TURI Technical Reports
A Biological Process to Make Water Soluble Ionic Polymers: Poly (Glutamic Acid), Production and Isolation. 1993.
|
| TURI Technical Report No. 14. Naturally occurring polymers have attracted considerable interest from polymer scientists in recent years. This interest is due in part to an increased awareness in the environment and the desire to produce environmentally safe materials. This report details experiments in the production and isolation of PGA, and is a continuation of research described in TURI Technical Report No. 1. Download PDF file (504.51 kB) |
Alternative Equipment for Bulk Degreasing and Abrasive Blasting Operations: Beloit Fiber Systems. 1995
|
| TURI Technical Report No. 22. The purpose of this project is to improve worker health and reduce the use of toxic chemicals used in the re-manufacturing or refurbishment of used papermill machinery. The specific toxics use reduction techniques evaluated were production unit redesign, production unit modernization, and in-process recycling. In order to reduce our operating costs and lessen our environmental impact, the Beloit Fiber Systems division attempted to decrease the time involved in the cleaning of customer furnished parts for their new rebuild operation center. This report summarizes the efforts of our in house personnel to reduce and subsequently eliminate the use of 1, 1, 1-trichloroethane in the cleaning of parts subsequent to inspection and prior to painting. To accomplish this, we investigated combining the initial stages of part examination, cleaning and blasting, into one process with a concept of making it automatic. Download PDF file (5.92 MB) |
Alternative fire extinguishing agents. 1994.
|
| TURI Technical Report No. 23. Our group has prepared many non-volatile precursor (NVP) agents which have been shown to generate hydrobromofluorocarbon and olefinic bromofluorocarbon fire extinguishing agents when heated to temperatures typical of those encountered near a fire zone. The liquid NVP agents proved to be as effective as the most efficient Halon agents now in use. Solid polymer NVP agents are now being prepared for possible use in the prevention of fires in small enclosed areas. All NVP agents show greatly reduced emissions to the atmosphere, and would be predicted to have no ozone depletion, global warming or toxic vapor problems. Lower vapor pressures in the case of liquid NVP agents results in less of the agent evaporating en route to the fire zone. In addition, the greater streaming characteristics of the liquid NVP agents greatly reduces the agent requirements and increases the throw ranges, which results in increased safety for firefighting personnel. Solid NVP agents would have zero vapor pressure and thus no loss to the atmosphere due to evaporation. The chemical nature of all of the NVP agents prepared so far suggests that gradual hydrolysis to yield relatively innocuous materials would prevent extended environmental contamination. Download PDF file (277.65 kB) |
Arsine Source Replacement for the Growth of Gallium Arsenide via MOCVD. 1993.
|
| TURI Technical Report No. 8. This feasibilty study involves the systematic evaluation of arsenic containing reagents that could potentially replace arsine gas from the process and manufacturing of microwave semiconductor diodes. The reagent would act as an input substitution in the Semiconductor Materials Laboratory at the Burlington Facility of M/A-COM. Download PDF file (635.29 kB) |
Assessing the Electrical Properties of Alternative Wire and Cable Coatings: Metallocene EPDM. 2004.
|
| TURI Technical Report No. 56. New regulations have led to the need for non-lead compounds to be used in wire and cable applications. There are two approaches for lead free EPDM wire and cable compounds. One is to find alternative stabilizers, and the other is to change resins. In a previous study, hydrotalcite was examined as a replacement for lead additives in applications using Ziegler-Natta based EPDM, and was very effective as an alternative stabilizer. In this research, the metallocene based EPDM was investigated as a potential replacement elastomer, which would not require lead stabilization. Download PDF file (502.78 kB) |
Biological Synthesis of Chemicals and Materials: Production of Substituted Para-polyphenylene. 1992.
|
| TURI Technical Report No. 2. The long-term goal of this project is the investigation of biological processes for the production of chemicals and materials. This specific project is a two-year effort focused on the production of substituted para-polyphenylene. Download PDF file (528.36 kB) |
Blanket wash technology study. 1994.
