Ametron^® Refrigerants Propane, or R-290, is a hydrocarbon that is used in some refrigeration equipment, such as heat pumps, commercial refrigeration equipment, etc. When working with hydrocarbon refrigerants, it is very important that they are very pure, as if there are any impurities present (sulphur, water, etc.) it could cause the oil lubricants in the system to degrade and damage the compressors, among other things. Furthermore, if the hydrocarbon is not very pure it can sometimes be mixed with other hydrocarbons, which can drastically alter the physical and thermodynamic properties of the original hydrocarbon.