Now the question dawned on David that they had been using MTO for quite some time and how such a threat was ignored? Let’s clear it up for David on what the issue is with MTO and how to overcome it. Before that let’s educate him on Mineral Turpentine Oil

So, what is Mineral Turpentine Oil?

Mineral Turpentine Oil uses in different industries
I) Paints

    1. Thinning down the viscosity

    2. Cleaning of brushes

II)  Varnishes

1. Reduce viscosity

III) Alkyl resins

1. For exterior coating

2. For industries

IV) Cleaning

1.Removes oil & grease

2. Rust removal

3. General cleaning

V) Metal cleaning chemicals
VI) Solvent

Mineral Turpentine oil is preferred over chlorinated solvents or kerosene -Why?

The basic reason for several industries to use MTO over chlorinated solvents and kerosene is its tolerable odor, cutting and affordable price range (though it is higher than chlorinated solvents). Fire hazard in using Mineral Turpentine Oil is slightly lesser when compared to kerosene and chlorinated solvents. These should have been the reasons for David to choose MTO.
So…. Does Mineral Turpentine Oil make the best solvent? No, not exactly.

Disadvantages of Mineral Turpentine Oil

There are notable disadvantages with MTO which cause an impact

1. Fire hazard is high as VOC (volatile organic compounds ) are high and poses an unsafe working environment.
2. Should be used only in well-ventilated areas
3. Unpleasant kerosene-like odor
4. Continuous exposure to high concentrations leads to respiratory issues and health hazards.
5. Special storage requirements & PESO license, a mandate.

The first and fourth points give David the answers to his employee’s sickness.
A study conducted by www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov concludes that occupational exposure to mineral turpentine oil and heavy fuels like kerosene, diesel, etc. poses a risk of Alzheimer’s disease & mixed-type dementia*.  Other studies have also been documented explaining the respiratory ailments which develop with time.
Is there a Safer alternate to suggest for David?
Fortunately Yes! Exxon Mobil offers a series of de-aromatized hydrocarbons that contain less than 1ppm benzene, which reduces quite a number of health hazards.
Products available under the D (de-aromatized) series include
Exxsol D40, Exxsol D60, Exxsol D80, Exxsol D95 & Exxsol D130

Notable product features for all of Exxsol D series:

1. Good Solubility for Fatty and Oily Dirt:
Dirt becomes stubborn when it combines with oil and grease which makes it harder to be dislodged from the surface. Exxsol’s de-aromatized series were as efficient enough that with little effort it is completely washed off.
2. Chemical Stability:
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) and fire hazards are directly proportional, meaning when a product has high VOC the chances of it catching fire are also high.  All de-aromatized Exxsol products are low in VOC which directly brings in more safety to the working environment.
3. Recycle Through Distillation:
Reuse is a sort of afterword for moving towards sustainability and cutting down costs as well. Exxsol D series provides exactly this; the product can be filtered and used ‘N’ a number of times without any change in property. Isn’t it impressive? A good reason to make the switch.

4. Relatively LOW Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs):
Being de-aromatized hydrocarbons, all Exxsol D series products are well within or even lower than OELs. What does it mean? it keeps the workspace out of chemical / bad odour which rules out inhalation of harmful chemicals and keeps the work environment safe, else it would pave way for several health issues and even be the cause of cancer.
5. Low Surface Tension:
Almost all Exxsol D series products have low surface tension.
How is this, an advantage?
To understand you should know “what is surface tension?”
Surface tension is the attractive force that is exerted on the surface molecules by the ones below so as to have the least surface area for the liquid.
Now coming back to the least surface tension of Exxsol D series, the attractive force is low which helps the product to spread like water which in turn reaches the nook and corners allowing perfect cleaning of spaces like intricate parts, long narrow openings, minute holes etc.
6. Low Aromatics:
The aromatic content in Exxsol De aromatized series is 6x times lower than mineral turpentine oil which makes the work environment better, safer, and in compliance with government safety norms.

