Nalco/Exxon Energy Chemical Company

Year Submitted: 2005

Process: Process Cleaning

Industry: Chemical Manufacturing

Wastes Reduced: Isopropyl Alcohol

Location: Freeport TX

No. of employees: 48

Contact: Ly Nguyen

Phone: (409)233-3541

Description:

In 1993 Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) started being used as a solvent in place of xylene, a chemical listed on the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). By 1996 Xylene solvent was replaced 100% by IPA. While the switch was successful in reducing TRI chemical usage, it became apparent that IPA was less efficient than xylene and had to be used in larger quantity in order to effectively clean the reactors.

P2 Application:

A series of good operating and planning procedures were implemented to reduce the amount of IPA solvent used. - Batches scheduled according to similarity in recipes and specifications. - Decreased the need for cleaning reactors between every batch. - 32% reduction of IPA in 1998.

Environmental Benefits:

Isopropyl alcohol is not a toxic chemical, but reducing its usage has decreased the amount of waste generated.

Details of Reductions

Additional Information :

Nalco/Exxon saved $12,000 in purchasing costs for 1998.

Source: TCEQ