Publication Date:
2019-07-13
Description:
Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 or CTC) is an ozone-depleting substance whose emissive uses are controlled and practically banned by the Montreal Protocol (MP). Nevertheless, previous work estimated ongoing emissions of 35 Gg year1 of CCl4 into the atmosphere from observation-based methods, in stark contrast to emissions estimates of 3 (0-8) Gg year1 from reported numbers to UNEP under the MP. Here we combine information on sources from industrial production processes and legacy emissions from contaminated sites to provide an updated bottom-up estimate on current CTC global emissions of 15-25 Gg year1.We now propose 13 Gg year1 of global emissions from unreported non-feedstock emissions from chloromethane and perchloroethylene plants as the most significant CCl4 source. Additionally, 2 Gg year1 are estimated as fugitive emissions from the usage of CTC as feedstock and possibly up to 10 Gg year1 from legacy emissions and chlor-alkali plants.
Keywords:
Environment Pollution
Type:
GSFC-E-DAA-TN54270
,
Environmental Research Letters (e-ISSN 1748-9326); 13; 2; 024004
Format:
application/pdf
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