US REFRIGERANT producer DuPont is set to purchase the Isceon HFC refrigerant blends business from Rhodia.
Rhodia's Isceon range of non-ozone-depleting refrigerant blends includes a range of drop-ireplacements for CFCs and HCFCs . 'This acquisition will enlarge our HFC product portfolio, and enable us to offer customers additional sustainable refrigerant solutions to accelerate the reduction of ozone depleting substances around the world,' said Mark Baunchalk, global business manager - refrigerants, DuPont Fluorochemicals.

  'This transaction, marking a further step in the strategic refocusing of Rhodia Organics' Enterprise, forms part of the divestiture of non-strategic activities being undertaken by the Rhodia Group with a view to consolidating its business portfolio,' added Laurent Schmitt, president of the Rhodia Organics Enterprise. Rhodia will continue to manufacture and sell R22 from its Avonmouth facility in the UK, where it has been producing refrigerants since 1957.

Rhodia, part of the Rhône-Poulenc Group, generated net sales of £3.5m in 2004 and employs 20,000 people worldwide.

As well as producing R22, R134a, R407C and R404A, Rhodia has developed a range of seven drop-in replacements for CFCs and HCFCs, and known as the 9 series.