Number

282-EN

Section

General Section

Use

Abstract

This is a report from a project investigating the alternatives to n-methyl pyrrolidone. The investigated uses for the substance are stripping of paint and furniture, precision cleaning, pharmaceutical penetration enhancer and in personal care products. For stripping and precision cleaning a more thorough alternatives assessment including function and cost was performed, while for the pharmaceutical and personal care applications it was only stated that corresponding products exists without having to use this substance. For stripping the suggested alternatives were based on benzyl alcohol and/or acetone, while for precision cleaning organizational changes were suggested.

Substituted substances

Alternative Substances

Reliability of information

Internet information: data are from an internet document and only a basic and partial evaluation could be performed

Reason substitution

physical hazards
skin/respiratory sensitizing

Other type of alternative

This is a report from a project investigating the alternatives to n-methyl pyrrolidone.

Hazard Assessment

Substance to be substituted: NMP 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). Alternative substance: The alternatives evaluated for the use in stripping of paint and furniture contain benzyl alcohol and/or acetone. These substances are not in the database of hazardous substances according to SUBSPORTplus screening criteria (SDSC) but should be handled with care. Acetone is not listed in the SUBSPORTplus Database. Benzyl alkohol is not listed in the SUBSPORTplus Database.

Description of Substitution

N-methyl pyrrolidone, NMP, is a reproductive toxicant. It is used in a variety of applications, this report focuses on its uses in stripping of paint, furniture and others, precision cleaning, pharmaceutical penetration enhancer, personal care products. For paint and furniture stripping several alternatives have been tested at stripping facilities and compared according to function and cost. The alternatives not containing NMP are mainly based on acetone and or benzyl alcohol. For precision cleaning of printed circuit boards the recommended alternative was to use low solid flux which does not require cleaning, the other option is to use water soluble flux which can be cleaned with deionised water. For the uses as pharmaceutical penetration enhancer and for personal care products a very simple analysis of alternatives was made, only showing on similar products not containing the substance. This case story is from a large report from a project funded by US EPA and performed by The Department of health services hazard evaluation system and information service (HESIS) and the Institute for research and technical assistance (IRTA). The aim of the project was to study five emerging solvents, and to find safer alternatives to these in a number of applications per substance. Hazard properties, function and cost was investigated for a number of alternatives per application. For each chemical there are case stories in the report from companies evaluating the alternatives. Solvents are most often used in dispersive applications where exposure is likely to be high. The five selected solvents were Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, D5 Parachlorobenzotrifluoride, PCBTF n-propyl bromide NPB 1,2-trans-dichloroethylene, DCE N-methyl pyrrolidone, NMP For more details, concerning the other solvents, please have a look at the case stories 278, 279, 280 and 281.

Case/substitution evaluation

This is a case story with a very practical approach to finding alternatives, including company interviews, cost evaluations and descriptions of the methods. The alternatives described for paint stripping still requires safety measures, and there is a need to develop even safer substitutes. The alternative processes recommended for printed circuit board cleaning does not represent any chemical hazards.

State of implementation

Full capacity

Date and place of implementation

2006 USA

Type of information supplier

Authority

Type of publication and availability

report for authority, publically available

Publication source: author, company, institute, year

ASSESSMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION OF ALTERNATIVES FOR FIVE EMERGING SOLVENTS Prepared for: Hazard Evaluation System & Information Service California Department of Health Services Under Agreement No. 04-36006 A01 and United States Environmental Protection Agency Pollution Prevention Grant NP-96912401-1 October 2006

Publication source

Type of publication and availability

http://www.irta.us/reports/Five%20Emerging%20Chemicals.pdf

Date, reviewed

November 26, 2021