UMass Lowell Toxics Use Reduction Institute Laboratory

9:53 AM

CleanerSolutions Usage in FY 2011

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Did you know that our lab's testing database was visited 26,873 for July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011. Were you one of them? If so, thanks. If not, please check it out!
9:47 AM

TURI Lab Monthly Update of Projects –September 2011

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End User Testing
• Metal working facility – met with them. They are going to get smaller degreaser and use nPB in it. Will decrease solvent usage for their one customer who requires it to about 50 gallons or less a year. Got them to commit to working on aqueous solution also. Talked to OTA about going to talk to them about water conservation. Will set a meeting end of October or November.
• Remanufacturing-repair facility – Did research on paint spray gun cleaning and sent them systems and cleaners to look into.
• Microelectronics – Cleaning of pallets on hold there. Thanked us for work and will be in touch.
• Sheriff’s office – Went in with vendor in Sept. They bought a steam unit to clean bathrooms and cells etc. Bought one unit and plan to buy 3 more to reduce chemicals used. Also another vendor is redoing their laundry and cleaning chemicals to decrease toxicity and save them about 40%.
• Plating company - Met with them. Saw their adapted dry cleaning machines that use PCE to clean. Have reduced their TCE use over 90%. They have a trivalent chrome line and a hex line. They helped get me some time on NESF agenda and wasn’t to be involved with supply chain work and CE conferences if we need them.
• Plating company – Helped TURI Lab get on NESF agenda and has invited anyone from TURA to come see their operation. Also willing to work with me on information for case studies, supply chain work and alternatives as well as CE conference.
• Capacitor Mfr - Had one meeting with manufacturing and operations VP. They are committed to switch. Will also need to bring OTA in down there. Setting up a meeting with vendors and them to see the space and operation to start looking at cleaning lines. Researching cleaners and things to do with project.
• Optics Mfr - went into visit to see cleaning system and talk to them about why it isn’t working for one of their optic lines. Have worked with them to indentify problem, was in there with vendor this week. Have new action items for issues. Narrowing project scope down. Going to try a wetting agent in rinses and also work on redesigning racks for their optics used in cleaning.

Small Contract Work
Ongoing or Recently Completed
• Testing equipment for steam vapor cleaning. Evaluating range of applications for cleaning and disinfecting.
• Providing technical support and formulation development/evaluation
• Green product line testing for IEHA HPCP
• Evaluating ways to demonstrate that traditional cleaners can leave behind residues. Determine effect on resoiling
In the Works
• Soil removal testing (and maybe microbial testing) done on a no touch system. Have unit and will be finalizing project scope.
• Met with group about testing and future collaboration for improving housekeeping procedures and products
• General product performance testing (industrial)
• Chemical supplier testing of ingredients for I&I applications

Grants
• SHE seed grant proposal for Cleaning in Home Health Care. – Margaret Quinn, Nancy Goodyear. The proposed project will develop methods and collect pilot data to evaluate the health and environmental impacts of the use of cleaning products in the home healthcare (HHC) setting.
• University Research – disinfection collaboration with Dr. Goodyear. Performance collaboration with Dr. Nagarajan surfactant project
• Providing support/training for TURN Grant - Montachusett Opportunity Council. We have had some calls with them about workshop in November and are working n materials and presentation

Database Web Tool
• DIY site – reworking layout and working on fine tuning content
• Completing work on P2OASys updates.

Disinfection Testing
• Met on 26th with electrolyzed water equipment and Dr. Nancy Goodyear UML. Saw new unit and talked about moving forward with testing.
• Steam Vapor cleaning continues
• “Green” disinfectants to be investigated for performance

Do-it-Yourself Cleaning Recipes
• Student has been working on videos for recipe making and performance testing

