Cleaning

 

Technical Performance Evaluation of the Potential Biobased Floor Strippers, 2008

  Biobased products may soon replace most petroleum based chemicals, industrial products and composite materials. Advocates emphasize that these products are environmentally friendlier, safer and healthier for the users. Others argue that promotion of these industrial products would make the United States more secure by depending less on foreign energy sources. This paper presents results of identification and technical performance evaluation of some biobased products. They are potential alternatives to the petroleum based floor strippers. Download PDF file (149.99 kB)

Evaluation of alternatives to chlorinated solvents for metal cleaning. 1996.

  TURI Technical Report No. 46. This report details results of investigations into alternatives to chlorinated solvents used for metal degreasing. In addition to technical evaluations, financial analyses and environmental impact assessments were performed for the cleaning alternatives. A substitution analysis methodology that provides qualitative results was developed and used to evaluate the environmental, occupational and public health effects of the alternative cleaning processes. Download PDF file (5.22 MB)

Cleaning Urethane, Ink and Paint Manufacturing Vessels - Alternatives to Toxic Solvents in Cleaning Systems. 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)

Ten Ways to Find Safer Cleaners, 2006

  Glowing customer endorsements or pictures of animals and the use of the color green on a label does not mean that a product is safe. Educate yourself by following these ten tips. Download PDF file (368.27 kB)

Technology Application Analysis Template Utilizing SuparatorTM Thin Film Oil Recovery System. 1999.

  TURI Technical Report No. 47. The design of the Suparator incorporates an innovative adaptation of Bernoulli's Principle. (Fluid flow across an asymmetric foil causes a pressure differential to be applied along the surface of that foil. This pressure differential is the result of the differing fluid velocities required to maintain laminar flow across the asymmetric structure.) The Suparator is capable of recovering thin films of floating oil by utilizing the specific gravity differential between oil and water. The thin-film separation technology used by the Suparator was originally developed for the petroleum refining industry, which required a continuous high efficiency oil-water separation process. This proven technology was adapted to aqueous cleaning applications to address the need for a reliable and consistent oil-water separation method for modern, high-throughput aqueous cleaning processes. The flow rates and oil loadings associated with such modern, high-throughput aqueous cleaning processes often exceed the processing capability of traditional EOP techniques. Download PDF file (5.36 MB)

Development and Testing of Biosurfactants in Aqueous Metal Cleaning Applications. 1997

  Two biosynthesized surfactants were studied in this project; emulsan and sophorolipid. A number of studies and patents have shown emulsan to be an effective emulsifier of oily substances, initially in emulsifying oily residues in oil transport ship hulls and later in personal care products. Sophorolipid has good surface tension-lowering properties and can reportedly be produced at a cost comparable to petroleum-based surfactants. The research described in this report sought to take advantage of the emulsification properties of emulsan and the surface-tension lowering properties of sophorolipid in metal cleaning and degreasing applications. Download PDF file (3.43 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)

Parker Hannifin Corporation, Nichols Aircraft Division. 1995.

  By purchasing aqueous deaning equipment based on cleaning needs at various stages of their process, Parker Hannifin was able to replace two vapor degreasers with five remote cleaning stations with a total project payback period of approximately one year. Download PDF file (598.14 kB)