1-Bromopropane (a.k.a n-propyl bromide) is a relatively colorless liquid that is commonly used as a solvent in commercial and industrial settings to remove aerosol-applied adhesives, clean textiles, perform aircraft maintenance, produce asphalt, make synthetic fibers, and clean optics, electronics, and metal. Industries in which the solvent is frequently used include the dry cleaning industry, the pavement industry, and the foam manufacturing industry, just to name a few.
1-Bromopropane as a Replacement Solvent
In recent years, many companies have used 1-Bromopropane as a replacement solvent that is less dangerous to human health and the environment that solvents it replaces. For example, the solution is known to be less ozone depleting than many traditional solvents, and it reputedly has a lower carcinogenic impact on humans and animals than many conventional solvents, as well.
However, scientific research has not given 1-Bromopropane a clean slate. Instead, the solution has been found to be carcinogenic to lab rats, and purportedly to humans who receive as much exposure to the solution as the rodents. Those that work in industries where the liquid is commonly used are thought to have the highest risk of reacting to the solution carcinogenically.
If your company is considering using 1-Bromopropane as a replacement solvent for a solution that is reportedly worse for humans and the environment, it should be aware of the facts above, and ideally choose an eco friendly solution that meets the requirements of 1-Bromopropane without entailing carcinogenic reactions like the ones that could result from high exposure to the liquid.
Evidence of the Dangers of Bromopropane
No human cancer studies have been conducted for 1-Bromopropane, but the solution has been found to cause prolific tumors in rodents. The tumors occur as a result of 1-Bromopropane induced biological changes that are known to precipitate cancer, such as DNA damage, immune system damage, antioxidant depletion, and the buildup of oxygen species that produce toxic reactions. These are some of the most scientifically well-established dangers of bromopropane.
Despite the absence of human studies on the cancerous effects of the solution, the impact of 1-Bromopropane on lab rats should be enough for companies to discontinue using the product and find a suitable replacement. At a time when liability lawsuits for workplace injuries happen every day, the potential dangers of Bromopropane are simply too great for companies to risk using the solution, to say nothing of the effect it could have on workers who are exposed to it.
Need a Replacement for 1-Bromopropane?
If so, let Ecolink recommend an eco friendly replacement for the solution that doesn’t contain carcinogens or other constituents that could cause the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to severely regulate the solution or ban it altogether. We sell many solutions, and can guarantee that you will receive the results from our products that we design them to offer.
The dangers of Bromopropane are real. For help identifying a safe, eco friendly replacement solution for 1-Bromopropane, call us today at (800) 563-1305, or fill out our contact form.
TCE Chemical Classification By Properties and Effects
/in TCE/by Industrial DegreasersScientifically identified as C2HCl3, the chemical compound trichloroethylene (TCE) is classified as a halocarbon, one that is primarily used in industrial solvents. But simply knowing the classification of TCE often doesn’t give companies all of the information they need to accept or reject the chemical. Consequently, let’s look at the TCE chemical classification to create a portrait that shows the carcinogenic solvent scientifically.
The information above describes chemical properties of TCE, but what do these properties to mean for workers who handle TCE-based solutions regularly? According to the U.S. Department of Human Health Services (HSS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), TCE has gone from being reasonably anticipated as a human carcinogen to being a “known” carcinogen thanks to the TCE chemical classification.
For those who desire more information, Wikipedia maintains an excellent TCE data page that offers a variety of information about how to use and not use the hazardous chemical.
The Effects of TCE Exposure
Like most toxic chemicals that have made the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) List of List, TCE appears to be well on its way there. The fact that the chemical is a carcinogen alone is enough to get it banned, or at least make it usable in volumes that would be of little use to industrial operations. The four primary health effects of TCE that will likely get it banned are:
The EPA currently requires “any company that manufactures, imports or processes TCE for use in a consumer product must notify the agency 90 days in advance”. This is what what we call moderate regulation. Heavy regulation would make it impossible for large-scale users to deploy TCE in the necessary amount, and a ban on TCE would essentially halt its production altogether — at least in the U.S.
Ready to Start Replacing TCE?
If so, you have at least two good reasons to do it: It lowers health risk for your workers, and helps your company avoid increased sick days taken, workers comp claims, and even settling chemical injury lawsuits. On the bright side, Ecolink has the non-toxic, eco friendly solutions you need, solutions that deliver the same power as TCE without the toxic formulation.
We can explain the TCE chemical classification in all respects, and help you identify whether one of our stock solutions or custom solutions is ideal for your needs. Call us today at (800) 563-1305, or send us an email through our contact form. We look forward to providing a solution that helps protect the health of your workers and your company’s bottom line.
