nPB (a.k.a. n-propyl bromide) is an organobromine compound that is found in many types of industrial cleaning solvents, from dielectric cleaners, to cleaners for parts washers, to multi-application degreasers. Thanks to their excellent cleaning power and affordable prices, nPB solvents have emerged as first-line, industrial grade cleaning solutions for companies and organizations across the U.S., but the compound’s popularity now appears to be short-lived.
The EPA’s Assessment of nPB
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “1-Bromopropane has been classified as ‘reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen’ by the National Toxicology Program in its 13th Report on Carcinogens.” Furthermore, “Based on a review of the data in the Report on Carcinogens, [the] EPA [has] determined that nPB meets the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 313(d)(2)(B) statutory listing criteria because it can reasonably be anticipated to cause cancer in humans.”
These statements reveal the distinct likelihood that nPB will be placed on the EPA’s List of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs), which means that finding the right nPB alternative should be a top priority for any entity that uses nPB cleaners in large quantity. If your company or organization needs an nPB alternative, below are four essential considerations that will get you off to a good start in choosing an alternative to nPB for your cleaning operations.
- Cleaning Methods
What cleaning methods do you use to apply nPB cleaner? Manual wiping? Vapor degreasing? Spray on and drip dry? Because not all types of nPB replacements are ideal for all types of cleaning procedures, it’s a good idea to begin your search by limiting it to cleaners whose formulation and performance matches up with the cleaning methods you prefer to use.
- Materials Cleaned
After limiting your search to nPB replacements that are ideal for your cleaning methods, step two is to shop only for replacements that are formulated to be safe and effective for the materials you need to clean. Because nPB has such a broad application when it comes to cleaning different materials, you will likely be looking for an alternative cleaner that possesses the same quality.
- Substances Removed
In addition to cleaning many different materials, nPB can remove numerous substances, from light coatings of dust, to adhesive residues, to accumulations of grease. Most nPB alternatives are formulated to offer the same characteristic. However, be sure to cover your bases and find out for certain whether a particular alternative can remove the substances in question.
- Safety Profile
The nPB alternative you choose should contain no chemicals that are on the EPA’s List of Hazardous Air Pollutants, as well as no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that could cause acute and/or chronic health problems. In addition, the replacement should ideally have a high flashpoint or no flashpoint to prevent fire-related safety issues when storing or using the solution.
Need an nPB Replacement Cleaner?
If so, now is the time to start the selection process, before the EPA adds nPB to its List of Hazardous Air Pollutants. If you need help choosing a cleaner, we can advise you on the four issues listed above, and well as any others that pertain to your solvent cleaner requirements. Contacting us is easy. Just call (800) 563-1305, or fill out the contact form on our website. We look forward to helping you choose the right nPB alternative for nPB-dependent cleaning needs.
Shop Industrial Solvents and Degreasers Online: Tips for Success
/in Industrial Degreasers/by Industrial DegreasersShopping for industrial solvents and degreasers online gives you more options than shopping for them in a brick and mortar store. However, with the extended range of choices comes the need to develop a checklist of requirements for identifying the type of solvent you need for your cleaning operations. Below, we present six time-tested tips that will help you shop successfully for industrial solvents and degreasers on the internet.
First and foremost, focus on identifying industrial solvents and degreasers that have no ingredients listed on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) most recent List of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs). Cleaners that contain regulated chemicals must generally be used in small quantities — and, even when they are used in small quantities — they can still cause acute health problems.
If you need industrial solvents and degreasers for a parts washer, be sure to limit your search to products that are intended for parts washing systems, specifically your own system. You could always get a new parts washer to accommodate a new cleaner, but getting a cleaner that can be used immediately with your washer is a better option in terms of time and money.
Why types of applied substances or accumulations do you need to remove? The answer should play a significant role in what industrial solvents and degreasers you select. When a cleaner that isn’t suited to remove certain accumulations is still used to remove them, problems can arise, such as using an unusually high volume of cleaner, long turnaround time, and reduced productivity.
