Handbook of Solvents - George Wypych - ChemTech - Ventech!

952 George Wypych
Figure 14.13.1. Schematic diagram of operations in the iron and steel manufacturing process. [Reproduced from
EPA Office of Compliance Sector Notebook Project. Reference 1.]
Table 14.13.1. Reported solvent releases from the iron and steel plants in 1995 [Data
from Ref. 2]
Solvent
Amount,
kg/year
Solvent Amount, kg/year
benzene 321,000 N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone 3,600
n-butyl alcohol 26,000 polycyclic aromatic compounds 2,400
cresol 1,800 tetrachloroethylene 91,000
dichloromethane 318,000 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene 17,000
ethylbenzene 5,000 trichloroethylene 620,000
methanol 241,000 toluene 261,000
methyl ethyl ketone 358,000 xylene 168,000
to coating. Methods used include solvent cleaning, pressurized water or air blasting,
cleaning with abrasives, and alkaline or acid pickling.
Tables 14.13.1 and 14.13.2 give information on the reported solvent releases and
transfers from the iron and steel industries. Not all the solvents listed in the tables are used in
processing. Some are by-products of coke manufacture from coal. Benzene and polycyclic
aromatics compounds are by-products. Strong solvents such as methyl ethyl ketone, toluene,
xylene, and trichloroethylene are typical of those used in cleaning processes. There is
no program formulated by the industry to reduce amounts of solvents used.
REFERENCES
1 EPA Office of Compliance Sector Notebook Project. Profile of the Iron and Steel Industry.
Trucking, Railroad, and Pipeline. US Environmental Protection Agency, 1995.
2 EPA Office of Compliance Sector Notebook Project. Sector Notebook Data Refresh - 1997.
US Environmental Protection Agency, 1998.