finding greener chemicals

Finding Greener Chemicals: A Practical Guide

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The color green is sometimes associated with unflattering qualities, such as envy or greed. However, thanks to the green movement, it is now often related to the environment- specifically, protecting the environment and making it safer for both humans and wildlife. Organizations that work with industrial chemicals can support this outlook by replacing toxic solvents with greener chemicals that are better for the environment.   

The Role of Green Chemistry 

Helping the environment by using greener chemicals is made possible by green chemistry, a relatively new branch of the centuries-old science. Green chemistry is defined as the use of chemicals and chemistry practices that diminish the usage and disposal of environmentally hazardous substances.  

Green chemicals have flooded the industrial chemical market with products that are safer than the solutions they are designed to replace. But some of these green solvents offer more safety- or are more efficacious- than others. Therefore, companies should carefully choose green chemicals that meet both their productivity and safety needs.  

Finding Greener Chemicals 

For organizations interested in finding greener chemicals, step one is shopping at a chemical manufacturer that specializes in green chemistry and offers a wide selection of products. Once the manufacturer has been chosen, chemical replacements can be selected. Some valuable factors to look for in green chemicals are:  

  • Biodegradability  
  • No ingredients scheduled for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation 
  • Minimal or no presence of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) 
  • Minimal or no presence of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) 
  • Low volatility 

These are just a few of the characteristics that environmentally safe chemicals may possess. While they are sometimes present in-stock solutions, custom solutions can also be formulated to provide these excellent safety features as well as high efficacy.  

Looking for Greener Chemicals? 

Whether you’re committed to finding greener chemicals because the EPA is regulating a solvent you use or because you simply want to increase workplace safety, we’re here to help! At Ecolink, we emphasize the use of green chemicals to decrease the environmental impact of industrial solvent operations. Our goal is to supply the safest products possible without sacrificing strength and efficiency.  

In addition to stock solutions, we offer toll blending for customers who are looking for unique green chemical products. We will work with you to create the perfect solvent for your needs.  

To learn more about finding greener chemicals, please call us at 800-563-1305 or send us a message through our contact form. We look forward to providing you with an array of effective green chemical options that are safer than the toxic solvents they replace! 

 

Green Chemistry

Practicing Green Chemistry – Eco Friendly Cleaning Solutions

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The push for companies to use eco-friendly products has reached manufacturers of industrial cleaning solutions and the businesses that use them, as it has been revealed that many industrial cleaning and degreasing solvents are harmful to both people and to the environment. Carbon footprint-conscious companies, such as Ecolink, are aiding industrial companies practice the art of green chemistry, which involves transitioning to eco-friendly cleaning solutions.  

Eco-Friendly Cleaning Solutions in Green Chemistry 

Why is using eco-friendly chemicals part of green chemistry? As it turns out, several of the 12 principles of green chemistry are related to the specific types of chemicals that are utilized to perform chemical reactions. A few of these principles are:  

  • Designing Safer Chemicals 

Designing safer chemicals emphasizes the use of chemical solutions that are as nontoxic as possible while still being efficacious. Nontoxic or low-toxicity chemicals generally do not pose a large threat to wildlife, and thus are eco-friendly.   

  • Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries 

According to this principle, the use of auxiliary chemicals such as solvents should be avoided. However, when they must be used, they should be as safe as possible. This is an important principle because solvents account for 50-80% of the mass of a standard batch chemical process; thus, their potential impact on the environment is significant. Therefore, when a large amount of solvent must be utilized, choosing environmentally friendly options will certainly benefit the planet.  

  • Use of Renewable Feedstocks 

Finally, principle #7 of the 12 principles of green chemistry is the use of renewable feedstocks, which states that renewable feedstocks should be prioritized over non-renewable ones. “Feedstocks” can encompass a number of chemistry aspects, including the type of energy that is used, the material that storage containers are made out of, and- of course- the chemicals themselves. Renewable chemicals reduce the amount of chemical waste, which has the potential to harm the environment depending on how the waste is disposed of. Hence, this is another principle for which using eco-friendly chemicals is vital.  

