There are many environmentally safe solvents, including water, aqueous solutions, and organic chemicals. These products are formulated to be both safe for the environment and human handling. The P2OASys spreadsheet contains a list of all these solvents, and the ACS GCI guide includes a number of guides for specific applications. The ACS GCI guide for solvents has been specifically designed to help companies select the most environmentally-friendly alternatives for their applications.
The EHS Council recommends the following labels for environmentally safe solvents: green, blue, and brown. These labels list the solvents by color, so it is easy to find the right one for your application.
The Bio preferred standard is another labeling system to look for and is a good way to find products that are bio-based. There are several label systems in Europe. The EPA has a “green” solvent standard, which helps companies identify their environmental-friendly chemical alternatives.
The second guide for choosing environmentally safe solvents is based on computational similarity clustering. The existing green solvent selection guides give you quasi-quantitative information on the sustainability of solvents.
In this study, 151 different solvents were assessed for their surface tension, boiling point, and melting points. Using cluster analysis, the researchers grouped solvents according to their chemical and physical properties. The solvents in Cluster 1 are non-polar and volatile and include light aliphatic, olefinic, aromatic, and chlorinated compounds.
The CHEM21 consortium has done a survey on the various solvents and introduced “green” and “problematic” categories. Because different people use the terms differently, the chemistry of the solvents used in different industries may vary. However, the environmental benefits of these chemicals are well-known and are a reason for the increasing popularity of environmentally friendly chemical products. A few of the more common green solvents are ethyl lactate, d-limonene, and fatty acids.
In 2005, the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute and fourteen partner organizations collaborated to develop a comprehensive guide for the selection of solvents. This guide features three environmental criteria and uses color-coding to help distinguish between environmentally-safe and harmful solvents. The ACS GCI offers a mobile phone app that will help a chemist select the best green solvents for their laboratory. The ACS GCI has a wide range of resources available online, but its e-book is particularly useful for chemical companies.
The Environmentally Safe Solvents are the safest for the environment. Most of these solvents are classified as “green” in the environmental-friendly category, which means they are less harmful to the environment than petrochemicals. Therefore, these solvents are considered to be the best options for many applications. For example, a chemist could use an eco-friendly formulation to create a more sustainable solution.
In addition to the green label, companies should be aware of their carbon footprint. Many solvents have chemicals that can negatively affect human health and the environment. The EPA regulates the ingredients in cleaning solvents.
Most hazardous solvents are listed on the EPA’s “List of Hazardous Air Pollutants” and are banned by most jurisdictions. CleanPlanet is one such organization that can help chemical manufacturers meet their environmental goals.
Compared to petrochemicals, organic solvents are better for the environment. In fact, solvents derived from plants contain only minimal amounts of toxic chemicals, which make them the best choice for many industries. For example, ethyl alcohol is considered an “environmentally safe” solvent, which can be a great benefit for the environment. The other two types of solvents are classified as not-so-green and should be avoided.
The CHEM21 consortium recently conducted a survey of the different solvent selection guides. Although there was no consensus on the final rankings, the group concluded that some types of solvents are more environmentally friendly than others.
The CHEM21 consortium found that more people are looking for safer solvents. In addition, environmental-friendly products can be used in industries that are environmentally sensitive. There are many benefits to using environmentally-friendly products.
Using an Abraham solvation model is one of the easiest ways to determine whether a solvent is safe or not. The methyl butyrate-based solvate is a cheap, environmentally-safe alternative to several industrial solvents. The methyl butyrate-based solvent is also a great substitute for some other solvents. Its chemical and toxicity profile makes it a good choice for several industries. For more details about Environmentally Safe Cleaners, visit Solvent Replacement.
