A bottom-paint job is unpleasant from start to finish, and wiping down the hull with acetone plays a role in that unpleasantness. So when a Cinnaminson, N.J., company sent us an acetone alternative called Bio-Solv, we were more than
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keen to test it.
New Solvent Solution
Bio-Solv is a non-toxic, non-flammable cleaner that works better and is safer than acetone, lacquer thinner, or Xylene, according to Anthony Severino of MAS Epoxies, which began selling Bio-Solv last year. The company buys it from a proprietary manufacturer.
“It’s slightly more expensive than acetone but well worth it,” said Severino. “It lasts longer because it evaporates slower than acetone.”
The biodegradable acetone replacement, which the company calls “green acetone,” carries the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Design for the Environment (DfE) logo. In order to display the DfE logo, the product underwent extensive screening by the EPA and other firms to ensure that none of the ingredients in Bio-Solv are unsafe for humans or the environment.
Nontoxic, biodegradable products like Bio-Solv are quickly becoming the solvents of choice at many boatyards and boatbuilding facilities who are under the gun to comply with ramped-up environmental regulations.
Spilled acetone or wastewater containing it can pose a significant risk to ecosystems and wildlife. Acetone dissipates slowly in soil, and because of its high solubility in water, it is a significant groundwater contaminant. Acetone also can cause oxygen depletion in aquatic systems as it is sometimes consumed by micro-organisms.
For the yard workers who handle solvents daily—and even for those of us who have to use the stuff occasionally—switching to a less harsh, zero-carcinogen product like Bio-Solv means less exposure to harmful chemicals.
As new environmental laws are implemented and consumer demand for safer products grows, we expect to see more products like Bio-Solv hitting store shelves.
The Test
Bio-Solv is available at West Marine (www.westmarine.com) in sizes from a pint ($9) to a 55-gallon drum ($2,800).
recommends Bio-Solv. We think it lives up to its claim of being an effective, safe, environmentally-friendly alternative to acetone.
