What are the main industrial uses of chloroform and its key downstream sectors?
Chloroform, or trichloromethane, is produced industrially via methanol hydrochlorination followed by chlorination, yielding a mix of mono-, di-, tri- and tetrachloromethane that is separated by distillation. Its dominant use is as feedstock for HCFC-22, which in turn leads to polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). This refrigerant chain remains the primary demand driver. Chloroform also serves as a solvent in pesticide, rubber, pharmaceutical extraction and dye applications. In laboratories, deuterated chloroform is the most common NMR solvent. Historically used as an anesthetic, that application has ceased due to cardiac toxicity. Notably, chloroform can decompose to phosgene upon light exposure, so commercial grades contain about 1% ethanol as a stabilizer. Environmental regulations on ozone-depleting substances have reduced some traditional outlets, but refrigerant-linked demand continues to dominate.
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