Solvent alternatives

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Chemical Engineering

OSTI ID:445635

Hairston, D W

Hardly a day goes by when there is not an announcement of a product developed to replace substances that deplete the ozone or create smog. In real time, the solvents market is being transformed. What was once a commodities business, dominated by a handful of chlorinated and hydrocarbon compounds, is an uncharted niche for hundreds of specialized products. Though the alternatives are diverse--from alcohols to solvent emulsions, making inroads with customers is an uphill battle. Few products match the all-around performance and price of their predecessors, such as 1,1,1-trichloroethane, one of the most versatile and widely used solvents. For aqueous systems especially, the competition is fierce, and could intensify should some old foes make a comeback in solvents. Industry observers point to the US Environmental Protection Agency`s decision to exempt acetone from regulation as a volatile organic compound (VOC). To date, oxygenated solvents, such as alcohols, alcohol esters and alcohol ethers are the biggest beneficiaries of the move away from hazardous solvents, say market analysts at The Freedonia Group, Inc. (Cleveland, Ohio). The oxygenates, which are nonchlorinated and contain low levels of VOCs, work well in water-based coatings.

• OSTI ID: 445635
• Journal Information: Chemical Engineering, Journal Name: Chemical Engineering Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 104; ISSN CHEEA3; ISSN 0009-2460
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACETONE
ALCOHOLS
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
ESTERS
ETHERS
MARKET
MATERIAL SUBSTITUTION
OZONE LAYER
SOLVENTS