There are several ways solvents can be applied, including hand wiping, spraying, and placing them in parts washers. However, some cleaners are more ideally suited to some methods of application than others. That is why it’s important to read the manufacturer’s product guidelines for a solvent before you place an order.
The higher the flashpoint of a cleaning solution, the better its safety profile. Some cleaning processes demand a solvent that has a high flashpoint or no flashpoint. However, even if your processes don’t require this characteristic, opting for a cleaner that has an excellent flammability profile will support fire safety in the area where your cleaning solutions are stored.
If you can’t find industrial solvents and degreasers that meet your cleaning requirements, you may be in the market for custom solvents and degreasers. Consulting with an experienced provider of custom, industrial grade cleaners is the easiest way to make the determination. If you need a custom solvent, it can be supplied on an ongoing basis.
Need Additional Assistance?
The tips above comprise a general guide for selecting industrial solvents and degreasers that meet your needs. There can be several other factors to consider, as well. If you need assistance choosing the right cleaner, please call Ecolink today at (800) 563-1305. We look forward to answering your questions and helping you choose a safe, efficacious cleaner.
Finding the Right nPB Alternative: Four Considerations
/in N-Propyl Bromide/by Industrial DegreasersnPB (a.k.a. n-propyl bromide) is an organobromine compound that is found in many types of industrial cleaning solvents, from dielectric cleaners, to cleaners for parts washers, to multi-application degreasers. Thanks to their excellent cleaning power and affordable prices, nPB solvents have emerged as first-line, industrial grade cleaning solutions for companies and organizations across the U.S., but the compound’s popularity now appears to be short-lived.
The EPA’s Assessment of nPB
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “1-Bromopropane has been classified as ‘reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen’ by the National Toxicology Program in its 13th Report on Carcinogens.” Furthermore, “Based on a review of the data in the Report on Carcinogens, [the] EPA [has] determined that nPB meets the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 313(d)(2)(B) statutory listing criteria because it can reasonably be anticipated to cause cancer in humans.”
These statements reveal the distinct likelihood that nPB will be placed on the EPA’s List of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs), which means that finding the right nPB alternative should be a top priority for any entity that uses nPB cleaners in large quantity. If your company or organization needs an nPB alternative, below are four essential considerations that will get you off to a good start in choosing an alternative to nPB for your cleaning operations.
What cleaning methods do you use to apply nPB cleaner? Manual wiping? Vapor degreasing? Spray on and drip dry? Because not all types of nPB replacements are ideal for all types of cleaning procedures, it’s a good idea to begin your search by limiting it to cleaners whose formulation and performance matches up with the cleaning methods you prefer to use.
After limiting your search to nPB replacements that are ideal for your cleaning methods, step two is to shop only for replacements that are formulated to be safe and effective for the materials you need to clean. Because nPB has such a broad application when it comes to cleaning different materials, you will likely be looking for an alternative cleaner that possesses the same quality.
In addition to cleaning many different materials, nPB can remove numerous substances, from light coatings of dust, to adhesive residues, to accumulations of grease. Most nPB alternatives are formulated to offer the same characteristic. However, be sure to cover your bases and find out for certain whether a particular alternative can remove the substances in question.
The nPB alternative you choose should contain no chemicals that are on the EPA’s List of Hazardous Air Pollutants, as well as no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that could cause acute and/or chronic health problems. In addition, the replacement should ideally have a high flashpoint or no flashpoint to prevent fire-related safety issues when storing or using the solution.
Need an nPB Replacement Cleaner?
If so, now is the time to start the selection process, before the EPA adds nPB to its List of Hazardous Air Pollutants. If you need help choosing a cleaner, we can advise you on the four issues listed above, and well as any others that pertain to your solvent cleaner requirements. Contacting us is easy. Just call (800) 563-1305, or fill out the contact form on our website. We look forward to helping you choose the right nPB alternative for nPB-dependent cleaning needs.
