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IMPROVED EQUIPMENT CLEANING IN COATED AND LAMINATED SUBSTRATE MANUFACTURING FACILITIES (PHASE II)
Citation:
Vitas, J., B. McMinn, AND G. McMinn. IMPROVED EQUIPMENT CLEANING IN COATED AND LAMINATED SUBSTRATE MANUFACTURING FACILITIES (PHASE II). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/R-95/097 (NTIS 95-246245), 1995.
Impact/Purpose:
information
Description:
The report discusses EPA efforts to identify, demonstrate, and publish pollution prevention information and opportunities for equipment cleaning for the coated and laminated substrate manufacturing industry. It summarizes initial data collected and summarized during industry observation and demonstration visits. Demonstrations took place at a small batch facility and a small dedicated-line facility. The focus at the batch facility was to decrease the number of solvents used for cleaning, reducing the quantity of material used for cleaning, and standardizing cleaning practices. While consolidating from three chemicals (toluene, xylene and methyl ethyl ketone) to a single solvent for cleaning may not be feasible because of the varied product mix, the facility could eliminate one solvent, thereby reducing handling and disposal costs. It was also demonstrated that the facility could reduce solvent consumption by at least 50%, thus reducing raw material costs by about $20,000 per year. The focus at the dedicated-line facility was to investigate the use of alternative cleaners, reducing the quantity of material used for cleaning, and standardizing operating practices. Two alternative mineral-spirit-based cleaners were used on a trial basis. Initial results indicated that either cleaner would work with all but one of the facility's product lines, with reduced annual emissions of toluene.