Gilorinated solvent use hurt by federal rules

The chlorinated solvents industry is coming under increased pressure from regulatory and environmental groups. And that pressure is causing declines in demand for the main chlorinated solvents—methylene chloride, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, and 1,1,1-trichloroethane. The drop in demand doesn't mean necessarily that consumers of these products are using less, but rather that they are recycling more of the product. For instance, in the case of dry cleaning, because of new technologies, recycle rates now approach 98 to 99% for perchloroethylene, according to William Seitz, executive director, Neighborhood Cleaners Association. As a result, demand for perchloroethylene this year will be about that in 1980, he says. Seitz was speaking to a chlorinated solvents seminar, held in New York City earlier this month and sponsored by the Halogenated Solvents Industry Alliance (HSIA), a Washington, D.C.-based industry group. U.S. demand for virgin solvents will be about 1.5 billion lb this year, according to ...