Glycol Ethers
Case Studies
ITT Telecom, Raleigh, NC, has eliminated TCA and methylene chloride based photoresist and replaced it with a
photoresist that can be clean with water. The new photoresist is glycol ether based and miscible in water. ITT
Telecom finds the new process reduces disposal cost, raw material cost, and operating cost. ITT is also benefiting
from improved product quality and production time.
Hunt, Gary, et al, eds., Elimination of Solvent-Based System Reduces Costs and Improves Product Quality at
Telecommunications Plant, Case Summaries of Waste Reduction by Industries in the Southeast, North Carolina
Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, July 1989, p. 49.
By switching to low volatility fountain solution, Neyler Color-Lith in Waukesha, Wisconsin reduced VOC
emissions in its pressroom by 95%. The new fountain solution which contains glycols, glycol ethers, and
surfactants allows increased use of water-based cleaners in the pressroom.
Pferdehirt, Wayne P., Roll the Presses But Hold the Wastes: P2 and the Printing Industry, Pollution Prevention
Review, Autumn 1993, p. 449.
Lockheed Fort Worth Company, Fort Worth, Texas (formerly General Dynamics Fort Worth Division)
has substituted low vapor pressure solvent and aqueous cleaning for CFC-113 in all aspects of aircraft
manufacturing. The low vapor pressure solvent, FMS-2004 or Dynamold DS-104, is a blend of
propylene glycol methyl ether acetate, isoparaffins, and butyl acetate. The vapor pressure is 3.5 mm Hg
and the flash point is 104 ° F. The solvent is effective on a variety of organic soils and is used for wipe
cleaning the surfaces of aircraft components and assemblies. Used rags are bagged, drummed and used as a
supplemental fuel source. Less critical cleaning of assembled components and complete aircraft is
accomplished by a variety of aqueous spray methods. These methods were fully implemented in
September, 1992 and have completely eliminated CFC emissions. The following reductions have also
been realized: solvent use-70%; solvent cost-87%; VOC emissions-76%; and total air emissions-96%.
Evanoff, Stephen P./Environmental Resources Management, Case Study #4: Substitution of Low Vapor
Pressure Organic Solvents and Aqueous Cleaners for CFC-113 Based Cleaning Solvents, EPA/ICOLP
Eliminating CFC-113 and Methyl Chloroform in Aircraft Maintenance Procedures, EPA-430-B-93-006,
October 1993, pp. 163-167.
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