|
| TURI Technical Report No. 16. This Blanket Wash Technology Study (BWTS) provides comparative information on a group of commercially available blanket washes commonly used in sheetfed offset lithography. The study was conducted by the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, in cooperation with the Printing Industries of New England (PINE) and the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GAIT). The BWTS is designed to evaluate functional performance as well as environmental, health, and safety characteristics of selected blanket washes and to make this information available to printers. The Institute’s primary objective in conducting this study is to provide information to printers that will assist them in their toxics use reduction (TUR) efforts. Toxics use reduction gives printers the opportunity to reduce occupational hazards and environmental pollution without compromising competitive advantage. Download PDF file (3.03 MB) |
Brooks Instrument, LLC. Lead-free Electronics Implementation. 2008.
|
| TURI Technical Report No. 59. During 2007 and 2008, the Institute worked with representatives from Benchmark Electronics, Brooks Instrument, and Emerson Process Management to conduct and document a lead-free electronics implementation for a high reliability electronics product that is exempt from the European RoHS Directive. The research information provided by the New England Lead-free Consortium, as well as the information contained in this case study, is of high value to companies that need to transition to lead-free electronics for their high reliability products. The Institute's university research program continues to fund research efforts to reduce the use of toxic chemicals in the electronics industry. Download PDF file (5.56 MB) |
Cleaning urethane, ink and paint manufacturing vessels. 1997.
|
| In 1995, Raffi and Swanson, Inc. received a $20,000 grant from the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) to examine alternatives to toxic solvents in the company’s cleaning operations. Raffi and Swanson set a project goal of reducing chemical use and byproducts from these cleaning operations by 50%. Raffi and Swanson met this goal, reducing chemical use and emissions by roughly 50% (roughly 46,000 lb.) and chemical byproducts 50% (roughly 200,000 lb.). These reductions were achieved through the implementation of over thirty worker-identified changes to cleaning practices. These changes included redesigning equipment and procedures to eliminate the need for solvent cleaning, methods to increase solvent reuse, and more careful management of solvent distribution and application throughout the site. These changes have saved Raffi and Swanson approximately $18,000/yr. During the course of the project, Raffi and Swanson worked closely with the TURI Surface Cleaning Lab to evaluate alternatives to N-methyl pyrrolidone in the company’s urethane reactor vessel cleaning operation. The Surface Cleaning Lab evaluated seven aqueous cleaners and four semi-aqueous cleaners as replacements for N-methyl pyrrolidone. Two semi-aqueous cleaners were the most promising substitutes but the inability to recycle the cleaners makes them cost-prohibitive. Download PDF file (1.34 MB) |
Closed Loop Aqueous Cleaning of Mechanical Parts, Lockheed Martin Defense Systems, 1996.
|
| TURI Technical Report No. 33. As part of Lockheed Martin Defense Systems' continued commitment to good corporate citizenship, they have reduced their use of ozone depleting compounds from 125 tons per year to less than two tons per year by installing nine aqueous-based cleaning systems. Download PDF file (119.04 kB) |
Closed Loop Aqueous Cleaning. 1995.
|
| TURI Technical Report No. 29. This report serves as an introductory guide to closed loop aqueous cleaning for metal parts and electronics components. It includes three short case studies from the metal finishing and manufacturing sectors. Download PDF file (779.94 kB) |
Cupric Chloride Etch Regeneration. 1997
|
| TURI Technical Report No. 45. Tri-Star Technologies, located in Methuen, Massachusetts, has one of the world's largest facilities offering in-house printed circuit board design, fabrication and assembly, from prototype through production volumes. Their state-of-the-art, 120,000 square foot facility provides a "one-stop shop" for a full range of on-site services and expertise, providing the customer with the advantage needed in today's competitive marketplace. In its continuous efforts to implement toxics use reduction (TUR) and pollution prevention, Tri-Star Technologies evaluated, adopted and installed an electrolytic regeneration technology to reduce the amount of spent cupric chloride etchant generated. By making electrolytic regeneration an integral part of the process, Tri-Star is able to reuse the etchant and sell the recovered copper. This technology replaces the chemical regeneration system previously used, while reducing costs, worker exposure to hazardous materials, and environmental impact. TriStar has achieved many prior successes with TUR, including an 86%reduction in volatile organic compounds through the addition of a double-sided solder mask screening unit, a reduction in sulfuric acid use on the auto pattern plate line, and the elimination of bath contamination on the copper deposition line. Download PDF file (402.63 kB) |
Next >> |
