Document ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2002-0064-0181
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2007-03-28T04:00Z

ROBERT RUSSELL <RJRussell1280@msn.com> 
04/02/2004 04:01 PM	To
Margaret Sheppard/DC/USEPA/US@EPA
cc

bcc

Subject
nPB Market Use Information
	
		
		
		Margaret,
		 
		I just cut and pasted the two e-mails I had originally sent Betsy David at 
Stratus which speak to the adhesives and vapor degreasing uses for n-PB. 
I'm sure you'll have some questions that will arise from viewing this. 
Please feel free to give me a call regarding anything here or any 
additional information that would be helpful to you on the project.
		Regards,
		 
		Bob Russell
		 
		President
		RJR Consulting, Inc.
		Ph. (989) 839-2887
		E-Mail: rjrussell1280@msn.com 
		___________________________________________________________________________
________________
		 
		n-Propyl Bromide
		 
		Global Capacity= Approx. 25,000 tons/yr. (as compared to global capacity 
for methylene chloride of 450,000 tons/yr).
		Pricing= $1.75-2.25 /lb. (as compared to $0.80-1.25/lb for methylene 
chloride)
		TLV= 25 ppm (similar to methylene chloride)
		VOC=NPB is currently listed as a VOC. There is an application into EPA to 
propose de-listing it. 
		 
		So why have some users switched to nPB across some applications?
		 
		There are no obvious advantages across the following categories:
		1. Toxicity 
		2. Cost 
		3. VOC (today)
		The main reason is that as producers of nPB began development and 
promotion, there was no current TLV yet established. It was felt that the 
TLV could be set as high as 75-100 ppm which would have significant 
advantages vs. using methylene chloride. That coupled with the additional 
health concerns and regulatory action on other chlorinated solvents ( e.g. 
1,1,1 thichloroethane) made nPB appear attractive to industry. Since the 
TLV was established at 25 ppm, there turned out to be no apparent 
advantage to users. The only advantage would be if EPA would rule in favor 
of de-listing it as a VOC.
		 
		Approximate Number of Small Business Users / Likely Preferred Alternative 
to N-PB
		 
		NAICS Sectors
		Adhesives- combined number of small business users ( <500 employees)  
approximate 100.
		The majority of use are in N. Carolina and the midwest.
		326150 Urethane and Other Foams
		           60-70 businesses
		           Predominant alternative breakdown in %=
		           Acetone  = 75%
		           Water= 15% (low because of development $$ and capital 
investment.) This would be a more attractive option for larger companies.
		           Methylene chloride= 10%
		 
		336360 Motor Vehicle Seating
		           20-30 businesses
		           Predominant alternative breakdown in %=
		           Acetone= 75%
		           Water= 15% ( low because of development $$ and capital 
investment.) This would be a more attractive option for larger companies.
		           Methylene chloride= 10%
		 
		Aerosol Solvent- combined number of small business users approximate 
700-800.
		There are a handful of aerosol packaging companies that are formulating 
with nPB. The total number of formulators /packagers are estimated at 5-7 
across the U.S. Two such companies are:
		1. Tech Spray, TX (Jimmy Witcher, President  806 372-8523) 
		2. Microcare, CT.
		 
		334 Computer and Electronic Products
		 336 Transportation Equipment
		         It is very difficult to breakdown the number of aerosol users 
between these categories. A total estimate is 700-800; some may be larger 
than 500 employees. (to be verified)
		Preferred alternatives=  to be completed.
		 
		 
		References:
		1. John Wilkinson (ex-Vulcan; member of the Solvents Technical Options 
Committee) 
		2. Steve Risotto (Exec. Dir. of HSIA- Solvents Industry Alliance- trade 
association) 703 741-5782 
		3. Jason Linnell (Electronics Industry Assn.) 703-907-7573 
		4. Jimmy Witcher, President; Tech Spray 806 372-8523
		___________________________________________________________________________
_____________
		Vapor Degreasing / Electronics
		 
		Betsy,
		  Finally put a "Lasso" around Jimmy Witcher , President of Tech Spray.
		 
		 The major use of n-PB in both the Computer and Electronics Products 
sector and Transportation and equipment sector is not necessarily in 
re-packaged aerosol sprays, but its actually sold in drums as a vapor 
degreaser. So it’s a matter of getting the terminology right. When they 
are used, they are sprayed in tightly controlled atmospheres (TLV= 10 ppm 
or less).
		 
		He estimate the number of small business users as follows:
		Computer and Electronics Products:  500-600
		Transportation Equipment: 150-200
		 
		Replacements: He mentioned that there are a number of potential 
replacement compounds. They would still be considered organic solvents, 
some halogenated compounds with Cl. He said a favorite replacement would 
be trans- 1,2 di-chloroethylene. He did not believe the industry would 
revert back to methylene chloride.
		 
		He also confirmed why people ever got interested in n-PB to begin with-- 
the hope of it having a higher TLV than methylene chloride, which was not 
the case.