In order to understand the environmental benefits of VOC Exempt Solvents, a comprehension of what VOC are and how they negatively impact the ozone is necessary.
What is VOC?
Volatile Organic Compounds are compounds that combine with nitrogen oxides found in the air, to form harmful smog (ozone) when they come in contact with sunlight. Sources of these compounds consist of many man-made chemicals found in everyday life such as:
- Car exhaust
- Household cleaning chemicals
- Paints
- Ink
- Glues
- Permanent markers
- Pesticides, etc.
What is a VOC-Exempt Solvent?
A VOC Exempt Solvent is a solution that is not placed under restriction since it does not contain a harmful amount of Volatile Organic Compounds. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Facility), a solvent only qualifies if it meets the following criteria:
- Doesn’t directly change from a solid to a gas
- Has an unknown vapor pressure or is less than 0.1 mm of mercury
- Has at least 12 or more atoms of carbon
Common forms of these solvents are:
- Acetone
- Methyl acetate
- Tert-butyl acetate
- Dimethyl carbonate
How Do They Help The Environment?
As mentioned earlier, VOC is responsible for indirect ozone generation. At the stratospheric level, ozone is necessary for protecting living beings from harmful Ultraviolet rays emitted from the sun. However, ozone at ground level can be detrimental to health and the environment and is considered a pollutant that can significantly decrease air quality.
Since these solvents do not contain harmful traces of this compound, there is no added production of ozone into the air. Thus, the ground level is less polluted, creating cleaner breathing air that promotes lung health in not only humans but animals as well. The increased air quality also supports the process of photosynthesis to successfully occur in plants, allowing them to regenerate and grow at a healthy rate. In turn, the plants are able to produce more oxygen and help keep harmful pollutants like ozone out of the air.
Making educated decisions to choose cleaning chemicals and solutions that do not contain these harmful compounds may be beneficial in helping promote cleaner air and a healthier environment.
Looking to do your part?
TidalWashers offers bulk industrial-grade solvents for your cleaning needs. Our expert team can help find the best product for you! Contact us or visit our website for more information.
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