At some point, a refrigerant brought back for reclamation simply can’t be brought back to ARI-700 purity standards. There are a couple of approaches, including, destruction, which has a long track record, and, another option, conversion, offers a much fresher approach.
The destruction of no-longer-useable refrigerants has been going on in Canada for years. The process is administered by Refrigerant Management Canada (RMC), a not-for-profit corporation established by the Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI). The group describes itself as an “industry-led environmental care program committed to the responsible disposal of surplus ozone depleting refrigerants from the stationary refrigeration and air conditioning industry.” A board of directors oversees the program’s operations and includes representatives from the refrigeration and air conditioning industry, equipment owners, and environmental/community groups.