INDUSTRY NEWS
nPB replacement in five simple steps
As of 4 July 2020, the use of nPB is
prohibited. Graham Fraser, MD of Fraser
Technologies, discusses the simple
steps to making the safe switch.
Due to legislation around the safe use of nPB (also known as n-propyl
bromide or 1-bromopropane), the substance is banned under REACH
regulations from 4 July 2020. Any business still using this solvent in its
cleaning and degreasing process must find a replacement as soon as
possible, except where authorisation to keep using it is granted.
If business are still using nPB, they must take action to ensure that
their cleaning processes are compliant. Here are our top tips to
help make the switch and to keep employees and businesses safe:
1 Know how the ban affects
your cleaning system
The first step is to understand how the ban will affect different types
of cleaning systems. Users of ECSA type I (open top) and type II
(enclosed) cleaning systems will need to stop using nPB and use
an alternative cleaning agent.
nPB can turn acidic, which corrodes the machinery from the inside,
so you may need to also repair or even replace your equipment.
2 Get specialist advice from
a business you can trust
Taking advice from a cleaning industry specialist will help users
understand the implications of nPB replacement. A full audit and survey
of existing equipment will be required to make sure any switch of
solvents is viable, effective and safe. We provide guidance through
REACH and other regulations to ensure that businesses understand
how to remain compliant, whatever their type of cleaning system.
3 Take stock of the alternatives
All current nPB users will need to identify new replacement cleaning
chemistries, but caution is advised. Some alternatives which may be
suggested are also restricted solvents, such as Perchloroethylene (PERC)
or Methylene Chloride (MECL). These substances pose numerous
health risks and usage restrictions are set to be put in place, so they
are not safe, and they may require replacement soon. Users should
be careful not to simply substitute one harmful substance for another.
One family of alternative solvents is fluorinated materials. However,
regulations around the use of F-gases (also known as fluorinated
gases) have become increasingly stringent over the last few years.
There is a limit on how much F-gas can be sold in Europe and the
use of F-gases in new equipment is banned where alternatives with
a lower GWP are available.
F-gases have a very high Global Warming Potential (GWP).
Global warming is a gradual increase in the overall temperature of
the earth’s atmosphere caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide,
CFCs, and other pollutants. GWP is used to represent the equivalent
of Co2 being released into the atmosphere. So 1kg of Co2 = a GWP
of 1. In the case of F-gases, they have a GWP of up to 11,000.
The table below shows the common HFC and HFE’s offered as
replacement alternatives. As the table highlights, many of these
fall under F-gas regulations and should be avoided.
Common
Name
Chemical Name
GWP
Regulatory
Issues
nPb n-Propyl Bromide, 1-Bromopropane, 1BP <1 SVHC Sunset Date
HFC 365 1,1,1,3,3-PENTAFLUOROBUTANE 890 F-gas Annex I
HFC 4310 1,1,1,2,2,3,4,5,5,5-decafluoropentane 1640 F-gas Annex I
HFE7100 Ethyl Nonaflouroisobutyl ether 320 F-Gas AnnexII
HFE 7200 Ethyl nonafluorobutyl ether 55 F-Gas AnnexII
HFO Z)-1,1,1,4,4,4-Hexafluoro-2-butene <2 None
HFO Methoxytridecafluorohep-tene isomers <15 None
New generation cleaning agents are worthy of consideration as a
replacement. SF80™ by the new generation Opteon™ range from
Chemours™, for example, is a drop-in nPB alternative. With superior
cleaning performance to nPB and other restricted solvents, it is also
safe and extremely eco-friendly, with one of the lowest GWP figures
on the market. SF80 is unique because it is not affected by any F-gas
regulations, which allows businesses to make a one-step replacement,
saving time and ultimately costs.
4 Assess the true cost of alternatives
The total cost in use of cleaning agents is sometimes overlooked.
Price per litre should not be the only factor to consider. Other
restricted solvents may have a similar price point to nPB, but this
may mask their overall cost in productivity and safety terms.
Restricted solvents, including nPB, continue to be subject to special
storage and handling requirements, as well as vapour extraction
and compulsory occupational exposure monitoring - all of which are
‘hidden’ costs. A replacement such as SF80 is non-flammable and
has a safety exposure limit of 202ppm (ten times better than PERC),
which eliminates all these additional costs and can boost productivity
through energy savings and faster component drying times.
22
JUNE 2020
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