Is Trichloroethylene Used in Dry Cleaning?

Is Trichloroethylene Used in Dry Cleaning?

Trichloroethylene, also known as TCE, is an organic solvent used in a variety of both industrial and commercial applications. Used by itself or as an additive in solvent-based products, many consumers are wondering if this highly toxic chemical is also found in their everyday products, including dry cleaning products. 

In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the uses of this chemical in commercial settings, and determine if TCE is used in dry cleaning. 

Industrial and Commercial Applications for TCE 

Here are some of the most common applications used for TCE in industrial and commercial settings: 

  • Degreasing – Primarily, it is used as a degreasing agent for metal equipment and parts. It is a popular choice for vapor degreasing processes, because of its desirable properties.  
  • Refrigerant manufacturing – It is also used in the production of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants. 
  • Extraction processes – Additionally, it is occasionally used as an extraction solvent for the removal of fats, waxes, and oils, mainly in the textile industry.  
  • Additive – The solvent is added to various types of household products, such as cleaning wipes, carpet cleaners, paint removers, stain removers, adhesives, and lubricants.  

Is Trichloroethylene Utilized in Dry Cleaning?  

Trichloroethylene has been a long-standing chemical utilized in dry cleaning and spot removal processes, but its safety towards dry cleaners’ health has been questioned in recent years. In 2012, California enacted a ban on using TCE or TCE-based products for dry cleaning. TCE has also been banned in the use of consumer products in the EU.  

These bans signify the slow phasing out of the solvent in both industrial and commercial processes, as its toxicity and negative health effects have been exposed:  

  • A known carcinogen, TCE has been linked to kidney cancer, liver cancer, and lymphoma. 
  • Moderate exposure can cause dizziness, headaches, nausea, confusion, or lack of coordination. 
  • High exposure levels can cause kidney damage, liver damage, neurological damage, permanent cardiac issues, respiratory irritation, endocrine effects, reproductive damage, coma, and potential death.  

Because of the risks associated with trichloroethylene, companies are beginning to incorporate safer chemicals that are not only worker-friendly but also eco-friendly. There are options available that can effectively replace hazardous solvents like trichloroethylene without compromising quality.  

Interested to learn more about trichloroethylene dry cleaning solvents?  

Ecolink provides a selection of various industrial-grade solvents for your business needs. Our products are environmentally preferred, worker-friendly, and cost-effective. You can browse our selection here, or reach out to Ecolink staff here for help finding the best product for your company’s needs! 

Is Trichloroethylene in Laundry Detergent?

Is Trichloroethylene in Laundry Detergent?

It may come as a surprise to some, but many popular laundry detergents contain multiple toxic chemicals that can potentially affect a person’s health in negative ways. These chemical additives are concerning because detergents leave residue on pieces of clothing even after they are washed and rinsed off—meaning these chemicals remain in close contact with you throughout the day. 

While this may not always translate into serious consequences, some detergents can contain various carcinogenic compounds or endocrine disruptors. 

Trichloroethylene is one such chemical that is known for being highly toxic and found in many household and industrial products. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at trichloroethylene in laundry detergent and other common products. 

Is Trichloroethylene in Laundry Detergent?  

Though not many laundry detergents contain trichloroethylene (TCE) specifically, it is a widely used chemical present in many industrial cleaning processes and commercial cleaning products. At the commercial level, it is used as an additive in multiple household products, such as:  

  • Cleaning wipes 
  • Aerosol cleaning solutions 
  • Paint removers 
  • Spot removers 
  • Carpet cleaners 
  • Adhesives 
  • Typewriter correction fluids  

At the industrial level, trichloroethylene is primarily used in the vapor degreasing of metal equipment and parts. It is one of the most popular solvents for vapor degreasing because of its desirable properties, such as being non-flammable and having a high boiling point.  

Is Trichloroethylene Toxic?  

Unfortunately, though widely used in the U.S., the solvent is quite hazardous. The solvent has become increasingly more regulated and is even being phased out by many industries because of the potential health effects it may cause to workers:  

  • It is a known carcinogen, as it can cause liver cancer, kidney cancer, and lymphoma. 
  • Moderate exposure levels can cause dizziness, nausea, confusion, headaches, respiratory irritation, eye irritation, and lack of coordination.  
  • High exposure levels may cause kidney damage, liver damage, neurological damage, unconsciousness, coma, and even death.  

