Petroleum-based Solvents Research Articles

Recent developments of safer formulations of agrochemicals

The primary objectives of formulation technology are to optimise the biological activity of the pesticide, and to give a product which is safe and convenient for use. However, because of the wide variety of pesticide active ingredients which are available, many different types of formulations have been developed depending mainly on the physico-chemical properties of the active ingredients. In the past most formulations were based on simple solutions in water (SL), emulsifiable concentrates in a petroleum-based solvent (EC), or dusts (DP) and wettable powders (WP). The presence of petroleum-based solvents in EC formulations and dusty powders in DP and WP formulations can lead to safety hazards in use and a negative impact on the envirnoment generally. Most government and regulatory authorities are now demanding formulations which are cleaner and safer for the user, have minimal impact on the environment, and can be applied at the lowest dose rate. Developments in formulation technology and novel formulation types, sometimes in special packaging such as water-soluble packs, can also give products a competitive advantage, add value or extend the lif-cycle of active ingredients. There is also a demand from government authorities and consumer groups to use safer formulation additives and adjuvants, and to minimise the residues of pesticides on food crops after spraying. All of these aspects are putting increasing pressure on the development of improved formulation and adjuvant technologies. Pesticide formulations for spray application and for seed treatment are discussed, along with developments in bioenchancement.

Washing of Pollution-Preventing Lithographic Inks from a Roller Drum

The share of lithography is sizable in the printing industry. Conventional lithographic inks usually contain a volatile organic compound (VOC) as a solvent. Ink rollers and plates are cleaned in place with a solvent, usually a VOC. Emissions of VOCs become a major cause for air pollution. A newly developed water-washable ink system eliminates the use of petroleum-based solvents and avoids emissions of VOCs during printing and cleaning of presses. The presses are cleaned by washing with water at a slightly elevated pH. Washing kinetics of this ecofriendly ink on a prototype roller drum are discussed. An empirical correlation between the mass-transfer coefficient and the process variables is sought based on experimental data on washing of the prototype roller drum. This correlation may be useful in deciding the optimum resin concentration in ink, the pH of the wash solution, and the speed of roller drum during cleaning of the presses. The mass-transfer coefficients obtained on the roller drum are very large...

The application of cineole as a grease solvent

AbstractEconomic and environmental incentives exist to search for future applications for cineole, a major component of eucalyptus oil. New markets for cineole (such as the industrial degreasing solvent market) will have economic benefits for Western Australia, while commercial eucalyptus tree plantations have environmental benefits in addressing the state's soil salinity problem and combating the greenhouse effect. In this study, the potential applications of cineole as an industrial degreasing solvent are examined. Cineole's degreasing performance on a number of greases is compared to commonly used petroleum‐based solvents. The question to be answered was: how clean from the tribological viewpoint is the surface after the solvent treatment? The friction tests used in the experiments show that cineole has the potential to replace certain petroleum‐based solvents currently used as industrial degreasers. Cineole performs comparably to these solvents for two of the greases tested (Mobilgrease HP and Mobilith SHC 220), but performs poorer for Ampol multipurpose grease (red). This is mainly due to the different additive packages used in this grease. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Aqueous parts washing and pollutant loadings

Aqueous parts washers offer facilities an alternative to the traditional petroleum-based solvents. But contaminants such as oil, grease, metals, and dirt that accumulate during the cleaning process can create surprisingly high pollutant levels.

The Interaction of Vapour Phase Organic Compounds with Indoor Sinks

The interaction of indoor air pollutants with interior surfaces (i.e., sinks) is a well known, but poorly understood, phenomenon. Studies have shown that re-emissions of adsorbed organic vapours can contribute to elevated concentrations of organics in indoor environments. Research is being conducted in small environmental test chambers to develop data for predicting sink behaviour. This paper reports on the development of sink models based on fundamental mass transfer theory. The results of experiments conducted to determine the magnitude and rate of adsorption and desorption of vapour phase organic compounds for several materials are presented. Five materials were evaluated: carpet, painted wallboard, ceiling tile, window glass, and upholstery. Two organic compounds were tested with each material: tetrachloroethylene (a common cleaning solvent) and ethylbenzene (a common constituent of petroleum-based solvents widely used in consumer products). The results of the experimental work are presented showing the relevant sink effect parameters for each material tested and comparing the sorptive behaviour of the two organic compounds evaluated. An indoor air quality (IAQ) model was modified to incorporate adsorption and desorption sink rates. The model was used to predict the temporal history of the concentration of total vapour phase organics in a test house after application of a wood finishing product. The predicted results are presented and compared to measured values. Suggestions for further research on indoor sinks are presented.

Sample preparation for the chemical analysis of debris in suspect arson cases

Abroad review of current methods for the recovery of liquid residual accelerants in fire debris is given. A summary of current practices of sample preparation methods in U.S. laboratories is presented. Sampling of heated headspace is useful as a screening method. It is also applicable for samples that contain a high concentration of accelerant. Distillation-based methods are effective only when large amounts of accelerants are present but they permit the physical isolation of relatively pure liquids, including some water-soluble materials such as alcohols. Solvent extraction is particularly advantageous for accelerants of low volatility such as diesel fuel or highly evaporated petroleum-based products, but it is very susceptible to interferences from the matrix. Dynamic enrichment by adsorption/elution is the most popular and widely used recovery method for liquid accelerants. It offers high enrichment factors but shows weaknesses with respect to polar and low-volatility liquids. No single method is universally effective for all types of accelerants that are commonly encountered in practice. It appears that currently applied recovery methods are particularly weak for water-soluble organics such as alcohols. Sample preparation methods have to be viewed in conjunction with the method to be used to characterize and identify suspect accelerants. Gas chromatography is used almost exclusively for separation and measurement. Selective detection of components that are diagnostic of accelerants allows important trade-offs between sensitivity, chromatographic efficiency and the level of interferences that can be tolerated. Pattern recognition with comparison of chromatographic profiles is greatly simplified if interferences from the matrix can be suppressed. Application of capillary columns capable of high resolution facilitates the recognition of diagnostically important components. Petroleum-based fluids and products are ubiquitous in the human environment and it is therefore particularly important to pay attention to petroleum-based fluids that are derived from such sources. Many common inconspicuous household materials contain petroleum-based solvents and are thus a part of the natural background. The term sensitivity as it relates to the effectiveness of a recovery method must be critically viewed in this light.