Number
176-EN
Section
General Section
Use
Sector
General manufacturing, e.g. machinery, equipment, vehicles, other transport equipment
Electricity, steam, gas water supply and sewage treatment
Function
Cleaning agent
Process
Manual maintenance(cleaning and repair) of machinery
Product category
washing ad cleaning products
Application
Cleaning of dirt residues in an incineration plant
Abstract
A well-known waste disposer and energy supplier from Germany substituted hydrocarbon solvents with heated aqueous cleaner on a wash stand. This cleaning method is used to remove mud, dust, oil and grease of components from repair- and maintenance purpose.
Substituted substances
Hydrocarbons
CAS No. EC No. Index No.
Chemical group
Hydrocarbons
Alternative Substances
Sodium silicate
CAS No. 6834-92-0 EC No. 229-912-9 Index No. 014-010-00-8
Chemical group
Sodium compounds; silicates
Classification: hazard statements
H335 May cause respiratory irritation
H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
Potassium hydroxide
CAS No. 1310-58-3 EC No. 215-181-3 Index No. 019-002-00-8
Chemical group
Potassium compounds; hydroxides
Classification: hazard statements
H302 Harmful if swallowed
H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
Sodium etasulfate
CAS No. 126-92-1 EC No. 204-812-8 Index No.
Chemical group
Sodium compounds; sulfates
Reliability of information
Evidence of assessment: there is evidence of an official (positive) assessment of the substitution
Reason substitution
other toxic effects
ecotoxicity
Other type of alternative
Low-pressure spray washer
Hazard Assessment
Substance to be substituted: Hydrocarbon solvents is not listed in the SUBSPORTplus Database and has no harmonised classification according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation). Alternative substances: The alternative product is a strong alkaline cleaning concentrate, which includes potassium hydroxide. It is not listed in the SUBSPORTplus Database. Disodium metasilicate is not listed in the SUBSPORTplus Database and has no harmonised classification according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation). Sodium etasulfate is not listed in the SUBSPORTplus Database and has no harmonised classification according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation).
Description of Substitution
The waste incineration plant was established in 1979. Meanwhile, the plant was repeatedly extended and reconstructed. The filtering systems were completely modernised and the plant since, environmentally up to date.The area covered contains 950.000 citizens. Accepted are wastes from homes, industry, bulk waste, which can be delivered by trade, private or communal costumers. At the beginning components from the plant soiled by mud, dust, oil and grease were cleaned by cleaning agent on a wash stand. The cleaner was a liquid compound composed of a liquid of hydro-carbons, which was used at room temperature. Due to environment and health concerns, a hot washer (Universal-Sprüh-Schnellwäscher 1000 SR) was selected. It is fitted with open spray cleaning at low pressure. The water is heated to 95°C and the parts dry rapidly. Nonetheless the jet does not cause scalding on skin, because it is a very finely sprayed mist. As a support in the cleaning process the enterprise used an alkaline cleaning agent. The component cleaning is done manually using rags, brushes etc. in addition. The cleaning process is performed by a closed loop system and the cleaning agent is added automatically. According to the user the cost of the alternative process was lower than cleaning with the substituted cleaner, because the new cleaner which was cheaper and the resulting costs were also lower. In 2009 the user decided to clean large parts out of the service station.
Case/substitution evaluation
This case exemplifies the possibility of using a safer alternative for the cleaning of machine parts, valves and similar. However, the alternative is a strong alkaline concentrate (pH > 11) but in the cleaning dilution of 3% is used.
State of implementation
Not in use
Date and place of implementation
2004 to 2009 in Germany
Enterprise using the alternative
See contact: information supplier
Availability of Alternative
on the market
Producer/Provider
See contact: information supplier
Type of information supplier
User
Contact
Supplier of equipment: https://www.ph-cleantec.de/en/ Supplier of alternative substance: https://www.zeller-gmelin.de/
Further information
More information could be found in the Cleantool-Database: www2.cleantool.org
Date, reviewed
November 26, 2021