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POLLUTION PREVENTION DEMONSTRATION AND EVALUATION OF PAINT APPLICATION EQUIPMENT AND ALTERNATIVES TO METHYLENE CHLORIDE AND METHYL ETHYL KETONE
Citation:
Elison, J., J. Flanagan, J. Turner, J. Hanley, AND E. Hill. POLLUTION PREVENTION DEMONSTRATION AND EVALUATION OF PAINT APPLICATION EQUIPMENT AND ALTERNATIVES TO METHYLENE CHLORIDE AND METHYL ETHYL KETONE. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/R-96/117 (NTIS PB97-104632), 1996.
Impact/Purpose:
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Description:
The report gives results of demonstrations of technologies to prevent or control emissions of hazardous air pollutant (HAPs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from processes with high solvent usage: (1) paint stripping using methylene chloride, (2) cleaning paint equipment with methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and (3) applying paint by spraying solvent-borne coatings. In demonstration (1) N-methyl pyrrolidone was chosen to replace methylene chloride because it effectively removed Chemical Agent Resistant Coatings (CARCs) in laboratory tests, is nonflammable, and is not classified as a HAP by EPA. This substitution will lower HAP emissions 11% from 1992 levels. In demonstration (2) a blend of 40% propylene carbonate and 60% benzyl alcohol (PC/BA), by weight, was chosen to replace MEK. This substitution will lower emissions from HAPs 21% from 1992 levels. The objective of demonstration (3) was to determine if the amount of paint applied to a vehicle could be decreased by providing the painters with a real-time readout of the amount of paint they were using. Results showed that, for identical vehicles, differences up to 30% in the amount of paint used occurred, indicating that potential exists for significant reductions. No actual reductions were shown during the demonstration.