Shop Eco-Friendly Cleaning Solutions at Ecolink 

Why use harmful chemical agents when you do not have to? Allow our team at Ecolink to help your industrial business switch to an eco-friendly cleaning solution that will clean and degrease components better than your current product while being less harmful to the planet.  

By completing a comprehensive review of your chemical usage, Ecolink will find ways to improve your cleaner’s performance while saving money and reducing chemical waste. All of these factors contribute to a better work environment for both employees and the planet.  

To learn more about how green chemistry practices can benefit your business, contact Ecolink today at 800-563-1305 or email us here!  

green chemistry

Green Chemistry – Replace Your Tired and Old Solvent Degreasers

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Green chemistry is a branch of chemistry that specially focuses on reducing the use of environmentally hazardous substances. Regarding chemicals themselves, this often means using products that are HAP-free, low-VOC or no-VOC, bio-based, biodegradable or possess other environmentally beneficial characteristics.

With so many viable green chemical options on the market, why would anyone continue to clean and degrease with old, toxic chemical solutions? Here at Ecolink, we provide a large assortment of green chemicals that are perfect for anyone looking to replace these outdated products. Read on to learn about some of our environmentally friendly offerings!  

Three Green Solvents and Degreasers Offered by Ecolink  

  • RIP-TIDE Citrus Degreaser – The first green degreaser we will discuss is Ecolink’s RIP-TIDE Citrus Degreaser. RIP-TIDE Citrus Degreaser is a unique degreaser that is both biodegradable and low in VOCs. It can be employed in a variety of industrial cleaning processes to effectively expel grease, coal dust, oil, and carbon deposits from surfaces. RIP-TIDE Citrus Degreaser is available in both a 5-gallon pail and 4 x 1-gallon case.  
  • S-34 NG Nuclear Grade Cleaner – S-34 NG Nuclear Grade Cleaner is another green chemical supplied by Ecolink. This versatile and water-based cleaner efficiently removes oil, grease, carbon, and ink from any surface that will not be damaged by water. It is low in VOCs and also non-flammable. S-34 NG Nuclear Grade Cleaner is sold in several sizes, including a 4 x 1-gallon case, 12 x 1-quart case, 5-gallon pail, and 55-gallon drum.  
  • SAFE STRIP – The final green cleaning solution we will cover in this blog post is SAFE STRIP. SAFE STRIP is a paint and resin removal solvent that is biodegradable and low-VOC. In addition, after use, it can be recaptured and then vacuum distilled or decanted, allowing it to be recycled and reused. SAFE STRIP is available in a 4 x 1-gallon case, 5-gallon pail, and 55-gallon drum.  

Purchase Green Chemistry from Ecolink Today 

The three products described above are just a small selection of Ecolink’s offerings. We have dozens of other industrial chemical solvents and solutions to choose from, many of which are formulated with green chemical ingredients.   

If you would like to discuss your current use of older, toxic chemicals and how to make the switch to greener solutions, our team would be happy to help you. Contact Ecolink today by calling 800-563-1305 or emailing info@ecolink.com! 

 


Green chemistry

Understanding the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry

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Green chemistry is a method of chemistry devoted to the principles of securing eco-friendly, green alternative chemical concoctions that can be used in place of the hazardous, toxic chemicals still used by industrial businesses. There are twelve principles involved in green chemistry. Read on to learn about their importance, and what they are. 

Why Is Green Chemistry Important? 

Green chemistry speaks to the improvement of industrial chemical use by replacing toxic chemicals with safer, more eco-friendly alternatives to decrease the harm to the environment and human health. The principles of green chemistry are an effort to educate industrial companies on the importance of implementing greener practices and products into their company, encouraging them to transition to green alternative chemical solutions. 

12 Principles of Green Chemistry 

The following list details the 12 principles of green chemistry and provides insight into what each principle means. 

