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ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH BRIEF: WASTE MINIMIZATION ASSESSMENT FOR A METAL PARTS COATING PLANT
Citation:
Kirsch, F. W. AND G. P. Looby. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH BRIEF: WASTE MINIMIZATION ASSESSMENT FOR A METAL PARTS COATING PLANT. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/M-91/015 (NTIS 91-234492), 1991.
Impact/Purpose:
information
Description:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has funded a pilot project to assist small- and medium-size manufacturers who want to minimize their generation of hazardous waste but lack the expertise to do so. Waste Minimization Assessment Centers (WMACs) were established at selected universities and procedures were adapted from the EPA Waste Minimization Opportunity Assessment Manua/(EPA/625/7-88/003, July 1988). The WMAC team at the University of Tennessee per- formed an assessment at a plant where automotive parts are coated with epoxy, vinyl, or polyester powders; with liquid plastisol; or with paint. After the WMAC team analyzed five process lines (for applying coatings) and the reworking operation (where unacceptably finished parts are stripped), a report was prepared detailing their findings and recommendations. They found three ways to reduce the evaporation of methylethyl ketone (MEK), the largest source of waste on the process lines: reduce the open surface area of the MEK container, cool the MEK, or meter the MEK. They also found ways to reduce wastes from the rework process by installing controls, repairing defective drive components, or using alternative methods to remove defective coatings.