Making the Smart Decision to Replace nBP: Four Benefits
/in N-Propyl Bromide/by Industrial DegreasersnBP is an organobromine compound that has the chemical formula CH3CH2CH2Br. The compound is widely referred to by two other names: n-propylbromide and and 1-Bromopane. However, regardless of what you call it, you’re referring to a cleaning agent that a safer cleaner should replace, particularly at companies and organizations that use nPB in large quantities. When nPB is replaced, the user inherently experiences the following benefits, among others.
nPB is not included in the Environmental Protection Agency’s List of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) at the time this blog is posted, but the compound appears to be well on its way to having a permanent place on the list. The U.S. National Toxicology Program’s recommendation that “1-bromopropane be classified as [a] reasonably anticipated human carcinogen” is one of the driving forces behind nPB’s inclusion on the EPA’s list of Hazardous Air Pollutants.
Due to the U.S. National Toxicology Program’s health findings on nPB, the compound is commonly associated with cancer — a correlation is largely based on chronic exposure to the compound over a long period of time. However, acute exposure to the substance can also cause health problems, such as dizziness, upset stomach, and respiratory distress. These problems are often temporary, but they can reduce the productivity of your workers.
Due to the U.S. National Toxicology Program’s finding that exposure to nPB is associated with cancer, “the big C” is the primary fear factor surrounding the compound’s use. However, long-term exposure to nPB has been linked to other debilitating health conditions, as well, particularly permanent neurological damage that can cause “slurred speech, confusion, difficulty walking, muscle twitching, and/or loss of feeling in arms and legs” (OSHA).
Eliminating the health threat nPB poses to workers can have a positive effect on the finances of former nPB users. Eliminating acute effects of exposure helps reduce sick days taken and thus supports productivity. Eliminating chronic effects helps reduce workers compensation claims, personal injury lawsuits, and, in the worst case scenario, wrongful death lawsuits. Choosing to replace nPB isn’t just good for workers and the environment; it can benefit the bottom line, too.
Let Ecolink Provide Your nPB Replacement Cleaner
Ecolink’s specialty is creating eco friendly cleaners that deliver the same efficacy as the hazardous solvents they’re designed to replace. Given the EPA’s emphasis on regulating solvents that are dangerous to humans and the environment, now is a great time to replace nPB solvents with safer cleaners whose ingredients the EPA won’t regulate. Replacement can also benefit the health of your workforce and reduce injuries that lead to negative financial situations.
To get started on selecting safe, effective cleaners that can replace nPB, please call us today at (800) 563-1305, or refer the the contact page on our website. We look forward to helping you replace nPB with a cleaner that works just as well and has a considerably better safety profile.
Recycling High Boiling Solvents Through Boiling: An Overview
/in Ecolink News/by Industrial DegreasersHigh boiling solvents are solvents that have high boiling points compared to the boiling point of water, which ranges from 212°F to 168°F, depending on altitude. Solvents that have a high boiling point are excellent options for parts cleaning operations that require parts to be submerged in solvent and uniformly surrounded by the cleaner — a requirement that a solvent that is raised to a boil could compromise due to rising bubbles from the boiling action.
Recycling High Boiling Solvents
When they use high boiling solvents that have a high level of purity and cost more than most solvents that have a lower level of purity, organizations are often interested in recycling the solvents, when the option is available. When the option is on the table, one the most efficient means of removing the solvents from the tainted liquid that results from the cleaning operation is to boil the leftover liquid in order to make it condense, so it can be collected and reused.
At this point, however, the benefit of high boiling solvents for high-temperature immersion cleaning can become a drawback, as the solvents must be raised to an unusually high temperature into order to make them boil and condensate. This is why many organizations use a special system for boiling high-purity solvents to recycle them.
