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US 20060081822A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. N0.: US 2006/0081822 A1 Koetzle (43) Pub. Date: Apr. 20, 2006 (54) METHOD TO INCREASE FLASH POINTS OF (52) US. Cl. ............................................................ .. 252/601 FLAMMABLE SOLVENTS (76) Inventor: A. Richard Koetzle, Rochester, NY (57) ABSTRACT (Us) Correspondence AddreSSI The present invention relates to a method to decrease the A- RICHARD KOETZLE ?ammability of normally ?ammable alcohols and solvents. 134 STONECLIFF DRIVE The additive is Alpha Terpineol, Which Will increase the ROCHESTER’ NY 14616 (Us) ?ash point of ?ammable alcohols or solvents, by blending the Terpineol into the ?ammable solvent or alcohol. Solvents (21) Appl' NO" 10/968’441 such as acetone, methanol, ethylacetate, ethanol and Xylene, (22) Filed, Oct 20 2004 to name a feW, increases ?ash points by 50° C. to 60° C., by i ’ addition of 12-14% terpineol. The said solvent can then be Publication Classi?cation blended With other organic solvents to produce performance solvents, such as paint strippers With ?ash points greater (51) Int. Cl. than 1400 F. and meet Federal and state Volatile Organic C 09K 21/00 (2006.01) Compound regulations. US 2006/0081822 A1 Apr. 20, 2006 METHOD TO INCREASE FLASH POINTS OF [0008] The organic solvent or combination of solvents can FLAMMABLE SOLVENTS comprise up to 99 Weight percent of the composition in total, and may be the combination of tWo or more different types BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION of organic solvents. A typical combination may comprise; [0001] Many industrial processing cleaning compositions [0009] 1.0 to 99 Weight percent organic solvent. have been based on acetone, xylene and other ketone, alcohol, ester, aromatic hydrocarbon, aliphatic hydrocarbon, [0010] 1.0 to 25 Weight percent of terpene alcohol and and ether solvents. As ecological concerns have risen in speci?cally alpha terpineol. importance, the search for replacements for such cleaners has attained increased importance. Several requirements [0011] The term “terpene alcohol” is understood for pur exist for replacement cleaners and/or solvents. One of the poses of the present invention to encompass compounds of requirements is a concern for oZone depletion by volatile the formulae CIOHISO organic compounds. A solvent used historically is acetone. In 1990 2,330 million pounds Were used in the United States [0012] Which are monocyclic, bicyclic, and acyclic alco and 110 million pounds Were exported. hols, respectively. Terpene alcohols are structurally similar to terpene hydrocarbons except the structure also includes [0002] The greatest danger regarding acetone is that is some hydroxyl functionality. They can be primary, second poses a serious ?re haZard. Although acetone is an excellent ary, or tertiary alcohol derivatives of monocyclic, bicyclic, solvent and is relatively non-toxic, it is extremely ?am mable. It has a ?ash point of —18 C (0 F). If handled or acylic terpenes as Well as above. Such tertiary alcohols improperly, acetone may pose a dangerous ?re risk. Under include terpineol Which is usually sold commercially as a the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (US. mixture of alpha, beta, and gamma isomers. Linalool is also EPA) Clean Air Act, acetone is an exempt volatile organic a commercially available tertiary terpene alcohol. Secondary compound (VOC). Thus, basic problems associated With alcohols include borneol, and primary terpene alcohols providing an effective, VOC exempt, and safe solvent has include geraniol. Terpene alcohols are generally available not been considered or solved using terpene alcohols to through commercial sources. eliminate the ?re haZard. [0013] Optionally, the solvent blended compositions of the SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION present invention may also include a suitable solvent for a speci?c solvate purpose. Such solvent blends include indi [0003] The present invention relates to a method to vidual solvents With a ?ashpoint greater than 140 F. Such increase ?ash points of solvents, Which are typically beloW solvents include the groups of ketones, alcohols, aromatic 140 E, to over 140 F and aliphatichydrocarbons, esters, ethers, and amines [0004] A further aspect of the invention is an acetone based cleaning composition Which is admixed With a terpene [0014] Examples of organic solvents, Which are alcohol, or Which may be admixed With other organic employed, include l.polyhydric alcohols, ?ash point 232 F solvents. An additional aspect of the invention involves the consisting of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, 1,3 butan admix of solvents With acetone, a terpene alcohol, and other diol ?ash point 249.8 F. 2. aliphatic hydrocarbons consisting organic solvents to bring the blended formulation in com of 140 solvent, ?ash point 140 F., naphtha, ?ash point 143.6 pliance With Federal and state VOC (Volatile Organic Com