TCE has also been shown to contaminate drinking water sources and groundwater through storage tank leaks. Those who live near facilities that utilize TCE may be indirectly exposed to the harmful effects of the solvent.  

What Workers Are at Risk of Being Exposed to Unsafe Amounts Of TCE?  

  • Dry cleaners 
  • Mechanics 
  • Fabric cleaners 
  • Printers 
  • Mechanics 
  • Rubber cement masoners 
  • Workers who use vapor degreasers 

Interested in Eco-Friendly Solvents that Don’t Put Worker’s Health at Risk?  

You are in the perfect place! Ecolink provides industrial-strength solvents that are eco-friendly, worker-friendly, and sustainable.  

If you or your business want to make the switch to effective and safer products, you can browse our selection here! If you need help finding the best product for your business needs, reach out to our staff here today!  

What Are Some Trichloroethylene Uses?

What Are Some Trichloroethylene Uses?

Trichloroethylene, also known as TCE, is an extremely common chemical used in a variety of industrial settings. In this blog post, we’ll explore trichloroethylene uses and more characteristics of this popular solvent. 

Trichloroethylene Uses 

Trichloroethylene is considered a versatile chlorinated industrial solvent, mostly because it has a wide range of uses, both in industrial and commercial applications. Here are only some of the most popular uses for TCE: 

  • Degreasing agent – This solvent is primarily used as a degreasing agent, particularly for metal equipment and parts, because of its ability to efficiently clean, degrease, and dissolve grease and oils. It is a popular solvent for vapor degreasing, as its non-flammability and high boiling point have made it the ideal option for the removal of stubborn grease and debris.  
  • Extraction processes – The textile industry has utilized trichloroethylene for the extraction of fats, oils, and waxes present in cotton, wool, and other types of fabrics.  
  • Refrigerant manufacturing – It is also heavily utilized in the production of hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants.  
  • Additive – TCE is occasionally added to a range of products, including paint thinners, paint removers, cleaning wipes, carpet cleaners, adhesives, lubricants, pesticides, spot removers, and even typewriter correction fluids.  
  • Pharmaceutical production – TCE is also used as a chemical intermediate for pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.  
  • Other uses – In the past, TCE was used as a dry-cleaning solvent and as a general anesthetic.  

Why TCE Usage Is Decreasing 

Though widely used by multiple industries, trichloroethylene use has been slowly phased out in both industrial processes and in household products. The solvent is carcinogenic and can cause multiple health problems, such as neurological and cardiac issues. It also has the potential to leak into groundwater from storage tanks, contaminating drinking water sources and affecting unsuspecting people.  

Many companies that want to protect their workers’ health worry about finding a replacement that will still perform as effectively as TCE. Luckily, there are now multiple safe options available as trichloroethylene replacements, especially for degreasing and extraction processes. Safer solvents can be biodegradable, low VOC, and even recyclable.  

Interested in Safe and Eco-Friendly Chemicals?  

Ecolink provides various eco-friendly, worker-friendly, and sustainable chemicals for industrial applications. Our chemicals are formulated to effectively replace hazardous solvents like trichloroethylene, that work just as well, but don’t jeopardize workers’ health and safety. 

To browse our wide selection of eco-friendly chemical products, click here! You can also reach out to the specialized staff here for assistance finding the best product for your business needs!  

What Is Trichloroethylene?

What Is Trichloroethylene?

Trichloroethylene, commonly referred to as TCE, is a popular halocarbon industrial solvent. The chemical is utilized in a variety of industrial applications and is extremely useful.  

But while TCE is a popular choice for a solvent, it does not come without its risks. 

Read on to learn more about the uses of trichloroethylene and the dangers associated with this chemical. 

Trichloroethylene Explained 

As previously mentioned, TCE is used for several industrial applications. Here are some of the most popular uses for this solvent: 

Degreasing – TCE is primarily used in cleaning and degreasing processes due to its ability to effectively dissolve grease and oils. The solvent is a particularly popular option for vapor degreasing, as its non-flammability and high boiling point allow it to remove stubborn debris.  

