RE: Paint gun washing and metal cleaning

["Bevilacqua, Philip" <phil@ADM.NJIT.EDU>]

n-Methyl Pyrollidone is a pretty good solvent for paints, it is sometimes
used in hot strippers.  It evaporates very slowly, that could be a drawback.
A terpene/hydrocarbon blended material might work also.  Sounds difficult
for aqueous chemistry unless the paint is water based.  

Phil Bevilacqua	
NJTAP

-----Original Message-----
From: Denis Bégin [mailto:begind@mdtrav.umontreal.ca]
Sent: Friday, April 21, 2000 5:35 PM
To: Tammy Allen
Cc: p2tech@great-lakes.net
Subject: Re: Paint gun washing and metal cleaning


At 15:20 00-04-21 -0400, you wrote:
>Does anyone have an idea of what can be substituted for lacquer thinner 
>that is used for cleaning paint guns and steel parts that will be 
>painted.  I have a business that contacted me who would like to 
>eliminate/reduce their VOC emissions and HAPs from paint gun cleaning 
>operations and metal cleaning (predominantly steel).
>
>Tammy L. Allen
>Senior Environmental Specialist
>Pinellas County Environmental Management
>512 S. Ft. Harrison Ave.
>Clearwater, FL  33763
>
>(727) 464-4761
>Fax (727) 464-3174
>
>e-mail: tallen@co.pinellas.fl.us
Tammy,

Athey et al. described a paint gun cleaning system designed to reduce by 75 
% the amount of solvent needed to clean the equipment :

Athey, C.; Hester, C.; McLaughlin, M.; Neulicht, R.M.; Turner, M.B. (1988) 
Reduction of Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Automotive 
Refinishing. Control
Technology Center; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-450/3-88-009), 
Research Triangle Park, N.C. (NTIS No. PB-89-148282)

For metal cleaning before painting, try the Solvent Alternatives Guide 
(SAGE) : http://sage.rti.org/
and the Parts Cleaning Web site : http://www.partscleaningweb.com/index.cfm

Consider aqueous cleaning : 
http://www.pprc.org/pprc/p2tech/aqueous/aqintro.html

Regards,



Denis Begin, M.Sc.
Research Assistant
University of Montreal
Dept. of Environmental and Occupational Health
PO Box 6128, Main Station
Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7
Canada
Tel : 514-343-2170
Fax : 514-343-2200
denis.begin@umontreal.ca
http://www.mdtrav.umontreal.ca