Volatile Organic Compounds

The EPA's definition of a volatile organic compound (VOC) is any organic compound that participates in atmospheric photochemical reactions. All organic or carbon-containing chemicals are considered VOC's unless they have been specifically exempted. THERMACLEAN® AQUAWASH™ does not contain organic solvents and therefore is VOC free. Solvents used in other THERMACLEAN® products however are not exempt and are considered VOC’s.

The following information should be noted:

• The low vapor pressure and low evaporation rate of THERMACLEAN® products significantly minimize VOC emissions.
• Air emission estimates are based on estimated VOC losses, not usage.
  
• Only the amount of solvent lost to the atmosphere must be considered as a VOC emission.

The use of materials with low vapor pressure (i.e. low volatility) helps limit emissions by slowing the rate of evaporation as compared to the use of more volatile materials. The vapor pressures for the solvent systems in THERMACLEAN® products are 0.5 mm. Hg. or less at 68º Fahrenheit. In contrast, acetone has a vapor pressure of 248 mm. Hg. As you can see, the vapor pressure of acetone is approximately 500 times higher than that of THERMACLEAN® products.

Compounds exhibiting very low vapor pressures are characterized by very low evaporation rates and as such, the losses due to emissions under normal use should be minimal. The user should not assume that because a compound is a VOC that it all ends up in the atmosphere.

The actual emissions in your application can be estimated using a mass balance technique or the EPA's emission factor calculations for cleaning operations.

For mass balance, you generally subtract the pounds of solvent you finish with from the pounds of solvent you started with to determine how much solvent was lost to the atmosphere. Only the portion of lost solvent must be counted as a VOC. If there are solids or residue in the solvent you finish with, the VOC emission estimate should be increased by this amount.

If you need additional assistance in calculating emissions from your operation, CCP recommends that you hire an environmental consultant to assist you. If you have further questions regarding our THERMACLEAN® products, please feel free to call upon CCP for assistance.

03/2001