The Office of Environmental Management (EM) of the United States Department of Energy (DOE) is removing 750,000 pounds (approximately 340 T) of R-114 refrigerant, commonly known as Freon, from its Paducah site in Kentucky.

R-114 was used here to cool equipment in the uranium enrichment process in gas diffusion plants during the years of production.

The R-114 refrigerant contributes to ozone depletion and is a greenhouse gas, with a GWP of over 8000. Its elimination, therefore, will bring significant environmental benefits.

The Paducah plant was built in 1952 to produce enriched uranium, initially for the nation’s nuclear weapons program and later for nuclear fuel for commercial power plants. The plant is owned by the Department of Energy (DOE) which oversees the environmental cleaning activities of the site.

Commercial enrichment was conducted on leases from 1993 to 2013, when the activities ceased and the plants were returned to the DOE Environmental Management (EM) program. The removal of the refrigerant began in September and was to be completed by the end of year. 

Destruction and elimination of the refrigerant is currently taking place in numerous locations in the United States.