Saturday 9 May 2015

METHYL SOYATE as a solvents

METHYL SOYATE

Methyl soyate, a biobased solvent
made from soybean oil, is an excellent replacment for
petrochemical solvents. It offers numerous advantages
over traditional solvents.

Safety advantages
• High flash point (greater than 360 degrees F)
• Low VOC levels (<50 g/L )
• Non-ozone-depleting chemical (ODC)
• Non-SARA reportable
• Readily biodegradable
• Potential for reduced waste-disposal costs

Performance advantages
• Can be used to formulate many types of products
• Provides effective solvency with a kauri-butanol (KB)
value of 58
• Compatible with other organic solvents

Methyl soyate has a high solvency with a Kauri-butanol (KB) value of 58 and has low toxicity when compared to other common substances. In comparison to most commercial solvents, methyl soyate is safer to handle and store due to its high flashpoint of approximately 360 degrees Fahrenheit and high boiling point of well over 400 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not list methyl soyate as an ozone-depleting chemical (ODC), hazardous air pollutant or volatile organic compound. Methyl soyate�s slow evaporation time can be seen as a disadvantage, but in certain applications methyl soyate outperforms other traditional solvents when longer settle times are needed.

Beyond being an ingredient in cleaners and strippers to replace chlorinated or petroleum products, methyl soyate could find increased use as a carrier solvent. Solvents used as carriers and diluents in a number of alkyd coatings and adhesives include methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEK), toluene and xylene for coatings and methylene chloride (MeCL) and MEK for adhesives.
Methyl soyate is not limited to replacement of regulated industrial cleaning solvents. Due to its eco-friendly nature, methyl soyate can be used to clean up and recover spilled petroleum products from shorelines and streams. In fact, the EPA has listed a methyl soyate biosolvent on the National Contingency Plan product schedule for oil spills. It is also licensed by the state of California as a shoreline cleaner.

Formulated consumer products ranging from hand cleaners to auto-care to personal care products that utilize methyl soyate are already being produced and marketed. Additionally, expanding utilization of methyl-soyate-based co-solvents with ethyl lactate in products such as Vertec Biosolvent�s Vertec Gold solvent, and methyl-soyate-based co-solvents with d-limonene (citrus extract) in products such as CITRUSoy by Bi-O-Kleen Industries, Inc. also show promise. Vertec Gold is used in specialty coatings, inks and cleaners and offers increased versatility and high performance. CITRUSoy solvent, cleaner and degreaser are suitable for removing gum, wax, tar, asphalt, graffiti and more. Other new emerging applications for soy-based-solvent products and processes include bioremediation, paper pulp cleaning and highway paving materials that replace asphalt.

Methyl soyate is proving to be a great alternative to chemical-laden cleaners and solvents. Development and commercialization of biobased products are rapidly expanding because of increased government regulations and market demands for safe, healthy and environmentally-friendly alternatives to terpene or petrochemical based solvents and cleaner/degreasers containing butyls. Opportunities to increase the usage of methyl soyate continue to grow










Read More..