When Zero Equals Hero
/in Zero Waste/by Industrial DegreasersChemical Waste
For companies that participate in industrial cleaning and degreasing, examining their use of chemicals may not be high on the list of priorities. But when it comes to the industrial chemical solvents used to clean and degrease parts, metals, components, materials, and products, the truth is that many industrial companies engage in wasteful methods of chemical cleaning and may not even know it. The fallout from practicing wasteful methods of chemical cleaning can be disastrous, as it can lead to environmental contamination in the soil, atmosphere, and water supply, as well as high toxicity levels in the air people breathe, resulting in sickness and long term side effects. For those industrial businesses practicing reckless methods of chemical cleaning, or are unsure of whether your methods of chemical cleaning are safe or dangerous, please conduct research into your parts cleaning methods. If the conclusion leads you to immediately consider revamping your chemical cleaning methods, please do so because you are placing both people and the environment at risk.
With the help of organizations like Ecolink, there are now zero waste chemical cleaning options available that will significantly reduce your chemical waste. The benefits of utilizing zero chemical waste methods include reduced costs to your business, and more efficient ways to dispose of waste, which includes minimizing disposal needs. First, the reasons your industrial business will save on company costs are because the methods involved in achieving zero waste include recycling chemical cleaners. By implementing a course of action that recycles your chemical cleaner during use provides you the opportunity to reuse the cleaning agent. A recycling system catches cleaning solutions that would otherwise become waste, and allows the business to use it for the next parts cleaning cycle. In addition, recycling your cleaning solution means you will not have to purchase nearly as much chemical solvents each year, and that leads to significant cost savings.
Chemical Recycling? Yes, We Do That!
Chemical recycling also has a direct effect on waste disposal needs. Recycling chemical solvents also means your industrial business will not need to incorporate as frequent chemical waste disposal services. Waste disposal services are also quite expensive, so if you have a chemical recycling system in place, the reduction in waste disposal services is yet another way your business will save money. Other methods are available in achieving zero waste solutions, and Ecolink holds the key to learning of the ways your industrial business can prevent waste from happening in your facilities. Let your business become a hero in your community by installing effective zero waste protocol, with the help of Ecolink, today.
Four Reasons to Switch to a Non Flammable Parts Cleaner
/in Non Flammable/by Industrial DegreasersAs a general category of cleaning solvent, parts cleaner is conventionally formulated with ingredients that have a flash point, which means they will ignite when exposed to the right amount of heat. When a flame or a spark touches the solutions when they are wet, they can ignite instantly, causing damage to parts they were used to clean and the person performing the job — a scenario that could potentially cost millions in lost equipment and legal settlements.
Benefits of Using Non Flammable Parts Cleaner
Preventing equipment damage and avoiding injury lawsuits are two reasons why companies switch out their conventional parts cleaner with one that doesn’t have a flash point, but there are also some additional, more commonplace benefits that companies receive when they switch from a flammable to a non flammable parts cleaner, four of which are presented below.
Broader Spectrum of Application
Flammable parts cleaner should never be used for some applications, such as cleaning energized electrical parts in maintenance applications that require a quick turnaround (e.g., degreasing the engine of an airliner before it returns to the runway). Because many maintenance applications ideally require the use of a non flammable parts cleaner, it is only sensible to switch to a non flammable solution that can be used for a wider variety of cleaning applications.
Easier to Comply With Fire Codes
Many states and municipalities have adopted a version of the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code (NFPA 30). Using a flammable parts cleaner may mean that your company must use the solution within the parameters of the code, which can impact how much solution you can use, and how you can use it. Using a non flammable parts cleaner helps you avoid implementing NFPA 30 compliance measures.
More Options for Cleaner Storage
Parts cleaner that has a low flash point often presents concerns regarding how it should be stored. Ideally, it should be located in an area where no combustibles are present, including electrical infrastructure components that could ignite due to an arc flash or faulty electrical components. A non flammable cleaner, on the other hand, presents no such concerns. If need be, you can store it alongside combustibles without worrying about creating a fiery aftermath.
Reduced Protective Equipment Expense
Workers who use flammable cleaning solutions for applications that could cause them to ignite should be provided with flame retardant personal protective equipment (PPE) that offers head to toe coverage. If your company has a large workforce that uses flammable cleaners, providing such a high level of PPE can become quite costly. Although non flammable cleaners may not eliminate the need for PPE, they may allow you to invest in a less costly level of the equipment.
Contact Ecolink Today
If your company currently uses a parts cleaner that has a flash point — however high or low it may be — switching to a non-flammable parts cleaner offers some obvious benefits, particularly the four listed above. If you are in the market for a non-flammable, commercial grade cleaning solution, Ecolink can provide you with a readymade parts cleaner or a specially formulated parts cleaner that is non flammable and meets a wide variety of crucial parts cleaning needs.
