Number
206-EN
Section
General Section
Use
Sector
Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment
General manufacturing, e.g. machinery, equipment, vehicles, other transport equipment
Other
Function
Other
Process
Other
Product category
other
Application
Piping production
Abstract
By introduction of new production equipment, the pipe producing company Logstor, have been able to phase out dimethylformamide (DMF) as a cleaning solvent. Instead most cleaning of mixing heads and sprayer heads is done mechanically, and in rare cases a Dowanol (1-methoxypropan-2-ol) bath is used. Cobalt dichloride containing silica gel desiccant have been substituted with a cobalt free desiccant, which is performing even better than the old one.
Substituted substances
N,N-dimethylformamide
CAS No. 68-12-2 EC No. 200-679-5 Index No. 616-001-00-X
Chemical group
Carboxamides
Classification: hazard statements
H360D May damage the unborn child
H332 Harmful if inhaled
H312 Harmful in contact with skin
H319 Causes serious eye irritation
Cobalt dichloride
CAS No. 7646-79-9 EC No. 231-589-4 Index No. 027-004-00-5
Chemical group
Cobalt compound
Classification: hazard statements
H350i May cause cancer by inhalation
H341 Suspected of causing genetic defects
H360F May damage fertility
H302 Harmful if swallowed
H334 May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled
H317 May cause an allergic skin reaction
H400 Very toxic to aquatic life
H410 Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
Other adverse effects
The substance is: 2B carcinogen (IARC: cobalt compounds), as listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORT Screening Criteria (SDSC).
Alternative Substances
1-Methoxypropan-2-ol
CAS No. 107-98-2 EC No. 203-539-1 Index No. 603-064-00-3
Chemical group
Glycol ethers
Classification: hazard statements
H226 Flammable liquid and vapour
H336 May cause drowsiness or dizziness
Reliability of information
Evidence of implementation: there is evidence that the solution was implemented and in use at time of publication
Reason substitution
CMR
ecotoxicity
skin/respiratory sensitizing
Other type of alternative
Mechanical cleaning of mixing and spraying heads.
Hazard Assessment
Substances to be substituted: N,N-dimethylformamide is a Substance of very high concern and is included on the REACH restriction list, according to Article 73 of Regulation (EG) No. 1907/2006. (REACH Regulation). Cobalt dichloride is a Substance of very high concern and is included on the REACH candidate list for authorization, according to Article 59 of Regulation (EG) No. 1907/2006. (REACH Regulation). Alternative substance: Dowanol (1-Methoxypropan-2-ol) is much less hazardous to health and environment than DMF. It is not listed in the SUBSPORTplus Database.
Description of Substitution
Logstor produces pipes. They learned that their silica gel desiccant called Blågel (blue gel) was carcinogenic due to the addition of cobalt dichloride. Blågel is only toxic when dried in the desiccator cabinet, but it is included in the Danish Environmental Protection Agency’s list of undesirable substances. The decision was made to substituteit byanother type of desiccant not containing the harmful substance. The new desiccant is working very well and the company has found out that the new product can absorb more moisture. This means that the drying process is 50% less time demanding of what it used to be. In 2008 dimethylformamide (DMF) was phased out. This has been achieved by replacing some important foam machines from low pressure to high pressure machines. In a high pressure foam machine it is sufficient to clean the mixing head with a piston pushing reacted foam out of the mixing head - merely a mechanical cleaning. (The low pressure foam machines were equipped with a rotating mixer in the mixing head, and after around four hours of continuous production this mixer had to be changed and cleaned in DMF). In other places using high pressure foam machines sprayer tubes fitted on the mixing head used to be cleaned in DMF. Now, most often a drill is used to drill out the foam, and in rare cases the sprayer tubes are introduced in a bath of Dowanol, which is a hydrophilic glycol ether considered significantly less harmful than DMF.
Case/substitution evaluation
This case is agood example on substituting a chemical method with a mechanical alternative of cleaning industrial equipment. The newdesiccant could not be evaluated since SUBSPORTpluscould not gain information of the actual contents.
State of implementation
In use
Date and place of implementation
2008, Denmark
Enterprise using the alternative
Availability of Alternative
On the market
Type of information supplier
User
Further information
Publication title: Hazardous chemicals can be substituted.
Type of publication and availability
Free publication can be downloaded in EN
Publication source: author, company, institute, year
Free publication from the Danish Ecocouncil. Cases are based on interviews with companys.
Date, reviewed
November 26, 2021