OEL-Occupational Exposure Limits | VHR – Vapor Hazard Ratio
7. High Flashpoints:
If high flash points are an advantage, then do you know, What is the flash point? It is the temperature at which a substance ignites or burns, it’s typically the vapors that burn and not the product itself. So when you handle a product with a higher flash point it does not catch fire as easily as the ones that have lower flash points.
Exxsol products have high flash points, that’s a range of flash points from 40-130 for you to choose from according to your requirement.
Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) comparison chart with mineral turpentine oil, chlorinated solvents, water-based, and Exxsol give a complete understanding.

Exxsol D series with its unique features can completely replace MTO (white spirit) and traditional solvents with the greatest advantage of being low in odor and more.

Applications of Exxsol D series:

1. Metal-working fluids:

Exxsol D series is the preferred choice as cooling and lubrication fluids used in the metalworking process. They are also good at keeping away moisture when compared to kerosene or mineral spirit. The effective cutting fluid makes a marked difference in the product finish which adds value to goods.
2.Metal Forming:
For metal forming functions such as Stamping, Punching or drawing hydrocarbon fluids are very effective and deliver consistently reliable performance.  Medium range boiling point gives an edge over the other conventional fluids.

3. Rust Prevention:       
                                                 
With the best rust prevention, optimum performance is reached at the same time providing high levels of safety for the employees. Tailor-made viscosity, drying time, and lubrication can be achieved to suit requirements.
4. Industrial Metal Cleaning:
Exxsol D series hydrocarbon fluids are a preferred choice for industrial cleaning applications and replace chlorinated and kerosene-based cleaners for their high occupational exposure limits (OELs). Excellent metal cleaning results are achieved for components with complex geometry which have difficult spots to reach & that may otherwise be difficult or may not be up to the mark.  Isopar G, Isopar H, and Isopar L are preferred choices as their dirt flushing ability are remarkable and drying is faster. Amongst the very many advantages, the notable ones are their compatibility with most plastics and elastomers, full compatibility with metals, and reliable performance even after repeated usage and recycling.

If you are unsure of which Isopar series to use, read up here “Exxon Mobil Isopar series – How to decide which suits you best?”
5. Paint Industry

Mineral turpentine oil or white spirit is best replaced by Exxsol dearomatized fluids which give

• • Improved working conditions
  • Less odour or even close to ‘nil odor’
  • Consistent performance
  • Better quality output
  • Storage does not need licensing

6. Pump Calibration:
Calibration is a vital part during pump manufacturing, be it fuel or air dispersing pumps, or for that matter any mechanism which involves metering. Ensuring the right amount of product being fed into a system is a bear necessity at all times.
Several factors like viscosity, discharge pressure, age of the pump etc. affect the rate of discharge. This brings in the necessity to calibrate the pump at regular intervals.

Right after manufacturing it’s crucial to calibrate the pump with the relevant product. For example, petrol pumps are calibrated using Exxsol D60 which has properties like viscosity, flash point, etc. that are similar to petrol. Exxsol D60 is also used in several other calibrations making it one of the preferred products for calibration.
You can read up on Exxsol D80 one of the most sorts after in series.
Coming back to providing a solution for David in the metalworking fluids section, the Exxsol D series has it all and is the right fit. The work safety levels are high and David will have lesser absentees in the department and need not worry about evading safety regulations.

Where to source Exxsol D series in India?

Pon Pure Chemicals is the only distributor of Exxsol products. It is available in bulk, as ready stock. With 26 branches throughout India, we save time and transportation costs for our customers.
If your requirement is in smaller quantities you can check out our e-commerce website www.ibuychemikals.com your online partner to source A-Z of chemicals, Glassware and more.
Here’s a discount especially for you @ ibuychemikals use code ‘BEXXSOL’ and get 10% off on MRP.