What is a Drying Agent?

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drying-agentsIn the simplest described definition, a drying agent, as it pertains to industrial and chemical processes, is a term given to a chemical that works to remove water from a compound that is currently in solution. A compound that has been absorbing water for too long, or for an extended period of time, can become contaminated. Therefore, the application of a drying agent can prevent any contamination from happening by actively drying out all excess water. Examples of drying agents in use would be for food or electronics. In order for food to be preserved for a long period of time, a drying agent will be used in order to eliminate all liquids from the food, which would work to decay or spoil the food much quicker if it were not completely dry. Concerning electronics, it is no secret that water can corrupt and dismantle electronic components when immersed onto an electronic device (as many cell phone users already know, with much reluctance). A drying agent will immediately dry an accumulation of condensation or a mass of water on electronic equipment.

Although in almost every instance, a drying agent is used to benefit a product, if used excessively, it could potentially harm a product. Drying agents do not only absorb water, it can also absorb other types of compounds. This is why it is extremely important that an industrial organization preparing to use a drying agent has complete understanding and control of the drying agent about to be put into use. Otherwise, the compound that is brought together with the drying agent could wind up being destroyed. Fortunately, there are already determined processes and steps to take to ensure that too much of a drying agent will not be used. That is why it has been stated that, whomever uses a drying agent, should have a complete understanding of what is about to be performed to ensure total success.

To know when the drying process is complete, the solution will become translucent. In addition, the drying agent will desist clumping, and will actually float in the solution. If the mixture is still milky, the drying process is not complete, and you should allow it to continue until the milky look has completely disappeared.

More information regarding drying agents can be provided to you by organizations that support chemical and industrial processes. As you probably figured out from the information provided above, utilizing a drying agent should only be performed if the process is perfected. Otherwise, disaster will become the most likely result. ore simplified for your industrial organization. Therefore, if you feel unsure about performing the process, all you have to do is reach out and ask Ecolink for assistance.

Understanding the Chemistry of Cleaning

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chemistry-cleaningTo best understand industrial cleaning, it is important to understand the chemistry that goes into cleaning. Soil, soiling, or to soil – as it pertains to the language used involving industrial organizations, is considered any foreign matter that makes a part, metal, material, component, or product dirty, relegating it as unusable until it has been cleaned. The following will provide the definition of terms used to describe the chemistry of industrial cleaning.

A surfactant, which is short for “surface active agent,” is a chemical that, when it dissolves in water or another type of solvent, orients itself between a liquid and a solid substance, which is how it removes soiling. An example of a surfactant is soap, or a type of synthetic detergent.

A chelating agent will combine itself with disruptive metal ions found in water. The metal ions become surrounded by the chelating agent, which works to alter the electronic charge of the metal ions from positive to negative, making it impossible for the metal ions to be precipitated with the surfactants. The chelated metal ions remain contained, yet proactive in the solution, remaining in a harmless state where it will not dissolve the surfactants. Phosphates are the most common chelating agents used in industrial cleaning. Many household cleaners, such as laundry soap, for example, use phosphate chelating agents.

Detergents consist of both surfactants and chelating agents previously described. Because surfactants remove dirt from a soiled surface and chelating works to surround the agonistic metal ions found in cleaning solutions, chelating is usually unnecessary when a detergent is used, as it adds to the cost of formulating the detergent.

Builders are added to an industrial cleaning solution in order to upgrade and protect the cleaning efficiency of a surfactant. Builders are effective because it softens, buffers, and emulsifies (the suspension of a liquid within another liquid) the soil attached to an industrial product. Detergents can also consist of builders, along with surfactants and chelating agents.

Water makes up a large percentage of most liquid cleaner formulas, allowing it to perform many important functions within liquid cleaners. This means water can, and should be considered an active ingredient that enhances the detergency of cleaners because it can actually function as an additional property to the detergency of a cleaner. Water acts as a solvent that separates soil particles once the surfactants reduce the surface tension, which permits the water to penetrate the soil. A perfect example is a clothes washing machine. Without the water, the detergent you add to the clothes washing cycle will no operate correctly. In other words, water is absolutely necessary for the detergent to function as intended.

Guide to Working Safely with Industrial Solvents

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chemical-safetyBecause working with many of the different types of industrial solvents that are available can be harmful to the body, and even your health, and there is an aspect of danger involved due to the chemical laden solvent, the following information will act as a guide to help you safely work with solvents. The specific aim, or goal, of the information that will be provided below is to optimize safety of workers who regularly expose themselves to industrial solvents on a daily basis, and to offer advice and precautions to help minimize and altogether avoid risks associated with chemical exposure. If you have been following the Ecolink blog site then you should already be familiar with industrial solvents, and how some solvents present an element of danger due to its chemical toxins. Therefore, this blog will proceed directly into the best ways to work safely with industrial solvents.

First and foremost, you should come to know everything you can regarding the type of industrial solvent your employer is using, so you understand the element of risk involved. Get as much information and training on the industrial solvent as you possibly can.

Make sure your employer knows and understands what elements of risk, if any, are involved with the industrial solvent they have agreed to use, along with any hazards involved with exposure to the chemical. There is no excuse for an employer to be uniformed about the risks involved with exposure to industrial solvents.

A reputable supplier should provide documents containing all use and health information concerning the industrial solvent. Read it thoroughly and follow any advice given by the supplier.

