Household solvents

Interpretation of ecotoxicity is still more of an art than a science. Perhaps the greatest advances in this area will come from increasing understanding of the structure-activity correlations for chemicals. However, further effort is necessary to integrate the wide range of different types of assessment currently employed, which range over almost every scientific discipline. In the strictest sense, the laboratory methods described can permit only comparative evaluation of chemicals under the test conditions. Extrapolation from laboratory results to predict what will happen when chemicals enter the natural environment must be improved (Duffus, 1986). 

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is defined by the U.S. EPA as solid wastes, discarded from homes or similar sources, that are either hazardous wastes or wastes that exhibit any of the following characteristics ignitabiUty, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity. A significant fraction of HHW is generated by home mechanics who use such products as motor oil, cleaners and solvents, refrigerants, and batteries. The results indicate that most of the survey respondents perceive automotive products to pose significant health and environmental risks, and they tend to dispose of these wastes in an environmentally conscious manner. There is qnite often a discrepancy between human perception and scientific reality (see table 8.2) (Shorten et al., 1995). 

Acetal 105-57-7 Solvent and odorant Cosmetics, jasmine perfumes, fruit flavors Highly flammable moderately toxic narcotic 

Acetaldehyde 75-07-0 Solvent and flavoring Perfume, food, cosmetics, adhesives, and glues Moderately toxic skin and eye irritant 

Acetic Acid 64-19-7 Ravor enhancer, pickling agent, and solvent Many foods, skin bleaching cosmetics, hair coloring products Moderately toxic strong irritant to skin and tissue eye irritant 

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Maklan, DM, Steele DH, Dietz SK, et al. 1987. Household solvent products a "shelf survey with laboratory analysis. Washington, DC U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Toxic Substances. EPA-OTS 560/5-87-006. 

SNIFFING OR SNORTING Inhaling intoxicating vapors, through the nose, from a volatile substance such as an anesthetic gas, industrial or household solvent, art supply, or aerosol propellant. 

As shown in Figure 1.17, there are three possible dichloroethylene compounds, all clear, colorless liquids. Vinylidene chloride forms a copolymer with vinyl chloride used in some kinds of coating materials. The geometrically isomeric 1,2-dichloroethylenes are used as organic synthesis intermediates and as solvents. Trichloroethylene is a clear, colorless, nonflammable, volatile liquid. It is an excellent degreasing and dry-cleaning solvent and has been used as a household solvent and for food extraction (for example, in decaffeination of coffee). Colorless, nonflammable liquid tetrachloroethylene has properties and uses similar to those of trichloroethylene. Hexachloro-butadiene, a colorless liquid with an odor somewhat like that of turpentine, is used as a solvent for higher hydrocarbons and elastomers, as a hydraulic fluid, in transformers, and for heat transfer. 

Alkyl halides are used primarily as industrial and household solvents. Carbon tetrachloride (CC14) was once used for dry cleaning, spot removing, and other domestic cleaning. Carbon tetrachloride is toxic and carcinogenic (causes cancer), however, so dry cleaners now use 1,1,1-trichloroethane and other solvents instead. 

Source Industrial many household solvents, cleaning fluids, paint removers welding in con-... 

Green Solvents for Practical and Ordinary Chemical Usage Household solvents cleaning... 

Aerosols can be produced as a spray of droplets by various means. A good example of a nebulizer is the common household hair spray, which produces fine droplets of a solution of hair lacquer by using a gas to blow the lacquer solution through a fine nozzle so that it emerges as a spray of small droplets. In use, the droplets strike the hair and settle, and the solvent evaporates to leave behind the nonvolatile lacquer. For mass spectrometry, a spray of a solution of analyte can be produced similarly or by a wide variety of other methods, many of which are discussed here. Chapters 8 ( Electrospray Ionization ) and 11 ( Thermospray and Plasmaspray Interfaces ) also contain details of droplet evaporation and formation of ions that are relevant to the discussion in this chapter. Aerosols are also produced by laser ablation for more information on this topic, see Chapters 17 and 18. 

Emulsives are solutions of toxicant in water-immiscible organic solvents, commonly at 15 ndash 50%, with a few percent of surface-active agent to promote emulsification, wetting, and spreading. The choice of solvent is predicated upon solvency, safety to plants and animals, volatility, flammabiUty, compatibihty, odor, and cost. The most commonly used solvents are kerosene, xylenes and related petroleum fractions, methyl isobutyl ketone, and amyl acetate. Water emulsion sprays from such emulsive concentrates are widely used in plant protection and for household insect control. 

Uses of isopropyl alcohol are chemical, solvent, and medical. Estimated U.S. uses in 1993 were as chemical intermediates, 34% personal care and household products, 24% coatings and ink solvent, 15% processing solvent, 12% pharmaceuticals, 10% and miscellaneous uses, 5% (143). 

