Methylene Chloride in Food

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Anyone who has ever read nutrition labels knows that sometimes our food is full of hard to pronounce chemicals. Most of them are deemed “safe” as the Food and Drug Administration would say, however a few of these chemicals have made scientists and consumers concerned. One additive that can be found in your food that is very controversial is Methylene Chloride, also known as Dichloromethane and can be seen in the abbreviation DCM.

 

What Is Methylene Chloride?

Methylene Chloride, also known as Dichloromethane and is abbreviated as DCM, is a colorless liquid with a density that is heavier than water. Methylene Chloride is made from methane gas or wood alcohol. Methylene Chloride is used in various industrial processes in a lot of industries such as paint stripping, pharmaceutical manufacturing, paint remover manufacturing, metal cleaning, metal degreasing, adhesives manufacturing, adhesive uses, polyurethane foam production, film base manufacturing, polycarbonate resin production, solvent distribution, and formulation, and the food and beverage manufacturing industry to separate and extract.

Methylene Chloride in Food and Beverage Industry

Methylene Chloride is used in the food and beverage manufacturing industry as a food additive to process spices, remove caffeine from unroasted coffee beans and tea, and creating hops extract for beer and other flavorings for the food and beverage industries. Methylene Chloride can act as a fumigant for strawberries and grains, a de-greener for citrus fruits, coffee solvent extraction, cocoa solvent extraction, and spice solvent extraction. It is also used as a diluent for color additives and inks for the marking fruit and vegetables.

Why Should You Be Concerned About Methylene Chloride in Food?

Methylene Chloride is such a controversial chemical compound because it is volatile. It is considered a carcinogen and it can affect your health. If anyone breaths methylene chloride, it can cause you not to be able to hear faint sounds, and slight vision impairment according to the International Agency for Research and Cancer. If anyone’s skin comes into contact with methylene chloride, it can cause moderate to severe irritation. Some symptoms include pain, redness, and swelling can be absorbed through the skin. If large amounts of methylene chloride, it can cause burns on a person’s lips, throat, stomach, and their tongue. Long-term exposure effects of methylene chloride include but are not limited to dermatitis following skin contact, may harm the nervous system at high concentrations, and can aggravate any existing heart conditions.

Reduce The Risk of Exposure

Adults and children alike may be exposed to Methylene Chloride in consumer household products such as paint removers. Methylene Chloride is an important solvent in paint strippers and varnish strippers. Remember to be cautious when using paint removers and strippers inside of your house. When using paint removers and strippers inside your house, follow the instructions on the packaging for proper ventilation conditions when using these products. Any and all household chemicals should be stored out of reach of children to prevent accidental poisonings or skin irritation. Household chemicals need to be in their original labeled containers, therefore you should never store chemicals in containers that others would find attractive to eat or drink from such as old food containers and old drink containers.

The Benefits of Lacquer Thinner #11

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What is Lacquer Thinner #11?

Lacquer Thinner #11 is a mixture of hydrocarbons Toluene, Methanol, and Acetone.

Lacquer Thinner #11 is an Ecolink product that features all three of the consistent chemicals found in most lacquer thinner, therefore it functions with consistent ability to act as a strong cleaning agent, fast thinning, and fast drying.

Lacquer Thinner #11 Benefits

  • Low boiling point.
  • Fast drying.
  • High solubility.
  • VOC compliant.

Common Applications

Lacquer Thinner #11 is typically utilized to thin resin, lacquer, and paint off of mechanical tools and equipment, and to clean paint brushes.

Lacquer Thinner #11 is primarily used to thin lacquer paint to create a smooth and streak free flow of paint.

Lacquer thinner lowers the viscosity of paint to create a fast drying, streak free, and smooth finished product.

Consumer Applications

Lacquer Thinner #11 can be used on a household level to thin lacquer for small projects, and to clean equipment immediately after use.

Lacquer Thinner #11 can also be utilized to renew nail polish.

The acetone present in Lacquer Thinner #11 enables it to revitalize old and dried out nail polish by simply mixing a drop of Lacquer Thinner #11 into the bottle.

Lacquer Thinner #11 is one of three Ecolink Lacquer Thinners including Lacquer Thinner #48, and Lacquer Thinner #51.

All three lacquer thinners possess similar qualities.

Lacquer Thinner #48 is composed of Toluene, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Acetone, and Glycol EB–or 2-Butoxyethanol–, and Lacquer Thinner #51 is made of Toluene, Acetone, Methanol, and Glycol EB.

