Solvent substitution, pollution prevention

Joback, K. G. (1994). Solvent Substitution for Pollution Prevention. Pollution Prevention Via Process and Product Modifications, ed. M. El-Halwagi, and D. P. Petrides, 98-103. AIChE Symposium Series 303. New York American Institute of Chemical Engineers. 

Spent solvents constitute a major source of pollution in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Much of this pollution can be prevented by solvent substitution using solvents that are more environmentally compatible or possess higher performance. This can lead to a reduction in the amount used. However, identifying replacement solvents is often a difficult process performed in an ad hoc manner. 

A single repository for pollution prevention, compUance assurance, and enforcement information databases has the database umbrella architecture for solvent alternatives solvent substitution data systems Integrated Solvent Substitution Data System (ISSDS) Hazardous Solvent Substitution Data System on-line product information, material safety data sheets... 

Joback, K. G., Pollution Prevention by Solvent Substitution. Presentation at New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, September 1992. 

Sandia s Pollution Prevention staff is available to project leaders to help them investigate ways to reduce chemical usage, substitute with less toxic chemicals, and reduce the laboratory s consiunption of ozone depletors, solvents, aerosols, and waste. In addition, laboratory owners pay a fee for all chemicals going to Hazardous Waste. This charge-back policy promotes responsible chemical usage. 

US Department of Energy (1993) Solvent Substitution for Pollution Prevention, Noyes Data Corporation, Park Ridge, NJ. 

Enviro en e, first opened to the public in 1994, is a central reservoir of pollution prevention and cleaner production information and databases. It provides the user with a solvent substitution data system, compliance and enforcement assistance information, and a site for communication and exchange of information (Enviro en e Cooperatives). Enviro en e can be reached at http //es.epa.gov/. 

The use of supercritical fluids, particularly carbon dioxide, as a substitute solvent for chemical synthesis is an area of rapidly growing importance. (1-5) Carbon dioxide, when compressed to a liquid or, al ve its critical point (Jq = 31.rC, Pc = 1071 psi. Pc = 0.468 g/ml), to a supercritical fluid (SCF), represents an environmentally benign alternative to organic solvents. Since C02is nontoxic, nonflammable, inexpensive, and unregulated it can replace hazardous organic solvents and thereby provide a valuable pollution prevention tool. Moreover, as discussed below, there is a significant potential for improved synthetic chemistry via faster rates and/or enhanced selectivity for a number of reactions. 

In recent years, ionic liquids have emerged as possible "green solvents", that is environmentally benign substances mainly because they have negligible vapor pressure (Liu et al., 2005). One of the primary driving forces behind research into ionic liquids is the perceived benefit of substituting traditional industrial solvents, most of which are volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with nonvolatile ionic liquids. Replacement of conventional solvents by ionic liquids would prevent the emission of VOCs, a major source of environmental pollution (Polshettiwar Varma, 2008). 

---