Ninety-six percent of the EDC produced in the United States is converted to vinyl chloride for the production of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) (1) (see Vinyl polymers). Chloroform and carbon tetrachloride are used as chemical intermediates in the manufacture of chlorofluorocarbons (CECs). Methjiene chloride, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, and tetrachloroethylene have wide and varied use as solvents. Methyl chloride is used almost exclusively for the manufacture of silicone. Vinylidene chloride is chiefly used to produce poly (vinylidene chloride) copolymers used in household food wraps (see Vinylidene chloride and poly(vinylidene chloride). Chloroben2enes are important chemical intermediates with end use appHcations including disinfectants, thermoplastics, and room deodorants. 

Over the last 30 years, ethanol s role as a solvent has increased sharply, while its role as a chemical intermediate has declined. In 1990, 59% of the 890 X 10 L demand was used for solvents and the remaining 41% was used for chemical intermediates (283). In 1960, solvents accounted for only 24% of the demand. The 1990 solvent uses were toiletries and cosmetics, 33% coatings, inks, and proprietary blends, 29% detergents and household cleaners, 14% external pharmaceuticals, 7% insecticides and disinfectants, 7% and miscellaneous, 10%. Ethanol demand for solvent appHcations has been fairly stable in recent years, growing at an average aimual rate of 2%. VOC regulations could impact its solvent use, particularly in areas like California, where ethanol in aerosols like hair spray and deodorants have come under scmtiny. 

This group of ingredients has many useful properties. Alcohols and phenols are very common in household products. Alcohols are good solvents and are used in perfumes and flavorings to dissolve fats and oils. Heavier alcohols with long chains of hydrocarbons act as emulsifiers and surfactants, bringing oil and water together. 

Thiophenes of type 31 (X-Y = CH) were generated via Lawesson s reagent-mediated cyclization of 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds 30 under microwave irradiation in the absence of solvent [37]. The reaction was carried by mixing the two solid reagents in a glass tube inserted inside a household microwave apparatus and irradiating until the evolution of H2S ceased. An interesting application of this method is the preparation of liquid crystals and other ferro- and antiferroelectric material such as compound 33 (Scheme 10). 

Stewart RD, Fisher TN, Hosko MJ, et al Experimental human exposure to methylene chloride. Arch Environ Health 25 342-348, 1972 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Preliminary Estimates from the 1995 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. Rockville, MD, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1996 Tenenbein M, PillayN Sensory evoked potentials in inhalant (volatile solvent) abuse. J Paediatr Child Health 29 206-208, 1993... 

Three major non-polymer propylene derivatives are isopropanol, acetone, and acrylic acid. Isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol) is used mainly as a solvent. It has been made from propylene by reaction with sulfuric acid and water for at least the last 75 years, making its manufacture the oldest, still-running commercial organic chemical process. It is used in household rubbing alcohol because, unlike ethanol, it is unfit for human consumption even in small amounts. About 25 % of the isopropanol produced is used for making acetone, in competition with a route based on isopropylbenzene. 

Reverse osmosis can be used to purify water, because the liquid passing through the semipermeable membrane is pure solvent. A water purifier that uses reverse osmosis requires semipermeable membranes that do not rapture under the high pressures required for reverse osmosis. Recall that seawater has an osmotic pressure of nearly 28 atm and that red blood cells rupture at 7 atm. Nevertheless, membranes have been developed that make it feasible to purify water using this technique. Reverse osmosis currently supplies pure drinking water to individual households as well as entire municipalities. 

Trichloroethylene is also known as Triclene and Vitran and by other trade names in industry. It is a nonflammable, colorless liquid at room temperature with a somewhat sweet odor and a sweet, burning taste. Trichloroethylene is now mainly used as a solvent to remove grease from metal parts. It is also used as a solvent in other ways and is used to make other chemicals. Trichloroethylene can also be found in some household products, including typewriter correction fluid, paint removers, adhesives, and spot removers. Most people can begin to smell trichloroethylene in air when there are around 100 parts of trichloroethylene per million parts of air (ppm). Further information on the physical and chemical properties of trichloroethylene can be found in Chapter 3, and further information on its production and use can be found in Chapter 4. 

Frankenberry M, Kent R, Stroup C, et al. 1987. Household products containing methylene chloride and other chlorinated solvents A shelf survey. Rockville, MD Westat, Inc. 4-1 to 4-29. 

Whether filtering material through a cotton-filter or a coffee filter it helps if the thinner parts of the solution are filtered first, followed by the mushy and more bulky components (which may clog the pores of your filters as you strain.) The better your filtration, the more rapid and efficient your emulsions, also resulting in a cleaner product. Cotton must be specifically used. Other fibers have the potential to react with our solvents. A tea strainer (wire strain) can be a simple way to separate bulk ruffage. Another way to improve this method is to use a vacuum filter. There are several varieties, the most affordable being a water vacuum filter that attaches to a household faucet. These cost about 30.00 and are very quick, useful and effective. 

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