Industrial Solvents – Businesses now have Greener Choices

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NPB-health-risksAs barbaric, ignorant, and insensitive as the notion might sound, there was a time when industrial companies thought nothing of their employees working with chemical compounds, and the ramifications that might ensue later due to the exposure of harmful toxins in the chemical. Daily exposure, often for long periods at a time, was never considered a problem. Granted, a lot more research is performed now as compared to earlier times, but does that mean companies should be let off the hook when their employees develop long-term serious side effects stemming from the exposure to hazardous chemicals and gas?

Wherever your opinion on the matter lies, businesses now have greener choices for the workplace. Industrial solvents can be made ecofriendly, significantly reducing the carbon footprint left by older industrial solvents. Moving forward, there is no longer an excuse for why companies will not make the change to a green alternative industrial solvent. Countless tests have proven that ecofriendly industrial solvents and degreasers are as effective, if not more effective than their dangerous counterparts. Many of the ecofriendly alternatives are actually cheaper than their hazardous rivals. There is no reason not to make the switch, which is why companies such as Ecolink are pushing regulatory committees to make mandatory the change to green alternatives to industrial degreasers.

Ecolink is more than happy to lend their expertise regarding the safety, effectiveness, and options for green industrial solvents. Companies such as Ecolink have been pushing hard for years for exhaustive research to be conducted toward finding ecofriendly degreasers and parts washers that can rival and even surpass older cleaning agents. Thanks to companies like Ecolink, new and improved industrial solvents with the green label are available. Because of the dedication of companies like Ecolink, your industrial business now has greener choices as it pertains to cleaning solutions.

What Are Industrial Degreasing Solvents?

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Industrial degreasing solvents are a solution that is used to prepare or ready a part or metal object for further or additional operations, such as painting or electroplating. The solvent is made up of a particular chemical solution, which could include multiple chemicals to make up a certain degreasing concoction, in order to dissolve machining fluids and contaminants that could be lingering on the part or metal object.

Whatever cleaning agent is decided on, it should be applied directly on the surface either by wiping, brushing or spraying. If done correctly, and if a strong enough industrial degreasing solvent was used, the entire process should have removed any dirt, oil, grease, loose particles, and any other contaminants that might still exist or have stained the surface of the material or object.

An additional step that people and companies use to clean a metal or whatever material it is that needs cleaning is through immersion. Immersing the object into a tank of some sort, with the contents of the industrial degreasing solvent and agitating it (similar to how a washing machine works) is an effective method to removing particles and contaminants from the piece.

The benefits to using industrial degreasing solvents versus other types of cleaning agents, especially vapor degreasing solutions, include:

  • The reduction of emissions when compared to vapor degreasing operations
  • Not nearly as much venting is required, which means it is much easier to rapidly set up and put in place a small degreasing operation
  • Liquid solvents are simply easier to deal with than vapor degreasing agents

To learn more about industrial degreasing solvents and how their use can benefit you or your company, get in touch with Ecolink sooner rather than later. Ecolink is an established company that can provide a plethora of knowledge and information as it pertains to industrial degreasing solvents, which will subsequently help you make the right decision based on what operation you are performing on your materials.

Industrial Degreasing Agents – Eco-Friendly Parts Washer Solvents Offer Several Rewarding Benefits

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Cleaning agents are applied in numerous industries to remove grime, dirt, oil, grease, or other contaminants from a surface. Industrial degreasing agents are specially formulated to eliminate contaminants such as grease or oil from parts, machinery, and work areas within a structure. Less hazardous products containing alkaline chemicals in combination with surfactants have been developed to decrease environmental impact. Parts washer solvents are designed to dissolve and remove grease, dirt, or grime from surfaces without causing harm or leaving residue. They are applied in manufacturing or automotive industries to clean surfaces or parts during regular operations. A growing concern regarding environmental and health hazards of industrial degreasing agents has led to the formation of safer cleaning alternatives capable of providing equivalent removal results.

Why Should Companies Choose Environmentally Safe Products?

The solvents applied during production or refinishing processes have a direct effect on the health of workers and the environment. Organic solvents are frequently carbon based and can be natural or synthetic in nature. Natural forms originate from plants or animals through resource extraction while synthetic forms are generated through the reactions generated by the introduction of additional compounds. A volatile organic compound or VOC is a chemical capable of vaporizing at room temperatures. Traditional agents have a high VOC count thus making them harmful to use and less eco-friendly. Increased volatility results in these products having a lower boiling point, which causes more molecules to enter the surrounding atmosphere during use. Companies must take extra precautions to prevent worker harm and meet the stringent requirements set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for products of this nature.