Using a Solvent Recycling System
Systems that are designed for recovering high-purity solvents facilitate solvent recovery by performing two primary actions: chamber boiling and applying a full vacuum to the chamber to draw vapor from the boiling action into a condenser, where it condensates. Because high boiling solvents are prone to condensate on various surfaces due to their low condensation point, the condenser maintains a much lower temperature than the boiling chamber.
To ensure that vapor from high boiling solvents doesn’t condense on the walls of the heating chamber, the pipe work that leads to the condenser, or the condenser’s rotor, a full vacuum is applied to the chamber to draw the vapor into the condenser. After high boiling solvents are vaporized in the heating chamber and condensate in the condenser, they can be recollected and reused for immersion cleaning and other cleaning operations.
Ideal Option for Big Solvent Users
Industrial grade systems for recycling high boiling solvents aren’t cheap. Consequently, organizations that use a high volume of high boiling solvents in a given period of time use the systems most frequently. However, considering the high cost of some high-purity solvents, implementing a system for recycling them can generate an excellent return on investment (ROI). In addition, recycling used solvent instead of sending it into a waste trap can help lower waste disposal costs.
Contact Ecolink Today
For more information about purchasing eco friendly solvents that have a high boiling point, call Ecolink today at (800) 563-1305, or refer to the contact form on our website. We look forward to answering your questions about recycling high boiling solvents and providing you with these solvents for your cleaning operations.
What Chemical Solvents are Used to Clean Oil Tanks?
/in Solvents/by Industrial DegreasersOil tanks can be separated into two broad categories: Tanks that hold oil strictly for storage purposes, and tanks that deliver oil to equipment to provide lubrication or supply oil as a primary catalyst for a production process. Though they are used for different purposes, both types of tanks share a similarity: They accumulate oil sludge on the interior and must have it removed to preserve the integrity of the clean oil they hold, regardless of its final application.
Choosing the Right Oil Tank Cleaner
Like oil tanks, oil tank cleaners can also be separated into two broad categories: cleaners that are effective for breaking down oil accumulations but are not officially intended for this purpose, and cleaners that are specially formulated for heavy-duty oil tank cleaning operations, among other types of oil cleaning operations.
Among the first type of cleaners, trisodium phosphate (TSP) and denatured alcohol are popular chemical options. TSP is generally applied at a rate of 1 cup for every five gallons of the tank’s holding capacity until the tank is full. After the TSP is drained, several gallons of denatured alcohol are poured into the tank to remove any oil residue that TSP may have left behind. After the alcohol is drained and the tank is hosed down, it is clean and ready to hold oil.
Among the second type of cleaners are numerous solutions that are formulated to break down heavy oil accumulations. The Emerald HD2 cleaner we supply is a perfect example of these types of solutions. Compared to using TSP and denatured alcohol as oil tank cleaners, using Emerald HD2 offers the following important safety advantages, among others.
In addition to these benefits, HD2 is derived from sustainable resources and contains no chlorine or petroleum distillates — traits that contribute to the Design for the Environment Program (DfE) recognizing Emerald HD2 oil tank cleaner for offering improved health and environmental characteristics. Compared to using TSP and denatured alcohol for tank cleaning, Emerald HD 2 also has the advantage of being the only cleaner you need for the job.
Need an Industrial Oil Tank Cleaner?
If so, using Emerald HD2 has obvious advantages over using TSP and denatured alcohol, particularly its excellent safety profile and its ability to serve as the only oil tank cleaner you need. If you would like to see what Emerald HD2 can do before you use it as your go-to oil tank cleaner, feel free to request a free sample of the product by visiting our Request Sample page.
If you have questions, please call us today at (800) 563-1305 to speak with a solvent specialist. If we find that stock Emerald HD2 doesn’t conform to your specific tank cleaning requirements, we can produce a custom formulation that does the job. We look forward to supplying you with a dynamic, eco friendly, industrial grade oil remover for all of your oil tank cleaning operations. Contact us today!