improved. 

Chloroform, end other chloromethanes, can el BO be produced by chlorinating methane. Methane chlorination yields methyl chloride, methylene chloride end cerbon tetrachloride, es well ae chloroform. However," 

flexibility, economics, and product mix heve mede the hydrochlorlnetion of methanol the dominant process. 

USP chloroform can be produced by the resctlon of seetone end calcium hypochlorite. Absolutely pure 

chloroform decomposes rssdily; particularly if exposed to moisture and sunlight. Thsrsfors, the USr chloroform requiree the presence of a small amount of alcohol to retard decompoeition. 

ENVIR0WCNTAL ASPECTS....Chloroform is an eye and skin irritant. However, inhalation ia the major route of 

chloroform exposure. In high eoncsntrstione, exposurs may esuss narcosis end death. Llvsr and kidney damage may result from both acuta and chronic overexposure. Chloroform is classified ae a "suspsctsd human 

carcinogen". The 1988/1989 ACGIH recommended permissible exposure limit is 10 ppm of air, "time weighted 

everege for an 8-hour period. 

In 1985, the US Environmsntsl Protection Agsncy added chloroform to its list of hszsrdous sir pollutants under the Clean Air Act. In edditjon to pollution from chloroform msnufecture snd other industrial 

sources, air emissions of chloroform are inadvertently formed when water is treated with chlorine. Major 

sources of emissions include pulp snd paper production, end wastswster snd drinking wstsr trsstment. 

To ths best of our knowledge, the Information conteined herein is accurate. However, we 

do not aseums any liability whatsoever for the completeness or accuracy of this report.