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Aqueous and Semi-Aqueous Solvent Chemicals: Environmentally Preferable Choices
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Aqueous and Semi-Aqueous Solvent Chemicals: Environmentally Preferable Choices; Guide and Wall Chart

Information provided for informational purposes only

Note: This information is provided for reference purposes only. Although the information provided here was accurate and current when first created, it is now outdated.

Acid Agents and Acids

Chemical Name Other/Common Names CAS Numbers Ecological Toxicity Environmental Persistence
Citric acid 2-Hydroxy-1,2,3-propane carboxylic acid 77-92-9 Moderate Low
Ethylenetetraacetic acid,
sodium salt 1		 Sodium EDTA 7379-28-4 Moderate Moderate
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid 1 EDTA 60-00-4 Moderate Moderate
Formic acid Methanoic acid 64-18-6 Low Low
Glucoheptonic acid Glucosemonocarboxylic acid 23351-51-1 Low Low
Gluconic acid, sodium salt Sodium gluconate 527-07-1 Low Low
Gluconic acid D-Gluconic acid 526-95-4 Low Low
Hydrochloric acid Muriatic acid 7647-01-0 Low ______2
Phosphoric acid 3 Orthophosphoric acid 7664-38-2 High ______2
Sulfuric acid Hydrogen sulfate 7664-93-9 Low ______2

Alkalies

Chemical Name Other/Common Names CAS Numbers Ecological Toxicity Environmental Persistence
Monoethanolamine 2-Aminoethanol 141-43-5 Moderate Low
Potassium hydroxide Caustic potash 1310-58-3 Low ______2
Sodium tripolyphosphate 3 STPP 7758-29-4 High ______2
Sodium hydroxide Caustic soda 1310-73-2 Low ______2
Sodium carbonate Soda ash 497-19-8 Low ______2
Sodium sulfate Sulfuric acid disodium salt 7757-82-6 Low ______2
Sodium metasilicate Sodium silicate 6834-92-0 Moderate ______2
Tetrapotassium pyrophosphate 3 Potassium pyrophosphate 7320-34-5 High ______2
Tetrasodium pyrophosphate 3 Sodium pyrophosphate 7722-88-5 High ______2
Triethanolamine TEA 102-71-6 Low Low
Trisodium phosphate 3 Sodium phosphate 7601-54-9 High ______2

Surfactants

Chemical Name Other/Common Names CAS Numbers Ecological Toxicity Environmental Persistence
Polyethoxylated nonylphenol 4 Nonyl phenol ethoxylate 9016-45-9 Moderate Low-Moderate
Sodium xylene sulfonate Dimethylbenzenesulfonic acid, sodium salt 1300-72-7 Low Low-Moderate
Hydrocarbon Solvents

Chemical Name Other/Common Names CAS Numbers Ecological Toxicity Environmental Persistence
Dipentene Terpene processing byproducts 68956-56-9 High Low
n-Hexane Hexane 110-54-3 High Low
d-Limonene p-metha-1,8-diene 5989-27-5 High Low
l-alpha-Pinene, d-alpha-pinene,
beta-pinene 5		 Pinenes See Notes High Low
Non-Hydrocarbon Solvents
Chemical Name Other/Common Names CAS Numbers Ecological Toxicity Environmental Persistence
Ethanol, 2-butoxy EGBE 111-76-2 Low Low
Ethanol 2- (2- butoxyethoxy) DGBE 112-34-5 Low Low
Ethanol Ethyl alcohol 64-17-5 Low Low
Methanol Methyl alcohol 67-56-1 Low Low
N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone NMP 872-50-4 Moderate Low
1-Nonanol Nonyl alcohol 143-08-8 Moderate Low

Other Chemical Classes Used 6

Chemical Name Other/Common Names CAS Numbers Ecological Toxicity Environmental Persistence
Fatty acids 7 Various Various Low-Moderate Low-Moderate
Alkyl aryl sulfonates 7 Various Various Low-Moderate Low-Moderate
Sulfated ethoxy phenols Various Various Low Low
Ethoxylated alkyl phenols 7 Various Various Low to High Varies
Naphthalene sulfonates Various Various Low Low

How To Interpret the Ratings

Ecological Toxicity is based upon the effects of the chemical on aquatic organisms, such as fish and algae. The organisms are exposed to varied concentrations of the chemical in water over a 2- to 4- day period. The ratings are determined by the chemical concentration at which 50% of the aquatic organisms die. The standard EPA hazard and persistence criteria are:

  • High - 50% of organisms die at 1 part per million or less of the chemical.
  • Moderate - 50% of organisms die at >1 part per million, but less than or equal to 100 parts per million.
  • Low - 50% of organisms die at >100 parts per million.

Persistence ratings are based upon how long it takes the original chemical to completely break up into stable components when it is released to the environment. The ratings are:

  • High - longer than 6 months to completely break up.
  • Moderate - breaks up in less than 6 months, but longer than 1 month.
  • Low - breaks up in 1 month or less.
Notes

1. In moderately hard water (120.0 - 150.0 mg/L as CaCO3), the toxicity of EDTA is mitigated about 30 times by Calcium (Ca) and Magnesium (Mg) ions.

2. In this chart, environmental persistence ratings are only applied to organic compounds.

3. The concern for inorganic phosphates is their high potential to increase the growth of freshwater green algae, whose eventual death will reduce the available oxygen for aquatic life.

4. The ecological toxicity and persistence for this chemical are moderate and low-moderate; however, there is a high toxicity concern, and a moderate-high persistence concern for the chemicals that the product eventually breaks down to in the environment.

5. The CAS numbers for the pinenes are: 7785-26-4, 7785-70-8, and 127-91-3

6. Due to the large number of chemicals used to make aqueous and semi-aqueous cleaners in each of these five categories, the individual chemicals could not be listed.

7. The toxicity for the chemicals in these three categories ranges from low to high toxicity. For additional information on the toxicity rating for chemicals in these categories, please call the number for the TSCA Hotline at (202) 554-1404.

 

 
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