Extraction processes – TCE is sometimes used as an extraction solvent for oils and waxes.  

Additive – This solvent is occasionally added to certain types of adhesives, paint removers, and paint thinners. It is also present in certain household products, such as cleaning wipes and carpet cleaners.  

Refrigerant manufacturing – trichloroethylene is also utilized to produce hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants.  

Those who may be researching trichloroethylene will most likely come upon multiple articles and studies discussing the hazards associated with it. In recent years, companies have been replacing TCE with safer alternatives because of the negative health effects it has caused to workers:   

  • It is a known carcinogen, having been shown to potentially cause liver cancer, kidney cancer, and lymphoma.  
  • Moderate exposure levels can cause nausea, headaches, dizziness, or confusion.  
  • High levels of exposure can cause kidney/liver damage, nerve damage, coma, permanent cardiac issues, reproductive damage, and even death.  

On top of these health hazards, trichloroethylene is known to contaminate various drinking water sources throughout the country. It can leak from industrial storage tanks and seep into groundwater, where it is not able to evaporate. This means that it can potentially cause these negative health effects in unsuspecting people, particularly those living near facilities that use the solvent. 

Luckily, safer options are now readily available to effectively replace TCE. Not only are a majority of these alternative solvents worker-friendly, but they are also biodegradable, low VOC, and cheaper.  

Interested in TCE Replacement Chemicals?  

Ecolink provides high-quality industrial chemicals with the focus of ensuring the protection of workers and the environment. You can begin shopping for our products here, or contact our experts here for help finding the best product for your business!  

TOXIC REDUCTION

Lowering Toxic Reduction: Understanding The Imperfections Of Chemicals

Despite the many results and profits chemicals bring, chemicals do come with several disadvantages. One of the most notable of these is toxicity. Most chemicals are not safe for consumption, and if exposed to them often enough without precaution, they can bring about a variety of health complications for both people and the environment. 

Although this toxicity is present in a majority of industrial used solutions, there are environmentally friendly alternatives available for usage. They do not possess any toxins and promote a cleaner world. 

However, these components, qualities, and possibilities have led some to believe that there can be a ‘perfect’ chemical. A substance that is above all others in quality and performance, can be applied and distributed without risks or consequences. And although this would be highly effective and ideal, this simply is not true.  

No chemical is perfect. Each diverse and specific combination of elements comes with its strengths and weaknesses.  

Inside this community blog, we will further explain the composition of various chemicals, the history of their applications, what makes a chemical toxic, and how we promote toxic reduction as well as effective chemical usage.  

 A Brief History of Toxic Reduction

Before we can discuss some substances’ toxic natures and how to lessen them, we must begin with a better understanding of how they have come to be.  

The origin of chemicals has been roughly traced back to a few hundred thousand years after the creation of our universe. From the aftermath of the notable explosion, two distinct subatomic particles- electrons and protons- had cooled enough to settle into several elements. Two of these elements include helium and hydrogen, with helium receiving a lesser amount than hydrogen.  

Although these two subatomic particles contributed to these, this would be their most notable contribution to the formation of the substances that we know today. Since most other elements’ origins are attributed to the stars. Stars had been given their place in our universe millions of years after their formation. And it is from the formation of these many elements that chemical compounds became possible. Not only for our universe but for our world as well.   

When humans began to utilize these peculiar and vintage substances is somewhat unknown. There is no exact date, but historians have traced it back to ancient times. Where civilizations without modern industries had managed to create glass through the combination of alkaline and limestone. Glass that would then go on to be used for multiple products for trade. However, this creation of products from entwining certain combinations would not be the last nor would this new chemical development be lost to time. 

Soon enough the practice of utilizing chemicals for one of their greatest potentials among others had become industrialized, centuries after the first to apply them. The industrial revolution- a revolution in technological advancements, beginning in Britain around the eighteenth century- had been the birth of the chemical industry. Despite not truly becoming worldwide until a century after, this revolution commenced the creativity and means to produce chemicals on larger scales as well as in multiple parts of the world. It is from this revolution, that we can have not only substances for a variety of applications but also other alternatives.  

