Number
444-EN
Section
General Section
Use
Sector
Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment
Function
Lubricating agent
Other
Process
Other
Product category
Metal surface treatment products
Lubricans, greases, release products
Application
Lubricating-cooling agent in surface treatment of metallic parts.
Abstract
Offering a wide range of metalworking services, the company used grinding equipment which required the use of a lubricating-cooling emulsion. The emulsion was expected to decrease the temperature of abrasive components during metal surface treatment processes. The lubricating-cooling emulsion contained substances that were hazardous both to human health and the environment, including CMRs and VOCs. One of the substances was formaldehyde, which is classified as carcinogen and sensitizer. Formaldehyde is included in the SIN list: https://sinsearch.chemsec.org/chemical/50-00-0.
The company wanted to phase out these substances. So, they changed the surface grinding system and modernised the existing grinding cycle. New grinding components were purchased and installed, and the emulsion with abrasives was replaced. The new equipment allows working without hazardous substances.
Substituted substances
Formaldehyde
CAS No. 50-00-0 EC No. 200-001-8 Index No. 605-001-00-5
Chemical group
Aldehyde
Classification: hazard statements
H350 May cause cancer
H341 Suspected of causing genetic defects
H331 Toxic if inhaled
H311 Toxic in contact with skin
H301 Toxic if swallowed
H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
H317 May cause an allergic skin reaction
Other adverse effects
The substance is: 1 carcinogen (IARC) as listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORT Screening Criteria (SDSC).
2-Aminoethanol
CAS No. 141-43-5 EC No. 205-483-3 Index No. 603-030-00-8
Chemical group
Amino compounds; hydroxy compounds, alcohols substituted
Classification: hazard statements
H332 Harmful if inhaled
H312 Harmful in contact with skin
H302 Harmful if swallowed
H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
Reliability of information
Evidence of implementation: there is evidence that the solution was implemented and in use at time of publication
Reason substitution
CMR
physical hazards
Other type of alternative
Metal surface grinder with a speed control system
Hazard Assessment
Substances to be substituted:
Formaldehyde is a hazardous substance with various concernable properties for human health. It has neurotoxic effects (H331: toxic by inhalation). 2-Aminoethanol has acute toxic properties and physical hazards.
Alternative: there are no alternative substances mentioned in this case study.
Description of Substitution
a) Motivation to apply the alternative: Before changing the metal processing technology, the operator of the company's grinding machine had to manage problems caused by the outdated machinery that required the hazardous lubricating-cooling emulsion. This emulsion tended to clog the system when it mixed with the metal particles. It also spilled out during the operation process and had to be changed frequently. The old grinding machine could not work without the cooling liquid because the metal elements could overheat during the process, resulting in deformation rendering them unusable for further processing.
In addition to the practical problems of the emulsion, it contained the well-known carcinogen formaldehyde and a strong skin and respiratory irritant aminoethanol, which is also harmful for the environment.
b) Description of procedure or technology (including pre-/post-processing): The company bought and installed a new plate grinder with a speed control system. It does not need a lubricant-coolant. The system regulates the grinding speed automatically so that the metal elements do not overheat and the operator does not need to worry about damaging the components.
Now, the grinding machine?s operator should only turn on two buttons when starting the job: one is for the equipment that collects small particles from the grinding process, another is for the grinding machine itself. To ensure the small particles are collected, which are created in the plating process, an additional filtering equipment was set up (TEKA filtoo filtering unit). Still, as 100% of generated dust and other small metal particles coming from process cannot be collected, occupational safety guidelines for handling metal dust must be followed.
b) Way of application: Mechanical grinding/polishing
c) Risk management measures (technical, organizational and personal): Use of personal protection equipment (face mask) and collection of residues to ensure protection of workers and the working environment.
Case/substitution evaluation
The alternative describes an alternative process avoiding the use of carcinogenic, mutagenic, sensitizing or VOC substances. This decreases emissions of VOC and yields in a safer work environment.
It is mentioned, that the amount of hazardous waste was considerably reduced, as no used lubricants and no rags with hazardous substance residues have to be disposed.
State of implementation
In use
Enterprise using the alternative
KNK Mefab, Ltd. KnKMefab is a local metal processing company offering various metal processing services to its customers. The company mainly works with aluminium, black metal, stainless steel, aluminium, and zincified black metal.
Availability of Alternative
The alternatives are available on the market.
Producer/Provider
supplier of set of equipment in particular case is Franco Pinelli (Pinelli GmbH) Germany; www.Filterpatronen-Filterplatten.de
Type of information supplier
User
Contact
KNK Mefab, Ltd. Markalnes street 10, Riga, Latvia. https://mefab.lv/en/about-us
Further information
Picture
Date, reviewed
March 1, 2013