Exposure to the VOC’s released by these cleaning agents must be controlled to prevent respiratory, allergy, and immune system complications. Hazardous Air Pollutants or HAP’s are another concern with traditional industrial degreasing agents. These are any airborne substance capable of causing irreversible harm to individuals or the atmosphere and contribute to health complications such as:

  • Nervous System Toxicity
  • Reproductive Damage
  • Liver or Kidney Damage
  • Respiratory Issues
  • Cancer
  • Loss of Consciousness

Prolonged exposure to extensive amounts of VOC’s and HAP’s among workers has been proven to result in several adverse effects. Industrial degreasing agents used in automotive or manufacturing industries also pose direct harm to the environment. Leaks or spills of these solvents result in soil or water contamination, which poses significant harm to surrounding animal and plant life. Soil contamination is most common in areas where high VOC industrial degreasing agents are used regularly. Eco-friendly alternatives prevent atmospheric harm while supplying equivalent cleaning abilities for ensuring continued operational success. Water-based or less harmful naturally derived organic solutions allow companies to reduce associated hazards without losing the benefits of highly volatile parts washer solvents. If your company uses industrial degreasing agents regularly, it is time to evaluate the dangers of this choice. A less volatile alternative capable of providing the same results can be substituted to create a safer, eco-friendly workplace.

Industrial degreasing agents are necessary in a number of industries and play a pivotal safety role in machine parts cleaning processes. For more information about environmentally friendly, low VOC products, please call (800) 886-8240 or email info@ecolink.com.

Eco Friendly Industrial Cleaning Chemicals

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As frightening as the concept is today, there was a time when little research was applied to finding out whether chemical usage as it pertains to cleaning solvents and degreasing solutions used on metals and specific materials were harmful to those using the chemicals and to the environment. Thankfully, more scientists are making education regarding chemical compounds used as cleaning agents a priority. This is because the alarming rate of people who were exposed to the chemical agents were either becoming sick, or worse, contracting cancer cells. Recent research has revealed that many industrial cleaning products are, in fact, dangerous when coming in contact with the users skin, inhaled, or prolonged exposure.

This alarming information has caused a scare to companies who use industrial cleaning products, and to employees who use them on a daily basis. Because the word is out on the dangers to these toxic chemical found in cleaning solutions, companies such as Ecolink have made it a priority to research, inform, introduce, and offer eco friendly industrial cleaning chemicals. Workers should be informed of the types of chemicals they are exposing themselves to, and whether they are hazardous. Moreover, if they are indeed hazardous, these workers have the right to seek out eco friendly industrial cleaning solutions. If you are a business owner or decision maker, it is imperative to offer your employees green alternatives and eco friendly industrial cleaning chemicals.

Companies would do well to follow suit, and begin practices that Ecolink has been conducting for years now – providing information on green alternatives and offering eco friendly industrial cleaning solutions to the public. Concerning any industry involved in the use of industrial cleaning solvents and degreasers, it is the right of the workers to be informed of, and demand the usage of eco friendly industrial cleaning chemicals. Ecolink is more than happy to provide this information, along with introducing green alternatives to improve safety.

Are There Safety & Disposal Concerns with Commercial Degreasers & Industrial Solvents?

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The products used to remove oil, dirt, grease, or alternative types of contaminants from a surface during refinishing, cleaning or manufacturing processes create several concerns. Commercial degreasers can consist of a number of organic or non-organic volatile components and the choices a company makes in this area are important. A volatile organic compound or VOC is capable of experiencing a significant amount of pressure under normal temperature conditions and is easily released into the surrounding atmosphere. This extensive amount of pressure is a result of the low boiling point properties of a chosen solvent or degreaser. Cleaners with this property easily move from solid to gas form without requiring a change in their surrounding environment. Industrial solvents are able to be inhaled by individuals or released as harmful pollutants into the atmosphere and this makes them extremely dangerous. Recent product innovations greatly reduce the amount of risk and are becoming a better choice for companies who must regularly remove contaminants from surfaces.

What Are the Risks?

Cleaners with high VOC counts generate numerous health concerns when handled or disposed of inappropriately. They have been linked to respiratory and immune system complications as well as found to be a contributor to smog. Prolonged exposure to these compounds can lead to:

  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Liver Damage
  • Cancer
  • Skin Reactions
  • Coordination Issues
  • Central Nervous System Complications

Improper handling or disposal also causes VOCs to enter the air and affect the environment. The penetration of water sources, soil, or air by hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) can result in consumption by humans, animals, or plant life. These are the reasons for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommending that companies purchase and use products with minimal to low VOC counts.

What Characteristics Should Be Pursued In a Cleaner?

It is important to evaluate the purpose behind a commercial degreaser or industrial solvent and the usage period before making a selection. Companies who consistently use these products must be careful during the selection process as an increased amount of VOCs will naturally be emitted based on the chosen degreaser or solvent. Specific characteristics are essential before buying a product for long term use to ensure a safer working atmosphere and reduce environmental impact. The chosen solution should be an organic alternative designed to remove the desired type of contaminant. Despite popular belief, organic solutions are just as capable of supplying the same results as more toxic choices.

The selected product must have the lowest VOC count possible to limit the amount of vapors released into the atmosphere. Companies unable to use an organic alternative will be served best to seek a solution that is as safe as possible for the atmosphere. A higher flash point poses fewer dangers during storage and use when a flammable solution is necessary. Companies requiring a degreaser or solvent must take time to evaluate these properties to prevent future harm to their workers or the environment.

Industrial cleaners are necessary in a number of industries and play a pivotal safety role. For more information about environmentally friendly, low VOC products, please call (800) 886-8240 or email info@ecolink.com.