A shop accidentally recovers R-22 into a cylinder already partly filled with R-410A. What is the usual consequence?

Recovery techniques · EPA 608 Type II. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.

Recovering liquid first, speeding recovery, and avoiding cross-contamination.

The question

A shop accidentally recovers R-22 into a cylinder already partly filled with R-410A. What is the usual consequence?

• AThe mixture can be reused as R-410A
• BThe mixture becomes R-407C
• CThe mixture may not be reclaimable and may need destructionCorrect answer
• DThe R-22 simply settles out at the bottom and can be drawn off

Why “The mixture may not be reclaimable and may need destruction” is correct

A mixture of two refrigerants generally cannot be separated back into specification refrigerant. It often has to be sent for destruction, which wastes refrigerant and costs money.

Source: EPA: Test Topics; 40 CFR 82.152

Why the other answers are wrong

• The mixture can be reused as R-410A — A mixture does not meet the specification for either refrigerant.
• The mixture becomes R-407C — Mixing does not create a different listed blend.
• The R-22 simply settles out at the bottom and can be drawn off — The two refrigerants do not separate by settling.

Practice more of this

More EPA 608 Type II practice questions, or see every EPA 608 practice test.