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Handbook of Solvents - George Wypych - ChemTech - Ventech!

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950 <strong>George</strong> <strong>Wypych</strong><br />

14.11 GROUND TRANSPORTATION<br />

<strong>George</strong> <strong>Wypych</strong><br />

ChemTec Laboratories, Inc., Toronto, Canada<br />

The ground transportation industry in the USA is dominated by truck freight (78.6%). Other<br />

methods <strong>of</strong> transportation include: rail (7.9%), water (5.2%), air (4%), pipeline (2.2%), and<br />

other (2.1%). <strong>Solvents</strong> are used and solvent wastes and emissions are generated during<br />

refurbishing and maintenance.<br />

Rail car refurbishing involves stripping and painting. Paint is usually removed by mechanical<br />

means (steel grit blast system) but solvents are occasionally used. Solid wastes are<br />

generated from latex paint wastes but hazardous wastes are also generated from solvent-based<br />

paints and thinners. Parts cleaning is mostly done using mineral spirits. Waste<br />

solvents are sent <strong>of</strong>f-site for reclamation.<br />

Truck maintenance work usually requires a parts washer which may involve either a<br />

heated or ambient temperature solvent, hot tank, or a spray washer. In the solvent tank<br />

washer, solvent (usually mineral spirits, petroleum distillates, and naphtha) is recirculated<br />

from solvent tank. Spent solvent is usually replaced monthly. Carburetor cleaning compounds<br />

contain dichloromethane. Tanker cleaning <strong>of</strong>ten involves a solvent spray.<br />

The ground transportation industry employs a large number <strong>of</strong> people (more than 2<br />

million in the USA). It is one <strong>of</strong> the less polluting industries. It generates 0.3% <strong>of</strong> VOC released<br />

by all major industries combined (about half <strong>of</strong> that <strong>of</strong> the aerospace industry). Most<br />

solvents used are <strong>of</strong> low toxicity. Good system <strong>of</strong> collection and reclamation <strong>of</strong> solvent<br />

wastes is done effectively and this is the major reason for the relatively good performance <strong>of</strong><br />

the industry.<br />

REFERENCES<br />

1 EPA Office <strong>of</strong> Compliance Sector Notebook Project. Pr<strong>of</strong>ile <strong>of</strong> the Ground Transportation Industry.<br />

Trucking, Railroad, and Pipeline. US Environmental Protection Agency, 1997.<br />

2 EPA Office <strong>of</strong> Compliance Sector Notebook Project. Sector Notebook Data Refresh - 1997.<br />

US Environmental Protection Agency, 1998.<br />

14.12 INORGANIC CHEMICAL INDUSTRY<br />

<strong>George</strong> <strong>Wypych</strong><br />

ChemTec Laboratories, Inc., Toronto, Canada<br />

This industry has two major sectors: inorganic chemicals and chlor-alkali. Inorganic chemicals<br />

are <strong>of</strong>ten <strong>of</strong> mineral origin processed to basic chemicals such as acids, alkalies, salts,<br />

oxidizing agents, halogens, etc. The chlor-alkali sector manufactures chlorine, caustic soda,<br />

soda ash, sodium bicarbonate, potassium hydroxide and potassium carbonate. The major<br />

processes in this industry do not use solvents but there are many specialized auxiliary processes<br />

which use solvents. Tables 14.12.1 and 14.12.2 give information on the reported solvent<br />

releases and transfers from inorganic chemical industry.

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