Today's ASTM D37.04 Compressed Gas Safety & Quality Initiative meeting saw a pivotal moment in the ongoing effort to enhance safety and quality standards in the butane extraction industry led by Solvent Direct. The committee's discussions focused on tightening specifications, refining testing protocols, and improving best practices to ensure purity and safety in compressed gases used for extraction processes.
Key Outcome: Stricter Benzene Specification Tolerance
One of the most significant outcomes of the meeting was the decision to lower the benzene specification tolerance from 1 ppm to below 0.05 ppm at the supplier level. This substantial reduction reflects Solvent Direct's commitment to minimizing potential health risks associated with benzene exposure, a known carcinogen. To achieve this new standard, several other parameters will be tightened:
Toluene Levels: Toluene, another volatile organic compound, will see stricter limits to ensure the overall safety of the gas.
Total Alcohol Concentration: The allowable concentration of alcohols will be reduced to further eliminate potential contaminants and fast crash.
Total Moisture Content: Moisture levels will be closely regulated, as excess moisture can lead to microbial growth and degradation of product quality.
The modifications signify a major advancement in setting stricter safety regulations, demonstrating the recognition and developing awareness of potential risks in butane for extraction from global suppliers like Diversified CPC, Gas Innovations, and Cortera Gas working closely with Solvent Direct for distribution nationwide.
New Testing Methods and Equipment
To support these new standards, Dr. Randall Shearer emphasized the need for updated testing methods and equipment designed to. Jack McCulloch from Gas Innovations suggested a new Instrumental Liquid Flow (ILF) method will be developed and documented to accurately measure compliance with the revised specifications. Darwin Millard expressed his enthusiasm for reviewing the new limits and exploring the necessary adjustments to meet these requirements. Cassin Coleman is currently developing a method to test small cylinders used to pull samples from larger gas cylinders, which can then be sent for lab analysis to ensure purity standards—an approach similar to the one Solvent Direct and Dr. Randall Shearer have utilized for several years to address issues like Medusa, fast crash, and other contamination concerns in high purity gas.
Cylinder Cleaning: Necessity or Redundancy?
The meeting also highlighted differing views on the need for cylinder cleaning to maintain purity standards. While some committee members supported the idea of standardized cylinder cleaning protocols, others questioned their cost effectiveness and necessity. Further debate ensued, with suppliers questioning the need for repeated cleaning if the contents of returned cylinders are unknown. Jack McCulloch from Gas Innovations suggested that cylinder cleaning would only be effective if every cylinder were tested after each cleaning.
However, Lexis Shontz, CEO of Solvent Direct, emphasized that in many high-purity applications, maintaining rigorous cleaning standards of the vessel is essential to ensuring the quality and safety of high purity chemicals and gases. Shontz noted that a standardized cleaning protocol is typically followed, which includes several critical steps. One of the most important aspects is Valve Cleaning and Inspection: the valve must be thoroughly inspected and cleaned to remove any residue or blockages, as its proper functioning is crucial for maintaining the gas's purity and preventing leaks. Additionally, Internal Cleaning is often required, especially for gases used in sensitive applications. This process involves purging and cleaning the interior of the cylinder to ensure it is free from contaminants or any residual gases from previous fillings. Furthermore, in cases where the cylinder has been exposed to potentially hazardous substances or recapture, Decontamination and Sterilization procedures should be implemented to eliminate any risk of cross contamination. These rigorous cleaning practices are vital in maintaining the highest safety standards in the handling and distribution of high-purity gases.
Kyle Hernandez added his perspective from nine years of experience working with Bizzy Bee Extractors in labs across the U.S., stating that cylinder cleaning serves as a crucial catch-all to prevent contamination and impurity accumulations. He emphasized the need for a reliable testing method to verify the effectiveness of the cleaning process.
Alternatives to Cylinder Cleaning: Redesigning the Extraction System
Darwin Millard proposed an alternative approach: redesigning the extraction equipment to prevent recapture altogether. This change could eliminate the variability associated with cylinder contamination. However, this idea did not score highly compared to other proposed standards in the committee's survey.
Kyle pointed out that recapture might not be the primary source of contamination and suggested labeling tanks to indicate that recapturing is illegal, as many in the industry may be unaware of this regulation. He noted that, based on his experience installing closed-loop systems over the past nine years, recapturing using DOT tanks is not a widespread practice, and the contaminants of concern are unlikely to originate from this issue.
Addressing Industry Concerns
Sean from Safe Leaf Canada raised concerns about placing the burden of preventing recapture on equipment developers, arguing that it would be overreaching to require pipe fitters to design systems solely to address this issue. However, Jack noted that some extractors have admitted to engaging in recapture practices, underscoring the need for clear standards and enforcement.
Lexis Shontz concluded by highlighting Solvent Direct's efforts with Bel Costa Labs an industry-leading California analytical lab, to develop new testing protocols within the lab to isolate contamination. These protocols will involve multiple touch points to control variables more effectively and identify contamination sources, ultimately leading to an improved process guide for testing.
Moving Forward: Balancing Safety, Practicality, and Innovation
The discussions at the ASTM D37.04 meeting reflect the complexity of establishing safety and quality standards in the butane extraction industry. As new specifications are adopted, the industry must balance the need for rigorous safety measures with practical considerations for implementation. The ongoing collaboration between industry stakeholders, researchers, and regulatory bodies will be crucial in achieving these goals, ensuring that the butane extraction process remains safe, efficient, and reliable.
By focusing on refining test methods, tightening specifications, and fostering open dialogue, Solvent Direct and the ASTM D37.04 committee are taking important steps toward a safer and more standardized future for the butane extraction industry.
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