AIR3-CT94-2063 Vegetable Oils and their Fatty Acid Esters (VOFA) as Substitutes for Organic Solvents in Industrial Processes (VOFAUSE)

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AIR Cluster IV - Oils and Fats : Fine Chemicals : Paints/Coatings/Plastics : Process Engineering : Vegetable Oil/Fat

	Contract No	AIR3-CT94-2063
	Total Cost	1 406 597
	EC Contribution	888 223
	Start Date	01/01/1995
	Duration	30 months

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OBJECTIVE:

The goal of vofause is to improve the scientific basis for technical applications of vegetable cleaning agents (VCA) - mixtures of vegetable oils and their fatty acid esters (VOFA) . This will be done through classifying, characterising, assessing and adapting these products to make them much more technically applicable as non toxic substitutes for organic solvents.

It is expected that after the proposed study, important sectors of the solvent consuming industry use these products and reduce their consumption of organic solvents and the emission of volatile organic compounds. This technology needs no expensive investment so that actually small and medium sized companies can introduce this cleaning technology. The project tasks cover areas, where innovation and improvement is necessary in order to obtain a more extensive usage of VOFA

1. Comprehensive description of the fields, where VOFA can be used for cleaning purposes, esp. printing, metal degreasing and coating (IA/KOOP)

2. A study of the technical experiences and the problems (MI/KOOP/IA/ENPRO)

3. A chemical characterisation of VOFA with respect to composition and a classification and definition of VOFA and their fatty acid esters as precondition to fulfill EC labelling requirements (IA/ENPRO/KOOP)

4. Cleaning effects and technical applications (ENPRO/MI)

5. Life cycle analysis and overall ecological assessment (CW)

6. Biological degradation in water and ground/bioaccumulation and toxicity (CW)

7. Dissemination (KOOP/ENPRO/IA/MI/CW)

The innovations are crucial steps to a scientifically based technology.

The reduction of organic solvents is a contribution to less air pollution to better protection of health of the workers and lower financial and technical risks for the employers arising from stricter environmental regulations.

The partners represent a well-balanced group both with respect to industrial experience, close connections with interested industries, experience in graphics, coatings metal cleaning and experience in chemical and physical analysis and environmental management.

Contacts

Coordinator

• Mr Lothar LISSNER / Behorde fur Wissenschaft und Forschung der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg / GERMANY

EC Scientific Officer

• Ciarán MANGAN / European Commission - DG Research Quality of Life Programme - Unit B1.2 / BELGIUM

Participant

• Pieter VAN BROEKHUIZEN / Chemiewinkel Universiteit van Amsterdam / NETHERLANDS
• Thomas JACOBSEN / Danmarks Tekniske Universitet Institut for Teknologi og Samfund / DENMARK
• Eva WALLSTROM / ENPRO ApS DENMARK
• Dr Phil THORNTON, / Materials Ireland, Coatings Research Unit, Forbairt, / IRELAND