Process distributed manufacturing

TSCA s scope is circumscribed both by the types of chemicals that are involved in an activity, and by the activity itself Different sets of regulatory programs will come into play depending on the whether the chemical substance will be used, processed, distributed, manufactured, imported, or disposed of. Each of these activities will be addressed below. 

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was enacted in 1976 to identify and control toxic chemical ha2ards to human health and the environment. One of the main provisions of TSCA was to estabUsh and maintain an inventory of all chemicals in commerce in the United States for the purpose of regulating any of the chemicals that might pose an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment. An initial inventory of chemicals was estabhshed by requiring companies to report to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) all substances that were imported, manufactured, processed, distributed, or disposed of in the United States. Over 50,000 chemical substances were reported. PoUowing this initial inventory, introduction of all new chemical substances requires a Premanufacturing Notification (PMN) process. To be included in the PMN are the identity of the new chemical, the estimated first year and maximum production volume, manufacture and process information, a description of proposed use, potential release to the environment, possible human exposure to the new substance, and any health or environmental test data available at the time of submission. In the 10 years that TSCA has been in effect, the USEPA has received over 10,000 PMNs and up to 10% of the submissions each year are for dyes (382)... 

Sufficient data on process distributions and costs must be collated to characterize manufacturing processes for advanced tolerance models. 

Benson and Ponton (1993) and Ponton (1996) have speculated on the ultimate results of continuing efforts for process minimization. They envision a twenty-first century chemical industry totally revolutionized by technological innovation, automation, and miniaturization. Small, distributed manufacturing facilities would produce materials on demand, at the location where they are needed. Raw materials would be nonhazardous, and the manufacturing processes would be waste free and inherently safe. While their vision of future technology is speculative, we are beginning to see progress in this direction. 

Fig. 2 Particle size distributions, (by volume) of the impeller-batch (top) and the micro-mixer-continuous-flow (bottom) processes when manufacturing the pigment Yellow 12. The cumulative distributions are given as well [11]...

As a possible chemical process for distributed manufacture, the production of toxic feedstock gases is claimed [1,139]. Benson and Ponton were among the first... 

Small but environrrientallyjnendly. The Chemical Engineer, March 1993 Huge increases in technology in the past distributed manufacturing in small-scale plants miniaturization of processes domestic methanol plant point-of-sale chlorine simpler and cheaper plants economy of plant manufacture process control and automation start-up and shut-down sensor demand [145],... 

Following a theoretical analysis of distributed small-plant manufacture, Benson and Ponton define assessment criteria for processes suitable for such processing [139]. Since micro reactors are one of the favorite and natural tools for distributed manufacture, this selection list also defines micro-reactor applications. In this context, the authors, probably in one of the first regular citations, emphasize that formulation processes, especially those with multiple ingredients, are particularly suited for distribution. The making of paint on-site is referred to as an already existing way to do so. It stands to reason to augment the scope from formulations to functional chemicals. 

A disperse system is defined as a heterogenous, two-phase system in which the internal (dispersed, discontinuous) phase is distributed or dispersed within the continuous (external) phase or vehicle. Various pharmaceutical systems are included in this definition, the internal and external phases being gases, liquids, or solids. Disperse systems are also important in other fields of application, e.g., processing and manufacturing of household and industrial products such as cosmetics, foods, and paints. 

On January 1, 1977, the chemical industry truly became a regulated industry. The environmental laws up until that time had covered some chemicals, but had been media oriented. That is — they were concerned about certain chemicals that escaped as emissions or pollutants to various media - the air, our water, contaminated our food or entered the workplace. TSCA changed that direction. It was designed to regulate commerce on chemical substances. TSCA potentially applies to all chemicals manufactured, processed, distributed or used in the U.S. except those chemicals already regulated under certain other federal laws. TSCA affects not only the chemical industry itself, but the many other industries whose products are chemical in nature. This includes most all industrial products. 

Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976 gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) comprehensive authority to regulate any chemical substance whose manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, use, or disposal may present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment. 

On the aesthetic side, it is likely that intensified process plants will be less intrusive on the environment, making them far less of an eyesore than the unsightly and massive constructions that are characteristic of present processing units. In some cases the plant may be mobile, thereby offering the opportunity for distributed manufacturing of chemicals close to the point of utilisation. This may reduce the quantities of hazardous products currently being transported by road and rail, thereby improving safety. The... 

Despite the clear focus on cost reduction, due regard should also be given to product and process safety. For PV to become widely adopted at the Gigawatts (GWp) scale with a large production workforce and components distributed on millions of commercial and domestic roofs, then safe systems must be inherent in future products. Safety must start with the materials, equipment and the process of manufacture, and include the product safety for system installation and, most importantly, any long-term fire and health aspects of unattended PV systems. 

Koch, T.A., Krause, K.R. and Mehdizadeh, M., Improved safety through distributed manufacturing of hazardous chemicals, Process Safety Prog. 1997, 16(1), 23-24. 

U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). 2008. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Manufacturing, Processing, Distribution in Commerce, and Use Prohibitions CFR 40 Part 761. 

In later discussions in this book it should be noted that migration behaviour is strongly dependent on the given polymer sample. This dependency comes from the variety of plastics that exist with respect to their chemical nature, structure, molecular mass distribution, manufacturing and processing conditions. 

Most of the Al absorbed from the respiratory tract accumulates in the lungs. Pulmonary lesions have been described in employees of Al processing or manufacturing industries and encephalopathy after Al inhalation has been reported. Al is widely distributed and has many industrial uses, and toxicity from occupational exposure is assumed to be extremely rare [2, 177]. Nevertheless, a recent study investigating adverse effects on the central nervous system of Al welders found an Al-exposure-related increase in blood and urine Al concentrations, deficits in neuropsychological test performance and mild diffuse EEG abnormalities. Therefore, the potential for Al-induced neurotoxicity in those occupationally exposed to Al fumes may be greater than previously suspected [177]. 

---