For assistance choosing the best non flammable parts cleaner for your cleaning applications, call us today at (800) 563-1305, or refer to the contact page on our website. We look forward to supplying you with a non flammable solution that helps you realize the benefits listed above.
The Dangers of Bromopropane: An Overview
/in N-Propyl Bromide/by Industrial Degreasers1-Bromopropane (a.k.a n-propyl bromide) is a relatively colorless liquid that is commonly used as a solvent in commercial and industrial settings to remove aerosol-applied adhesives, clean textiles, perform aircraft maintenance, produce asphalt, make synthetic fibers, and clean optics, electronics, and metal. Industries in which the solvent is frequently used include the dry cleaning industry, the pavement industry, and the foam manufacturing industry, just to name a few.
1-Bromopropane as a Replacement Solvent
In recent years, many companies have used 1-Bromopropane as a replacement solvent that is less dangerous to human health and the environment that solvents it replaces. For example, the solution is known to be less ozone depleting than many traditional solvents, and it reputedly has a lower carcinogenic impact on humans and animals than many conventional solvents, as well.
However, scientific research has not given 1-Bromopropane a clean slate. Instead, the solution has been found to be carcinogenic to lab rats, and purportedly to humans who receive as much exposure to the solution as the rodents. Those that work in industries where the liquid is commonly used are thought to have the highest risk of reacting to the solution carcinogenically.
If your company is considering using 1-Bromopropane as a replacement solvent for a solution that is reportedly worse for humans and the environment, it should be aware of the facts above, and ideally choose an eco friendly solution that meets the requirements of 1-Bromopropane without entailing carcinogenic reactions like the ones that could result from high exposure to the liquid.
Evidence of the Dangers of Bromopropane
No human cancer studies have been conducted for 1-Bromopropane, but the solution has been found to cause prolific tumors in rodents. The tumors occur as a result of 1-Bromopropane induced biological changes that are known to precipitate cancer, such as DNA damage, immune system damage, antioxidant depletion, and the buildup of oxygen species that produce toxic reactions. These are some of the most scientifically well-established dangers of bromopropane.
Despite the absence of human studies on the cancerous effects of the solution, the impact of 1-Bromopropane on lab rats should be enough for companies to discontinue using the product and find a suitable replacement. At a time when liability lawsuits for workplace injuries happen every day, the potential dangers of Bromopropane are simply too great for companies to risk using the solution, to say nothing of the effect it could have on workers who are exposed to it.
Need a Replacement for 1-Bromopropane?
If so, let Ecolink recommend an eco friendly replacement for the solution that doesn’t contain carcinogens or other constituents that could cause the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to severely regulate the solution or ban it altogether. We sell many solutions, and can guarantee that you will receive the results from our products that we design them to offer.
The dangers of Bromopropane are real. For help identifying a safe, eco friendly replacement solution for 1-Bromopropane, call us today at (800) 563-1305, or fill out our contact form.
Transformer Maintenance – Envirotemp FR3 Oil Clean-up
/in Ecolink News/by Industrial DegreasersENVIROTEMP® FR3 FLUID
Envirotemp® FR3 fluid is a Fire Resistant Natural Ester dielectric coolant specifically formulated for use in distribution and power transformers where its unique environmental, fire safety, chemical, and electrical properties are advantageous. Envirotemp FR3 fluid is formulated from edible vegetable oils and food grade performance enhancing additives. It does not contain any petroleum, halogens, silicones, or any other questionable material.
Envirotemp FR3 fluid has an exceptionally high fire point of 360°C and flash point of 330°C. It has the highest ignition resistance of less-flammable fluids currently available. It is referred to as a High Fire Point or “Less-Flammable” fluid, and is Listed as a Less- Flammable Dielectric Liquid by FM Global (FM) and Underwriters Laboratories® (UL) for use in complying with the National Electric Code® (NEC) and insurance requirements.
Because of its excellent environmental, fire safety, and performance characteristics, applications for Envirotemp FR3 fluid have expanded into a variety of other equipment, including power transformers, voltage regulators, sectionalizing switches, transformer rectifiers, electromagnets, and voltage supply circuits for luminaries. The fluid is also used in retrofill applications for transformers and other fluid-filled distribution and power equipment.
Envirotemp FR3 fluid is compatible with standard transformer insulating materials, components and with fluid processing equipment and procedures. It demonstrates improved thermal characteristics with a viscosity closer to conventional transformer oil, superior dielectric strength in new and continued service applications, and excellent chemical stability over time. Excellent performance has been confirmed in more than 10,000 field installations since 1998. Envirotemp FR3 fluid is not listed as hazardous by the EPA, OSHA, or the Department of Transportation (DOT).
Advantages of retrofilling with Envirotemp FR3 fluid:
Spills Happen – How to clean FR3 oil without harming painted parts or transformer insulation