Substitution of an industrial degreaser containing potassium hydroxide

Number

308-EN

Section

General Section

Use

Sector

General manufacturing, e.g. machinery, equipment, vehicles, other transport equipment
Other

Function

Cleaning agent

Process

Manual maintenance(cleaning and repair) of machinery

Product category

washing ad cleaning products

Application

Substitution of an industrial degreaser

Abstract

In a Spanish automobile company a cleaner based on potassium hydroxide was substituted by an alternative product based on enzymes, non-ionic and anionic surfactants, and organic salts. The product was used for industrial cleaning of parts and machinery. Substitution achieved the reduction of toxic hazards that workers were exposed to.

Substituted substances

Potassium hydroxide

CAS No. 1310-58-3 EC No. 215-181-3 Index No. 019-002-00-8

Chemical group

Potassium compounds; hydroxides

Classification: hazard statements

H302 Harmful if swallowed
H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage

Alternative Substances

Non ionic surfactants

CAS No. EC No. Index No.

Chemical group

Surfactants

Enzyme

CAS No. EC No. Index No.

Chemical group

Enzymes

Anionic surfactants

CAS No. EC No. Index No.

Chemical group

Surfactants

Reliability of information

Evidence of implementation: there is evidence that the solution was implemented and in use at time of publication

Reason substitution

skin/respiratory sensitizing
other toxic effects

Hazard Assessment

Substance to be substituted: Potassium hydroxide is not listed in the SUBSPORTplus Database. Alternative substances: The alternative product has no official risk classification, it contains enzymes, anionic surfactants and non-ionic surfactants. Substance information is missing at this point so that a complete hazard assessment cannot be made by SUBSPORTplus.

Description of Substitution

Alkaline compounds are widely used in industrial degreasing. They can have serious toxic effects on human health and the environment. In this case the substituted degreasing product contained potassium hydroxide, a highly corrosive substance that is also harmful by ingestion. The substitution process was carried out by the car industry company CIE GAMEKO located in Vitoria, Spain. The product was used for the industrial cleaning of parts and machinery. For the company the main reason for substitution was to avoid the risk of accidents and improve its social image. The alternative product is a multiple use cleaner, Enzymatic Multi-purpose Cleaner manufactured by the Company A&B. The cleaner contains enzymes, non-ionic and anionic surfactants, and organic salts. Aside from degreasing and detersive properties these components provide biocatalyst enzymatic properties, as well capability to degrade organic matter. Advantages -Reduction of hazards - Improvement of efficiency in the elimination of organic matter due to the product’s biological fraction (bio catalysers)

Case/substitution evaluation

The substituted product was not highly toxic to workers health. However, it implied high risks since it was manipulated manually and on a regular basis by the employees. As we have not had access to the full content of the product, this evaluation is based on incomplete information on the alternative.