R161 refrigerant (monofluoroethane, HFC-161) has a molecular formula of C2H5F and is a colorless and flammable liquefied gas. R161(monofluoroethane) has good environmental and thermal properties and is a promising refrigerant substitute, especially as a component of mixed refrigerant to replace R22. R161 has an ODP value of 0 and a GWP value of 4, making it a long-term environmentally friendly alternative that meets the Kigali Amendment.
R161 Refrigerant Parameters
| Names: R-161, HFC-16, Freon 161, Ethylfluoride | Chinese name: fluoroethane, monofluoroethane |
| English full name: fluoroethane | Chemical formula: C2H5F |
| Molecular weight:48 | Standard boiling point: -37.5℃ |
| Critical temperature:102℃ | Critical pressure: 5.1MPa (absolute pressure) |
| Critical density:302kg/m3 | Freezing point: -143℃ |
| Density: 0.8158g/cm3 (-37.7℃)(water =1) | CAS Number: 353-36-6 |
Product identity
- Safety class
- A2L
- Type
- HFC
- GWP
- 12 (IPCC AR4)
- ODP
- 0 (not an ozone-depleting substance)
Application areas
Grouped by equipment type, for selection reference only; the equipment manufacturer's requirements and local regulations prevail.
Thermophysical properties
- Normal boiling point (1 atm)
- -37.6 °C
| Saturation temp. (°C) | -62.6 | -46.6 | -30.6 | -14.6 | 1.4 | 17.4 | 33.4 | 49.4 | 65.4 | 81.4 | 97.4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturation pressure (bar abs) | 0.2742 | 0.6576 | 1.383 | 2.6229 | 4.5799 | 7.4795 | 11.5648 | 17.0981 | 24.3748 | 33.7709 | 45.8882 |
Data taken from published pressure–temperature tables and interpolated; for selection reference only — do not use for safety-critical design, commissioning or charging calculations. The equipment manufacturer's requirements and primary references prevail. Refrigerant pressure–temperature tool
Regulatory and compliance status (R161 / Fluoroethane (HFC-161))
R161 (Fluoroethane (HFC-161)) has an ODP of 0 and is not an ozone-depleting substance, and therefore is not bound by the Montreal Protocol phase-out schedule; but as a fluorinated greenhouse gas (F-gas, GWP 12), it is controlled under the Kigali Amendment and the HFC reduction policies of major economies. The following are the regional status as of 2026, for reference in procurement and compliance decisions.
EU
- RegulationF-gas Regulation (EU) 2024/573, in force since 2024-03-11
- HFC quota60% in 2025–28, 30% in 2029–33, 20% in 2034–35, 15% from 2036; HFC fully phased out by 2050
- New equipment restrictionsNew refrigeration/air-conditioning equipment with GWP>150 has been banned for sale in phases since 2022 (commercial refrigeration 2022, standalone equipment 2025, fully by 2030)
- For R161GWP 12 < 150 — not affected by the GWP>150 ban on new equipment; permitted in new equipment
US
- RegulationAmerican Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act (in force since 2020-12-27)
- TargetHFC production and consumption reduced by 85% by 2036
- Quota cap60% in 2024–28, 30% in 2029–33, 20% in 2034–35, 15% from 2036
- For R161Regulated HFC, exchange value accounted by GWP 12
China
- RegulationKigali Amendment (entered into force for China on 2021-09-15)
- Baseline2024 production/consumption freeze (production 18.53 billion tCO₂e, consumption 9.05 billion tCO₂e)
- Reduction10% reduction by 2029, 30% by 2035, 50% by 2040, 80% by 2045
- For R161Production and use are subject to quota management
- Domestic procurement qualificationHFC-class refrigerants require environmental filing; see the Q&A below (system: new-ods.ozone.org.cn)
Japan
- RegulationAct on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons
- MechanismSets caps based on “weighted-average GWP” for designated products + compliance deadlines (not an all-sector ban)
- Typical capsDomestic air conditioning ≤750 (2018), commercial air conditioning ≤750 (2020), automotive air conditioning ≤150 (2023), condensing/freezing units ≤1500 (2025), cold storage ≤100 (2019)
- For R161GWP 12 is below all equipment thresholds; fully usable in new equipment and encouraged as a low-GWP alternative
Other countries and regions (grouped by the Kigali Amendment)
Apart from the four columns of EU / US / China / Japan, the global 170+ Kigali parties all comply under the A5 (developing countries) / non-A5 (developed countries) groupings of the Montreal Protocol, and none impose equipment-level bans. The grouping determines the HFC reduction pace and is unrelated to geography — for example, the Middle East Gulf and India belong to A5 Group 2, while Brazil, Mexico and Chile belong to A5 Group 1 (same group as China). The table below is a quick reference for the groupings of major markets:
| Grouping | HFC reduction pace | Major countries / regions (representative) |
|---|---|---|
| A5 Group 1 (developing countries, including China) | 2024 freeze → 10% reduction by 2029 → 30% by 2035 → 50% by 2040 → 80% by 2045 | Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Egypt, Nigeria, etc. (about 140 countries in total) |
| A5 Group 2 (high-ambient-temperature group, HAT) | 2028 freeze → 10% reduction by 2032 → 20% by 2037 → 30% by 2042 → 85% by 2047 | India, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates |
| Other non-A5 (developed countries, except EU/US/Japan) | 85% reduction by 2036 / reduced to 15% by 2050 | Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway, United Kingdom, Russia* (first two steps delayed: 5% by 2020, 35% by 2025), etc. |
For R161: subject to quota constraints, long-term supply restricted and prices trending upward. For the complete list of Parties and groupings, refer to the UNEP Ozone Secretariat (data version 2026.09).
Supply & Ordering
- Packaging
- cylinders / ton drums / ISO tanks / tankers (by grade and order size)
- Minimum order
- confirmed on enquiry; negotiable for bulk purchases
- Terms & lead time
- FOB / CIF / EXW and others confirmed on request
Please confirm the exact packaging, minimum order and lead time via the enquiry form below.
About WULA
WULA was founded in 2013. We are a refrigerant supply organizer, focused on moving goods from the production line to the customer's own line and site.
- Compliance paperwork
- We help customers meet compliance requirements: sales filing, per-transaction verification, quarterly reporting and three-year retention of documents.
- Order handling
- Scattered orders are managed through consolidated, data-driven administration to keep procurement efficient.
- Supply allocation
- Forecasting and coordinated allocation across multiple warehouses, to keep supply stable.
Need a quote or technical documents for R161?
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Regulatory data updated: 2026-09-18 · v2026.09.12
