Solvent vs Aqueous

How do you choose between solvent or aqueous cleaning?

Myths about solvent and aqueous cleaning continue to abound. Graham Fraser, MD of cleaning solutions provider, Fraser Technologies, has heard most before and is now clearing up some of the most commonly asked questions.

A lot of misconceptions still remain around the use of solvent cleaners, with many businesses using aqueous or water-based cleaning solutions because they think they’re safer or better – but this isn’t always the case! Instead, it’s important to consider the chemistry that is most appropriate for the application, and considering all the factors. Whether you currently use solvent cleaning systems or aqueous solutions, or you are looking to upgrade or implement a new cleaning process, it is important to weigh up all the options to ensure you have the best all round cleaning process.

These are the most frequently asked questions we receive about solvent cleaning systems versus aqueous or water-based cleaning, to bust the myths and better inform you on these popular cleaning solutions.

Are solvents bad for the environment?

Modern cleaning solvents use extremely eco-friendly chemistries, which offer a superior cleaning performance. They provide a genuine alternative to the hazardous solvents, which have now been banned or restricted, and have low in use costs.

New generation solvents can also reduce the overall carbon footprint and energy costs of your cleaning process with a solvent process typically using five times less power than a comparable aqueous system. In addition, the physical footprint is significantly less, which helps if floor space is at a premium.

The Chemours™ Opteon™ range, which Fraser Technologies distributes, are safe, stable, environmentally friendly, best in class solvents and are approved for use in a wide range of standard cleaning systems. These solvents now also boast low global warming potential (GWP), which is used to represent the equivalent of C02 being released into the atmosphere, where 1kg of C02 = a GWP of 1. Opteon™ SF80 – which is a new generation solvent - has a GWP of <2.5 compared to a other next gen solvents with significantly higher GWP figures.

What are the health impacts of using solvents?

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