F, 3. aromatic hydrocarbons consisting of isopar L ?ash pound) regulations and DOT ( Department of Transporta point 147.2 F, 4. esters consisting of propylene carbonate tion) ?ash point regulations. ?ash point 269.6 E, dibasic ester ?ash point 212 F., 5. ethers consisting of diethylene glycol monoethyl ether ?ash point DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE 204.8 E, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether ?ash point 145.4 INVENTION E, ethylene glycol dibutyl ether ?ash point 185 F., and 6. [0005] The present invention relates to increasing the ?ash amines consisting of n-methyl pyrrolidone ?ash point 269 P. points of aliphatic hydrocarbon, aromatic hydrocarbon, All of the chemical components used in the present inven alcohol, ethers, esters and ketone solvents. Solvents Which tion are commercially available. provides a safer environment to be useful in many industrial applications and processes Which presently rely on loW ?ash EXAMPLES point solvents, such as acetone, isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, toluene, xylene, hexane, kerosene, and heptane Which have [0015] The folloWing examples illustrate certain aspects ?ash points loWer than 140 F. A solvent of particular interest of the present invention. They are not intended to exemplify is acetone, Which under the United States Environmental the full scope of the invention. In certain aspects they enable Protection Agency’s 1990 Clean Air Act Amendment has certain aspects of the invention. A method Was used to exempted acetone as a VOC (Volatile Organic Compound). determine the correct steiociometric mixture to maximiZe Acetone is extremely ?ammable With a ?ash point of —1 8 C the highest point of ?ash. An example using xylene Which (0 F). has a normal ?ash point from betWeen 76 F to 82 F. With certain percentage mixes of alpha terpineol the ?ash point is [0006] These improved ?ash point compositions com raised and the physical characteristics of the solvent are not prrse; harmed. It Was observed the addition of alpha terpineol [0007] 1 to 25 Wt percent terpene alcohol and from 1 to 99 increased the ?ash point to a maximum and then decreased Wt percent of a organic solvent or combination of organic the ?ash point as the alpha terpineol concentration surpassed solvents. the optimum amount. US 2006/0081822 A1 Apr. 20, 2006 Example 1 Example 4 Standard Flash Point Xylenei(76 F) Standard Acetone [0016] 90.0% xylene 10.0% alpha terpineoli?ash point [0026] Flash point40 F (—18.0 C) 140 F (60 c) [0017] 88.5% xylene 11.5% alpha terpineoli?ash point Ingredient Wt % 144 F (62.2 c) Acetone 82.0% [0018] 85.0% xylene 15.0% alpha terpineoli?ash point Alpha terpineol 18.0% 156 F (68.9 c) 100.0% [0019] 82.5% xylene 17.5% alpha terpineoli?ash point 145 F (62.8 c) [0027] The combination Was clear and stable. When tested it exhibited a ?ash point of 143.6 F ( 62.0 C) using a [0020] 20.0% xylene 80.0% alpha terpineoli?ash point Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Flash Point procedure. 139 F (59.4 c) Example 5 [0021] The combination Was clear and stable. The opti mum blend contained 85% xylene and 15% alpha terpineol Standard Ethyl Acetate and increased amounts of alpha terpineol resulted in a [0028] Flash pointi30.2 F (—1.0 C) decreased ?ash point. Example 2 Ingredient Wt % Standard Isopropyl Alcohol 99% Ethyl acetate 83.0% Alpha terpineol 17.0% [0022] Flash 15611114531 F (11.7 c) 100.0% [0029] The combination Was clear and stable. When tested Ingredient Wt. % it exhibited a ?ash point of 141.8 F (61.0 C) using Pensky Martens Closed Cup Flash Point procedure. Isopropyl alcohol 99% 85.5% Alpha terpineol 14.5% Example 6 Standard Ethanol 100.0% [0030] Flash 15611114554 F (13.0 c) [0023] The combination Was clear and stable. When tested Ingredient Wt % it exhibited a ?ash point of 145.4 F (63.0 C) using a Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Flash Point procedure Ethanol 86.0% Alpha terpineol 14.0% Example 3 100.0% Standard Methanol [0031] The combination Was clear and stable. When tested [0024] Flash pointi51.8 F (11 C) it exhibited a ?ash point of 145.4 F (63.6 C) using Pensky Martins Closed Cup Flash Point procedure. [0032] The preceding examples 1-6 Were directed princi Ingredient Wt. % pally to increase the ?ashpoint of organic solvents to over 140 F. These compositions are environmentally and signi? Methanol 86.0% cantly safer for handling and storage over the individual Alpha terpineol 14.0% organic solvent. 100.0% [0033] The solvent system of this invention can be used as is, may be blended With other organic solvents to produce an environmentally and safer performance solvent system. Acetone has a ?ashpoint of 0 F (—18.0 C) by itself. In [0025] The combination Was clear and stable. When tested example 4 the acetonemixed at 82.0 Wt percent With 18.9 Wt it exhibited a ?ash point of 141.6 F (62.0 C) using a percent of alpha terpineol, the resulting ?ashpoint is Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Flash Point procedure.