% coalescing agent in Zeffle SE-310

Table 2 – Comparative performance of coalescing agents in Zeffle SE-310

‣ performance of butyl levulinate across all five attributes . A similar study was conducted using Zeffle SE-310 resin . As Table 2 shows , the overall performance of butyl levulinate surpassed these same three industry standard products . The data also suggests similar performance can be obtained using a lower concentration of butyl levulinate than these coalescing agents . In home care , there are proven improvements in cleaning kitchen grease . Pressure to replace ethylene glycol butyl ether ( 2-butoxyethanol ) is growing , because of the potential harm to eyes , skin , kidneys and blood . For example , ethylene glycol butyl ether is listed in California as a hazardous substance . The state sets an eighthour average airborne concentration exposure limit at 25 ppm and employers there are required to inform employees when they are working with it . ^{2 , 3} Figure 3 summarises the results of a mechanical cleaning test comparing the performance of biobased and petrochemical-based solvents . In this , a model soil comprised of carbon black , olive oil , soybean oil , butter and isopropyl alcohol was coated on ceramic tiles and allowed to cure for eight hours at 50 º C .

Following preparation of the test subject , mechanical cleaning was performed using a cleaning formula containing 95.14 % water , 3.95 % Tergitol TMN-10 , 1.82 % solvent and 0.09 % sodium bicarbonate . The results are indexed so the performance of ethyl levulinate ( Nxt Solv 100 ) was quantified as 100 ( best performance ) and the others are compared to it . In this situation , both ethyl and butyl levulinate outperformed all other solvents , biobased and petrochemical-based . These results confirm the superior solvency of these two levulinic esters in cleaning greasy kitchen soils . Levulinic ketals have been demonstrated to act as natural solubilisers for UV filters , such as avobenzone and oxybenzone . The ability to solubilise a higher concentration of the UV filter aids the formulator in designing a highly efficient system and the opportunity to increase the loading of these common UV filters . Sunscreens are being developed with increasing sun-blocking performance and propanediol ketal ( Nxt Solv 300 ) facilitates the development of such products .

The test was performed by mixing the avobenzone and solvents at various concentrations at mild temperatures and mixed until homogeneous . Concentrations of avobenzone were increased until the mixture was not homogeneous . The results ( Figure 4 ) demonstrate Nxt Solv 300 ’ s ability to solubilise avobenzone at concentrations greater than all comparative materials .

HSE impact

In addition to performance the chemical industry strives to develop technologies that are both safe for people and safe for the environment . This is especially true for products being used by consumers where the demand for safer and more natural ingredients continues to intensify . Biobased technologies are being developed to respond to these needs to replace petrochemicalbased solvents that do not always have a favorable health and safety profile . Some are toxic to aquatic life , others cause serious health effects , while others are flammable . Biobased technologies that bridge the performance and sustainability pillars are those that will succeed .

52 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981