The chemicals that are present in Lacquer Thinners #48 and #51 such as MEK and Glycol EB perform the same functions as the basic components in Lacquer Thinner #11.

Lacquer Thinner #11 has the advantage of featuring the substances that are key to lacquer thinning.

One could purchase Toluene, Methanol, or Acetone separately, but on their own they would not perform as effectively as they do in Lacquer Thinner #11.

Acetone vs. Lacquer Thinner #11

It is often speculated whether acetone can function as a replacement for lacquer thinner.

Acetone functions similarly to lacquer thinner. Just like Lacquer Thinner #11, Acetone is a strong cleaning agent, dries fast, and highly soluble.

Acetone is more toxic than Lacquer Thinner #11, #48, or #51.

This is one of the reasons why it is best to utilize lacquer thinner when it may be necessary.

Acetone is important to Lacquer Thinner.

This necessity is evident by the fact that acetone is present in nearly every strain of Lacquer Thinner, and is a prominent feature in all three Ecolink Lacquer Thinners.

However, acetone’s importance to lacquer thinner should not lead to an assumption that acetone can replace lacquer thinner.

Safety and Handling

Lacquer Thinner is toxic and highly flammable when used in large quantities. Caution should be taken whenever utilizing Lacquer Thinner #11 for at home or industrial use:

  • Lacquer thinner is harmful if swallowed or inhaled.
  • Lacquer thinner causes skin irritation.
  • May cause drowsiness or dizziness.
  • Causes eye irritation.
  • Should be kept away from any heat sources.
  • Avoid breathing dust, fumes, gas, spray, or vapors.

If you would like to purchase Lacquer Thinner #11 or any other Ecolink Lacquer Thinner product, please call (800-563-1305 or Shop Online Here.

The Differences Between MEK and Acetone

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MEK’s Relation To Acetone

MEK, also known as Butanone and Methyl Ethyl Ketone is a solvent that is related to acetone, because acetone is simply liquid ketone.

Since MEK and Acetone share the ketone trait, many assume that they can be used as interchangeable solvents.

Acetone and MEK have very similar traits and can be used for many of the same purposes, but they also have specific applications that each is best suited for.

MEK and Acetone Compared

MEK or Methyl Ethyl Ketone is stronger than Acetone, because it has a slower evaporation rate and boils at a higher temperature.

These differences are why MEK can be a stronger cleaning agent than acetone.

Unlike Acetone, MEK forms an azeotrope with water, which means that methyl ethyl ketone and water mix together to form a constant boiling point that cannot be affected by distillation.

This quality is convenient for distillation of moisture in certain applications.

MEK is both less soluble and less volatile than acetone.

MEK is also useful in products like dry-erase markers, because it is slow-evaporating. Acetone should not be utilized for this purpose, because it is fast-drying.

This quality does not make Acetone the ideal choice for ink products.

Acetone is typically a better solvent than MEK, because it dissolves a wider range of compounds.

Acetone is often utilized as a paint thinner.

Acetone is better for this application, because its evaporation rate is much faster than that of MEK.

Acetone is inexpensive compared to Methyl Ethyl Ketone, which is why it is more often used for consumer products such as nail polish and nail polish remover.

Acetone is not considered to be a volatile substance, though its low boiling point does make it more flammable than other substances.

Shared Applications

MEK and Acetone are both utilized as solvents in coatings, lacquer, varnish, and paint.

Methyl Ethyl Ketone is very useful in paint, rust, varnish, lacquer, and grease removers.

Benefits of MEK

  • Highly effective solvent.
  • High boiling point.
  • Slow evaporation rate.
  • Soluble with water.

Benefits of Acetone

  • Low toxicity.
  • Water soluble.
  • Low boiling point.
  • Inexpensive.
  • Fast evaporating.

Safe Use

  • Both MEK and Acetone can cause drowsiness and dizziness.
  • Only use MEK and Acetone in well-ventilated areas.
  • Do not let MEK or Acetone come into contact with the skin.
  • Follow safety data sheets for MEK and Acetone for more information on proper safety and handling.

If you would like to purchase MEK or Acetone please call (800)-563-1305 or purchase our products conveniently online:

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The Benefits of Glycol DPM

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What is Glycol DPM?

Dipropylene Glycol Methyl Ether, or Glycol DPM is a mixture of organic compounds similar to Glycol TPM.

It can be utilized for a wider variety of applications than other glycols due to its intermediate evaporation rate.

Benefits of Glycol DPM

  • Powerful solvency.
  • Moderate evaporation rate.
  • Low viscosity.
  • Coupling ability.

Common Applications

Glycol DPM is most often utilized as an industrial solvent, and as a coupling agent.

