Summary for trichlorethylene replacement Discussion
trichlorethylene replacement in vapor degreasing is discussed as a practical question about whether existing steel sheet and pipe cleaning equipment can be reused if the solvent is banned. Pravin Attarde asks if there is a direct substitute for trichlorethylene or whether a full equipment change would be needed. The answer from one contributor says N-propyl bromide is pretty close to a direct replacement, but notes that it is very expensive. The same answer also points out that many shops have moved to aqueous cleaning instead, while warning that this route has its own pitfalls. The thread does not claim a universal drop-in solution, so the likely outcome depends on the solvent choice and the plant’s willingness to adapt process controls or equipment.
Q. We use trichlorethylene as a vapor degreasing agent in our plant for steel sheets/pipes. I understand that there is going to be a ban on the use of trichlorethylene. I would like to know whether there is any direct replacement of this chemical possible with the same equipment? or there would be total replacement of equipment required? I would be thankful for any answers on this.
Pravin Attarde
– Muscat, Oman
2003
^
A. N-propyl bromide is pretty close to being a direct replacement, but is very expensive. Many shops have converted to aqueous cleaning, but that is, of course, not without pitfalls itself.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
2003
^
2003
A. I have not heard that TCE will be prohibited. Of course nPB can directly replace it without modification of vapor degreaser. But the price of nPB is more expensive. If you can keep the workshop under good ventilation, TCE is still a good solvent for removal of oil and grease from metal parts.
Eric Ng
– Hong Kong
Ed. note: See update from James Simmons, January 2015
A. If your vapor degreasing machine does not emit any vapors, there will be no problems. Here in California, we were excluded from the ban because our machine did not emit any vapors.
Alvin Kok
– Oakland, California, USA
2003
^
A. Most of the degreasers built for TCE in the last 20 years have very poor solvent vapor containment. TCE has always been an inexpensive material and the manufacturers have not had any motivation to reduce consumption. Modern equipment designs can reduce emissions from vapor degreasers by up to 90% in some cases making TCE emissions much less and the workshop concentrations of TCE very small indeed. The practice of inducing a forced ventilation just made the emissions from poorly designed degreasers worse and only moved the problem outside the workplace.
Don Adams
– Sydney, Australia
2003
^
A. We are using the TCE for vapor degreasing. Since as far I am know now only the Trichlorethylene is banned. In any solvent/chemical replacing it, I want to know the full details/suppliers/characteristics of the replaced solvent and all details. If anyone provides it, it will be helpful to me.
moorthi subramani
supervisor – mumbai, Maharashtra, India
March 3, 2008
^
A. AT THE FERNALD URANIUM REFINERY FMPC in 1953 we replaced trichorethylene with trichloroethane in degreasers.
FRED HENRY MEYER
– Dayton, Ohio, USA
February 1, 2012
^
A. nPB is a neurotoxin and a carcinogen that is extremely unsafe for operators near a vapor degreaser. The ACGIH has an exposure limit of 0.1 ppm (8 hour TWA), which vapor degreasers cannot satisfy unless they are vacuum vapor degreasers. Law firms are soliciting for clients to sue firms that use nPB in a vapor degreaser.
Novec 72DA is available and used in India as an effective degreaser solvent. It is a drop in replacement for TCE for vapor degreasers. It has an exposure limit of 200 ppm.
James Simmons
– Cumming, Georgia
January 18, 2015
^