RE: Low VOC Lubricant for Manufacturing Clay Pots?

["Callahan, Mike" <Mike.Callahan@jacobs.com>]

Carrie,

Are you certain this is all fugitive ?  No. 2 fuel oil has a vapor pressure
of 0.01 psia.  I would assume that most of the oil is blown off by air and
is taken off for fuel use.  Is the clay fired ?  If so, the oil would burn
off and be a point source from the oven, not a fugitive.

For the clay, they could look into using a heavier mineral oil.  For
conveyor lines, a heavy grease.  This would be much better than No. 2 fuel,
especially from the worker health and safety aspect.  No. 2 contains benzene
and a wide range of other hazardous compounds.  

Regards,

Mike.callahan@jacobs.com

> ----------
> From: 	Carrie Monosmith[SMTP:MONOSMIC@state.mi.us]
> Sent: 	Wednesday, March 11, 1998 1:03PM
> To: 	p2tech@great-lakes.net
> Subject: 	Low VOC Lubricant for Manufacturing Clay Pots?
> 
> Hi everyone,
> 
> I received the following note from one of our Air Quality Division
> compliance inspectors.  Can anyone help?  Thanks in advance!
> 
> Carrie
> 
> I am working with a company which produces clay pots.  The source is
> apparently subject to the ROP program due to emission of fugitive VOCs.
> The VOCs are emitted due to the tremendous amount of lubrication that is
> used in the process.
> 
> The company uses #2 fuel oil to lubricate extruders, conveying lines, and
> molding presses.  The company figures it will use 169,200 gallons of #2
> fuel oil a year just to prevent the clay from sticking to the above
> mentioned surfaces.  
> 
> The company also adds a product called Pamac 2 to the fuel oil.  It is a
> fatty acid.  When combined with the fuel oil, it helps to prevent the clay
> from sticking to surfaces.
> 
> The company has tried to look for other products to use.  Any product that
> is water based does not work, as it is absorbed into the clay pots.  Is
> there any product out there that this company can use to reduce its VOC
> emissions and provide non stick surfaces for the production of the clay
> pots?   Anything you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
> 
> Carrie Monosmith
> Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
> Environmental Assistance Division
> PO Box 30457
> Lansing, MI  48909
> phone: 517-373-0604
> fax: 517-373-3675
> email: monosmic@state.mi.us
>