If the industrial solvent being used is potentially harmful, request that your employer seek an eco friendly, green alternative to minimize or eliminate any risk taken when handling industrial solvents.

If toxins are released into the air when the industrial solvent is in a gaseous or vapor state, make sure the facility where your work is outfitted with the proper ventilation systems and respiratory equipment, along with ensuring only the required minimum amount of solvent is in use for the operation to progress and be deemed a success.

Avoid skin contact by wearing the necessary protective equipment, at all time.

Avoid working in confined spaces. If a confined space is the only location to perform the work, request that your employer find another location that offers a wide open space.

After the work is complete, make sure to wash yourself thoroughly, even if you were wearing the required protective clothing.

Do not use any devices or items that could antagonize the industrial solvent in use, meaning do not use equipment that could cause some type of reaction that would make the industrial solvent even more dangerous.

Is your Company Working on Pollution Prevention?

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pollution preventionA lot of people enjoy planting vegetation, herbs, and other types of plants for many reasons, including aesthetics and, more importantly, food and nourishment. However, these human pleasures can be adversely affected when the water and soil becomes polluted by the ignorance and wasteful methods of industrial companies that are polluting the water and soil with chemical solvents. The problem resides when the harmful chemical solvents permeate into waterways and leach into ground water systems, which consequently leads to serious water and soil polluting, and, in turn, creates damaging on human and wildlife health, along with the health of the environment. Some chemical solvents that business use, mostly for cleaning parts, metals, and materials, are so hazardous that some have been identified as carcinogenic, which is deadly, and could cause reproductive defects and even damage vital organs. Because water and bountiful soil are the main ingredients of feeding agricultural productivity, the polluting of these two invaluable resources with excess nitrates and phosphates could kill vegetation, or even contaminate the food growth from the vegetation, which is consumed by humans, who are now unknowingly putting toxins in their bodies. In the past couple of decades, findings of nitrogen and phosphorus in soil stemming from chemical waste produced by industrial businesses has quadrupled.

How do industrial companies negate polluting our water, soil, and air with these contaminants? First, industrial companies need to identify preventive measures. Some preventive measures include using eco friendly, green alternative chemical solutions that minimize, and, in some instances, eliminate the use of toxins. Ecolink offers comprehensive information regarding eco friendly, green alternative chemical solutions to which industrial businesses can transition, especially if the company is currently using hazardous chemical components. In addition, there is far too much waste when using chemical cleaning solvents. Industrial businesses purchase far too much chemical solvents at a time, which wind up being wasted, dumped, and tossed, or even used in excess, which consequently leads to more water, air, and soil pollution. Industrial companies should look into chemical leasing options that directly reduce chemical waste and pollution. A leasing agreement allows industrial companies to receive only the necessary amount of chemical products, as long as that industrial business buys solely from the seller. This is an excellent method of preventing water, air, and soil pollution brought on by chemical solvents.

If your industrial company requires additional information on methods that help prevent pollution, as well as finding eco friendly, green alternative chemical solvents, consulting with Ecolink will lead to the identification of products, procedures, and resources that, together, provide successful ways to significantly reduce, and perhaps even eliminate pollution. Ecolink knows how to install methods that help prevent pollution.

Three Benefits of Chemical Management

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Because many chemicals solvents that industrial businesses use to clean parts, metals, and materials are considered hazardous to both people and the environment, and which much of the contents are wasted due to excessive purchasing and a lack of chemical recycling protocol – among other reasons – having a chemical management group to assist businesses using chemical solvents is ideal. Chemical management groups can put in place operations and resources that prevent potentially dangerous situations involving chemical solvents. Among the several benefits of a chemical management group assisting your industrial business with chemical solvents, three stand out the most, and they are as follows:

Reduced Chemical Usage: Believe it or not, many industrial businesses will overbuy and overstock chemical solvents for the cleaning of their industrial products, which consequently leads to overuse. Chemical management groups help industrial businesses significantly reduce the use of chemical solvents by thoroughly investigating and evaluating the operations and procedures in place for the cleaning of parts and materials, and will then implement a program that significantly reduces chemical uses. The reduction in usage also minimizes wasted chemical solution.

Less waste is disposed: Briefly touched on in the first listed benefit, a chemical management group will implement procedures and programs that significantly reduce, and in some instances eliminate, chemical waste. A reduction of waste is accomplished by incorporating a chemical recycling program that catches all of the run off and potential waste of the chemical solution so that it can be reused for later parts and materials cleaning. This procedure is also advantageous because it provides industrial businesses an opportunity to save money, as less chemical solution purchases will need to be made due to the recycling of the chemical solvent that would normally be lost.

Less Inventory: The chemical management of your industrial company’s chemical solvent stock means better management of your inventory. With a chemical management program in place, less inventory means not purchasing as much quantity of chemical solvent (a reduction in business overhead), not having to hold as much chemical solvent in your facilities (more facility space), and less time is spent devoting to the procedures involved regarding inventory protocol (employees spend more time on other necessary operations).

A chemical management system is truly the best way to accomplish the three mentioned benefits described in this blog, which directly lead to several other serious advantages. It also puts in place an eco friendly, green alternative system that reduces harmful, adverse affects brought on by chemical solvents that can endanger people, wildlife, and the environment. Contact Ecolink to learn more about the benefits to installing a chemical management program for your business.