She was technical leader for chemical company DuPont in the development of R-1234yf,[1] a refrigerant which, as of 2018, was used in 50% of all new vehicles produced by original equipment manufacturers,[2] and which represented an important contribution to countering global warming.
[4] In 2018, she was awarded the Society of Chemical Industry's Perkin Medal, given annually for 'innovation in applied chemistry resulting in outstanding commercial development'.
Her work supports the phasing out of ozone depleting chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and of hydrofluorocarbons that contribute to global warming.
[3] Minor was the technical leader for the research group at DuPont that developed HFO-1234yf,[1][8] a hydrofluoroolefin that can reduce emissions from automotive air conditioning by more than 99%.
[23][24] Minor holds more than 160 patents in the United States, for her work on refrigerants, cleaning agents, and aerosol propellants.