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Explore the ecological and safety implications of using bio-based floor strippers as mandated by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act. Learn about bio-based products, lab screenings, metrics conversions, and VA pilot studies. See lab safety analysis, source control, and TURI lab testing. Discover the benefits, challenges, and recommendations for adopting bio-based floor stripping in commercial and industrial settings.
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Bio-based Floor-Stripping Jason Marshall Investigating the ecological, health & safety implications of using bio-based floor strippers Or something like that
2000 Mockingbirds 1 millionth of a fish 4 nickels = two kilomockingbirds = 1 microfiche = 1 paradigm Useful Metric Conversions
Why Biobased Floor Stripping • May 2002, Section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (Public Law 107-17) • Federal agencies are mandated by this law to purchase and promote the purchase of biobased products • United States Department of Agriculture • Memorandum in January of 2005 • Establishing the USDA biobased procurement program • Intent to increase the purchase and use of biobased products by Federal Government
What is Biobased • A biobased product as defined by the Secretary of Agriculture • To be a commercial or industrial product (other than food or feed) that is composed, in whole or in significant part, of biological products or renewable domestic agricultural materials (including plant, animal, and marine materials) or forestry materials. www.ofee.gov/gp/USDA_Secretary's_Memo.pdf
This is where we want to be Whole or Significant Part • What does that really mean? • Lab set up four categories • Whole 100% • Significant ≥50% • Partial ≥25% • Minimal <25% • must be greater than 0%
Biobased Sources • General source of materials in products • Soy • Corn • Plant • Citrus • Other
Journal of Environmental Health Article May 2007 • From work conducted in 2005 • by Ephraim Massawe • Part of doctoral dissertation • 2nd Article on performance comparison • Journal of Cleaner Production (not publication date yet)
Journal Article Context • Preliminary work with the VA • Identify potential areas for using biobased products • All purpose cleaning • Hard surface cleaning • Floor stripping • Vehicle maintenance
Pilot Study • Biobased Products Pilot Study at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans, Bedford, MA • Two Areas of Focus • Floor Stripping • Hard Surface Cleaning
Process • Product Identification • Lab Testing • Field Testing • Evaluate Economics • Recommendations for Change
Biobased Product Identification • Existing floor strippers • Not many out there • Lab’s website: www.cleanersolutions.org • Wax removal • Coating removal • Web Search
Lab Safety Screening • EHS analysis • Based on five parameters • VOC • GWP • ODP • HMIS/NFPA • pH • Provides quick screening of the EHS impacts of cleaning alternatives
Source control Eliminate products that have high levels of VOCs Purchase new products that contain low or no VOCs (Environmentally Preferable Purchasing) Screening Values VOCs
Some greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere Include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone Others result from human activities Very powerful greenhouse gases that are generated in a variety of industrial processes, including cleaning processes GWPs
The ratio of the amount of ozone depletion of a chemical compared to the amount of ozone depletion of the same mass of CFC-11 Certain manufactured substances can destroy stratospheric ozone much faster than it is formed ODPs
Individual Indicator Scores Add up HMIS/NFPA for each category Use table to determine the number of points to assess HMIS/NFPA
Neutral substances receive the highest Individual Indicator points Both very acidic and very basic are both avoided pH
Safety Screening • Should not be concluded from these results alone that all biobased products are safer with respect to EHS • A full EHS study should be conducted on the products with higher Safety Screening Scores • TURI’s 5 Chemical Assessment
Lab Testing • Bench scale testing • Preliminary screening • Manual wipe • Mechanical abrasion • See handouts • Pre-pilot testing • Floor stripping machine
Field Testing • Top performers used on site • Work completed by hospital staff • Witnessed by Lab staff • Survey of work process • During stripping with existing solvent • With biobased alternative
Evaluate economics • Product cost • Current solvent from the paper • Found to be the cheapest product • Operating cost • Initial biobased alternatives required longer times • Some needed to be heated • Environmental cost • Current solvent’s components linked to significant negative health, safety, and environmental impacts
Recommendations • TURI’s Plan • Work with Bedford facility to implement biobased floor stripping products • VA’s End Goal • Take results and assist in the adoption with all of the VA Hospitals
Finishing Work with VA • Phase 2 of project • Hard surface cleaning • Floor & wall • Completion of both phases by December • 2 Case studies • 2 Executive summaries
CleanerSolutions • Anyone want to see it? • Anyone? • Anyone? • Class? • Anyone? • Anyone? • Bueller? • Bueller? • Bueller?