  1. Prevention: Always try to prevent waste instead of relying on methods of waste cleanup. Prevention is the best choice, every time. 
  2. Atom Economy: This involves the idea that synthetic methods can be designed to help optimize the incorporation of all components in use so that there is no waste when the final industrial product is being formed. 
  3. Less Hazardous Chemical Synthesis: Synthetic methods for waste prevention should always generate substances that produce little to no toxins that could potentially harm people and/or the environment. 
  4. Designing Safer Chemicals: Chemicals should be developed with maximum efficiency and for optimal safety, ensuring minimization and elimination of toxins. 
  5. Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries: All auxiliary and supplemental substances should be reduced as close to zero as possible, and if used, should be close to one hundred percent innocuous as possible.  
  6. Design for Energy Efficiency: Chemicals with energy requirements are considered dangerous, and therefore should not be relied on, and should be eradicated by any means possible. 
  7. Use of Renewable Feed stocks: Raw materials, also called ‘feed stocks,’ should not be designed to deplete, and should be labeled renewable whenever possible. 
  8. Reduce Derivatives: The use of derivative substances and components should be minimized, or altogether avoided because it requires additional steps, consequently leading to more waste. 
  9. Catalysis:  Catalytic reagents are superior to stoichiometric reagents. 
  10. Design for Degradation: All chemical products should be developed with materials that can easily break down and dissolve, or safely erode, once its lifecycle ends, with no negative environmental effect. 
  11. Real Time Analysis for Pollution Prevention: Analytics and methodologies need to be maximized and enhanced to allow for current, up-to-date, and even real-time monitoring, which allows for immediate control and regulation, subsequently leading to the prevention of hazardous substance formation. 
  12. Inherently Safer Chemicals for Accident Prevention: All substances that could be chosen for a chemical process should have an element or high degree of chemical accident prevention specifically designed within its makeup. 

Looking to Buy Eco-Friendly Chemicals? 

Ecolink is a proud provider of environmentally conscious chemicals. We supply companies with safer, greener alternatives to harsh, toxic chemicals in an attempt to minimize and eradicate unnecessary chemical pollution.  

Reach out to us today to learn how our team of chemical experts can help your company achieve greener practices! 

How Can Green Chemistry Make Industrial Cleaners Safer?

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green chemistryThe concept of green chemistry involves the design of chemical products and processes that work to reduce or eliminate the generation and emission of hazardous liquids, gases, and harmful substances. Due to the success, strides, and progress of green chemistry concepts, and its influence on significantly reducing the use of potentially harmful industrial cleaners – making the cleaners safer to use – the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is striving to speed the legal adoption of this revolutionary and innovative eco friendly discipline. Why is the EPA working so quickly to adapt this measure into a federal mandate? Because analysis of green chemistry implementation has led to empirical evidence that areas of significant environmental benefits are directly related to the green chemistry concepts that have been put in place in those specific locations. In fact, a research report exists, provided by Pike Research, which concluded that, if green chemistry concepts are encouraged nationwide for the purposes of making industrial cleaners safer, green alternative chemical will save the industry 65.5 billion dollars by 2020.

The concept of green chemistry applies across the entire life cycle of a chemical product, which includes the chemical’s design, method of manufacturing, utilization, and, at the end of the chemical’s use or life cycle, disposal. Green chemistry is also called sustainable chemistry by scientists and those involved in industry. Other benefits and advantages to green chemistry involve the prevention of pollution at the molecular level, the application of innovative scientific solutions to real-world environmental problems, the resulting in source reduction because it prevents the generation of pollution, and the reduction of the negative impacts of chemical products and processes on human health and the environment. In addition, green chemistry lessens and sometimes even eliminates hazards from existing products and processes, as well as aides in the design of chemical products and processes to reduce their intrinsic hazards. Green chemistry is a philosophy that applies to all areas of chemistry, not merely a single discipline of chemistry, as it relates to industrial cleaners. However, the ability to make industrial cleaners safer is definitely one of the most integral aspects of green chemistry.

To learn more about the importance of green chemistry as it pertains to improving industrial cleaner safety, contact Ecolink – a company invested in harvesting eco consciousness industrial businesses that depend on industrial cleaners to clean parts, metals, materials, and many other industrial products. Ecolink works to promote and educate the validity and importance of green chemistry, offering evidence to industrial organizations of the myriad advantages of incorporating green chemistry, which leads to making industrial cleaners safer. An Ecolink professional will be happy to explain the principles of green chemistry, and why transitioning to safer industrial cleaners will be one of the best investments your industrial organization will ever make.