Industrial Applications

Glycol DPM is applied as an industrial and household cleaner.

Dipropylene Glycol is utilized as a tail solvent in solvent-based printing inks, and as a primary solvent in silk-screen printing ink.

Glycol DPM is also used in surface coatings and water-reducible coatings.

Glycol DPM is ideal in water-reducible coatings due to its hydrophilic nature.

Consumer Applications

Glycol DPM is a prominent ingredient in several common consumer applications.

Dipropylene Glycol Methyl Ether is utilized in grease removers, paint removers, metal cleaners, and hard surface cleaners.

Glycol DPM is featured as a coalescent in floor polishes and finishes.

Dipropylene Glycol is a stabilizer in many brand name herbicides.

Its function as a stabilizer is to act as an inert ingredient to increase the effects of the primary ingredient.

Glycol DPM is also a major ingredient in a wide variety of consumer cosmetic products.

Glycol DPM in Cosmetics

Dipropylene Glycol is an ingredient in many cosmetic products ranging from eye makeup to hair care products.

Glycol DPM is in products like shampoo, conditioner, other hair styling gels or lotions, bath products, eye makeup, facial makeup, shaving products, skin care products, and other personal care items.

Glycol DPM is often found in cosmetics due to its powerful solvency, lack of toxicity, and low viscosity.

Glycol DPM is often added into cosmetic products to help formulate the texture.

The low viscosity of Glycol DPM enables products to be smooth and not thick and difficult to use efficiently.

Glycol DPM is an important ingredient in most perfumes and fragrances.

Dipropylene Glycol’s role in perfume is that it binds and carries the essential oils of the fragrance element of a perfume.

It not only acts to bind and carry, but also acts as a diluter to help determine the strength of the fragrance oils.

The formula of any perfume is determined by how much or how little Glycol DPM is included.

The strength of a formula is raised or lowered based on how much Glycol DPM is present.

The basic ratio for perfume is three parts essential oils, and seven parts Glycol DPM.

Safety and Handling

  • Glycol DPM is highly flammable.
  • Wear protective goggles, clothing, and eyewear.
  • Store Glycol DPM in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from heat and ignition sources.
  • Follow the SDS provided with your shipment of Glycol DPM for proper safety measures.

If you would like to purchase Glycol DPM, please call (800)-563-1305 or shop Glycol DPM here.

MEK In Food Products

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What Is MEK?

MEK–also known as Methyl Ethyl Ketone or 2-Butanone–is a solvent similar in structure to acetone.

MEK Common Applications

MEK is a solvent that is often applied as an industrial cleaner. It is utilized in the manufacturing of plastic, textiles, and paraffin wax. MEK can be found in certain glues, dry-erase markers, and vinyl film and is also used in varnish, lacquer, and paint removers. It is a component of the adhesive commonly used to form polyvinyl chloride or PVC pipes and is used in the production of lubrication oils, and magnetic tape.

Naturally Occurring MEK

A little known fact about Methyl Ethyl Ketone is that it is a naturally occurring component of some food products including apple juice, beans, chicken, and honey.

Methyl Ketones are very commonly found in dairy products such as milk, butter, and cheese. In their natural form they are alkanoic acids, and once heated they transform into methyl ketones.

Methyl Ketones in dairy greatly contributes to natural flavors in many heated or cooked food products that contain butter.

MEK is also produced naturally by some trees, bacteria and seaweeds.

Methyl Ethyl Ketone is naturally produced in the tobacco plant, and is therefore a byproduct of tobacco smoke.

Safe Use of MEK

The levels of MEK that are present in plants and some foods are not enough to be harmful.

It is not advised to ingest larger quantities of MEK than are naturally found in food substances, because it has a chance to cause inflammation of the mouth and an upset stomach. Inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact for a prolonged period of time can cause dizziness, headache, slurred speech, low body temperature, drowsiness, and coma.

Eye contact can cause irritation and redness.

Serious eye contact can cause permanent damage.

MEK is not only harmful to inhale; it is most harmful to the environment as an air pollutant.

This environmental and safety hazard is why MEK is ideally used in a well-ventilated area.

Safe Handling of MEK

  • Do not use MEK around any ignition sources, as it is highly flammable.
  • Air mixtures of MEK are explosive.
  • Store separately from strong oxidants and acids.
  • Store in a cool, dry area.
  • Use only in a well-ventilated area.
  • Wash hands thoroughly after use.

If you would like to purchase Methyl Ethyl Ketone please call (800)-563-1305 or shop online here.

mek in food