Acquisitions and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) were the subjects of the most-read stories on NaturalRefrigerants.com in July. On the PFAS front, the efforts of European regulatory authorities and researchers focused on trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a “forever chemical” formed during the atmospheric degradation of HFO-1234yf and other f-gases, and PFAS components in heat pumps.
In the business world, Panasonic gained a foothold in the European CO2 (R744) condensing unit market through an acquisition, while Bosch and Johnson Controls made a deal worth more than $8 billion (€7.3 billion). Read more about these stories below.
No. 1: German Chemical Office Submits Proposal to EU Linking TFA to Reproductive Toxicity
The German Federal Office for Chemicals (Bundesstelle für Chemikalien or BfC) submitted a proposal to the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) linking reproductive toxicity to TFA and its inorganic salts. The UN’s Globally Harmonized System (GHS) Classification and Labeling of Chemicals defines reproductive toxicity as “adverse effects of a chemical substance/mixture on sexual function and fertility in adult males and females, as well as developmental toxicity in the offspring.”
The BfC’s proposal is one of the first attempts by a country to link exposure to small amounts of TFA (a concentration between 0.1% to 0.3%) with harmful human health effects.
No. 2: Panasonic to Acquire CO2 Condensing Unit OEM Area Cooling
On July 9, Japanese OEM Panasonic announced its acquisition of Area Cooling Solutions, a Poland-based CO2 condensing unit manufacturer. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Panasonic said bringing Area Cooling under its umbrella was a “strategic step” to strengthen its market position in Europe.
“Panasonic, which has established itself as the leading manufacturer of CO2 condensing units in the Japanese market, sees Europe as its most important market for the future,” the company said in a statement.
No. 3: Researchers Find That PFAS Components Make Up Less Than 1% of a Commercial Heat Pump
Researchers from Germany’s Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences and the Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences have pushed back against the claim that heat pumps cannot be free of PFAS components. In a new study, the researchers identified and weighed the PFAS components in an 800kg (1,763lbs) commercial heat pump manufactured by Swiss OEM Heim AG Heizsysteme and found that these accounted for less than 1% (0.00041%) of the total weight.
“We still have PFAS in the O-rings, the seal of the expansion valve and in the electronics, though,” said Professor Michael Kauffeld from the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences. “An O-ring made of PFAS material is no problem if, at the end of the lifecycle of the heat pump, you recycle it or burn it at a high enough temperature so that the PFAS is not going into the environment.”
No. 4: In Follow-Up Study, European NGO Finds TFA in Drinking Water Throughout Europe
A new study from the European Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe found TFA in 34 of 36 tap water samples from 11 EU countries and 12 of 19 bottled mineral and spring waters. The highest concentration in tap water was found in the Austrian state of Upper Austria, while the bottled water producers were not identified. The report called for an immediate ban on PFAS pesticides and f-gases.
No. 5: Johnson Controls to Sell Residential and Light-Commercial HVAC Business to Bosch
Johnson Controls announced on July 23 that it had sold its residential and light-commercial HVAC business to the Bosch Group for $8.1 billion (€7.5 billion). Included in the deal was its North America ducted business and global residential venture, a joint venture between JC and Hitachi, with the former owning a 60% majority stake.
When reached for comment, Bosch told NaturalRefrigerants.com that the acquisition will not impact its heat pump business, which includes propane (R290) offerings.