Chemicals for industrial usage though powerful and efficient, whether applied back then or in our current time, do produce toxins that harm not only the earth but ourselves as well. It is from the harm that these toxins inflict, some chemical companies have made efforts to offer more eco-friendly options. These efforts had begun a little more than two decades ago and have been gaining much support as well as implementation. 

Toxicities & Limitations  

Now that you have a good grasp on where chemicals have originated from and how the history of their applications has led us to the present, you may now be wondering the following question.  

What makes a chemical toxic?  

The answer to this is rather simple. Substances can be toxic due to containing components that damage the life of our planet as well as its many inhabitants. Two particular components that can result in a chemical’s toxicity are carbon and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Exposure to these, no matter if it is brief or elongated, can cause an abundance of complications. For the environment, it pollutes the air. For people, however, the complications are much more felt and seen.  

If exposed to these harmful substances briefly, people can experience some of the following: 

  • Vomiting 
  • Nausea 
  • Headaches 
  • Nose Irritation  
  • Eye Irritation 

If the exposure is more than brief, people can experience some of the following: 

  • Central Nervous System (CNS) Damage 
  • Lung Disease 
  • Various Cancers 
  • Death 

To avoid this exposure, some companies have introduced and encouraged chemicals that do not possess these harmful components. And although effective in keeping our environment healthy and those who use them the same, they do come with their consequences and limitations.  

Eco-friendly chemical products come at a higher price than their harmful counterparts. This can make them less desirable to industries, especially to those who cannot afford the expense.   

There is also the chance of customer backlash. Some consumers are reluctant to change, and may not approve. They may see nothing wrong with the current chemicals they purchase and might threaten to withdraw their support from their current supplying industry. The loss of customers, especially a significant amount, is something that no industry would want to risk.  

However, with these toxicities and limitations aside, there is a compromise that can be found between the two. This compromise lies in toxic reduction through the use of various chemicals that benefit your industry, customers, and the environment. 

How We At Ecolink Promote Toxic Reduction 

Here at Ecolink, we have been contributing to the reduction of toxins for nearly two decades with our efforts in lowering VOCs. We do this not only through the featuring of greener chemical solutions but also by promoting solutions that give off lower VOCs while still maintaining their traditional makeup. In addition, we have several informative and concise blog posts designed to educate about proper chemical usage, including the lowering of toxins. 

Several products that we offer to aid in this effort are: 

Acetone 

This chemical is one that we sell often and is regarded as a VOC-exempt compound. This means that it does not possess the same makeup as VOCs and therefore, is less damaging but also not eco-friendly. Industries use this substance for two main purposes, these being for hand-wiping cleansing and hand-wiping rinsing. It can be applied to an abundance of surfaces and possesses many other benefits. 

ELECTRON 

This dielectric solvent is not only efficient but classified as environmentally friendly. From its beneficial composition, it is able to clear away several unwanted elements such as grease and carbon. It also comes with many benefits aside from its nonharmful composition, such as being non-flammable as well as containing no surface leakage.   

Soy Methyl Ester  

This industrial cleaning solvent, also known as Methyl Soyate, also contains an eco-friendly makeup. It aids in the production of many products, such as detergents and lubricants, and slows drying times for paint coatings. Its benefits mainly stem from its design as well as its effectiveness.  

Hexane 

This chemical is often mixed with other solvents in order to enhance performance. It is like acetone, in that it is less harmful compared to the likes of VOCs. It is mainly used for various edible oil extractions and comes with several benefits such as a low boiling point.  

Would You Like To Learn More about Toxic Reduction? 

Then you do not have to look any further than us!  

Here at Ecolink, we are dedicated to informing our industries on all things chemical. Whether it is from the diverse solutions that we sell or from the informative written pieces that we compose, helping you understand these diverse substances is our goal! Our products are plentiful and affordable, whether they are of a greener makeup or not. We aim to give you the best that we have to offer and then some for your industrial needs! 

If you would like to get in contact with us, you can reach out to us here. We are here to help you with whatever you may need for your industrial applications and more. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us today! We are just a click away!