Outreach
• Went to Washington DC to State of Green Cleaning conference to present on HPCP program with IEHA. Great reception on presentation. Great visibility for lab and will feed off this at ISSA in October.
• Working on new brochures and posters for lab
• Meeting about NESF and NEFA conferences coming in November and materials needed and information we want together while attending and doing a table at each. Have sent follow up emil on action items from that meeting
• Greening your facility fact sheet being worked on still. Internal review ongoing
• Did educational table at Westford Farmers Market
• Going to Dept of Corrections Visit as part of TUR Task Force initiative
• Asked to speak on toxics in Wenham this spring
• CIRI Conference in November 9-11
• MOC workshop Nov 15
• Article on Green and Clean for October issue of ICS magazine
• IEHA-TURI HPCP flyer for ISSA show

TURI Projects
• TURI Web redesign
• PCE alternatives report ongoing. Trainings for planning coming up
• Working on matching grant possibly with capacitor manufacturer and maybe demo site with them or someone doing alternatives to cad or hexchrome plating
• TUR Planner course assistance on Alternatives Assessment section. Finalizing details for event
• NESF event in November will talk to companies about metal finishing and who is interested in that and supply chain work. Talked to internally at TURI about how to work together to reach large companies how to capitalize with smaller MA companies connections with TURI Lab.

Lab General
• New training docs and SOPS being worked on
• Students
• Getting products in database and put away, updating inventory, database project of checking vendor contact information
• Vendors being contacted for new samples
9:38 AM

TURI Lab Monthly Update of Projects – July/August 2011

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End User Testing
• Sign manufacturer – Have found a cleaner they think may work on red metals. We will test that here or onsite with them. Also still looking for a low temp clear coat for red metals.
• LED manufacturer – Switching to n butyl acetate. Will visit when done and work on case study
• Electromagnetic Materials – Was asked to come back and help with a cleaning issue. Smell of a cleaner for some of their electronics is bothering worker in next office. Went and did site visit. Cleaned parts and am sending them back for their inspection. Then we will move on with odor testing.
• Metal working facility – connected with them during TCE calls and they have filled out test request form and have invited me to visit and talk about alternatives and work with them. Already talking about nPB. Will try to steer them away.
• Remanufacturing-repair facility – isocyanate painting adopted by company based on customer request. Sent them to a consultant to work on spray booth.
• Microelectronics – Visited with company and picked up pallets. Cleaned them in lab, going back to talk to them about if they are clean enough and work to develop cleaning process.
• Sheriffs office – Visiting again with vendor. If they connect and like product then project for laundry will hand off to vendor. Vendor is on MA EPP list and has worked with other correctional facilities in the state.
• Plating company - going to meet with them to see their cleaning process and see if they can get out of using TCE
•Plating company - invited to visit and see their operation and also invited to work with upcoming NESF conference
• Capacitor Mfr - They are ready to work on nPB to Aqueous. Will be discussing time lines, grants, prices, space, capital and type of cleaning

Small Contract Work
Ongoing or Recently Completed
• Testing equipment for steam vapor cleaning (IEHA connection). Evaluating range of applications for cleaning and disinfecting.
• Providing technical support and formulation development/evaluation
• Green product line testing for IEHA HPCP
• Hand washing evaluation
• GS 34 testing
• Evaluating ways to demonstrate that traditional cleaners can leave behind residues. Determine effect on resoiling
• Vacuum vs. dust mop evaluation results submitted to company
In the Works
• Soil removal testing (and maybe microbial testing) done on a no touch system. Have unit and will be finalizing project scope.
• Green Seal GS 37 testing for natural cleaning products
• Discussion with IEHA and company on floor cleaning process evaluations. Will include ergonomic evaluation. Waiting on approval from front office.
• Discussion on working with lab to create a “consumer report” like partnership where the lab would provide testing evaluations for their products and a place to direct consumers for comparisons to other products via the CleanerSolutions Site

Grants
• SHE seed grant proposal funded for Cleaning in Home Health Care. – Margaret Quinn, Nancy Goodyear. The proposed project will develop methods and collect pilot data to evaluate the health and environmental impacts of the use of cleaning products in the home healthcare (HHC) setting.
• TURI University Research – disinfection collaboration with Dr. Goodyear. Performance collaboration with Dr. Nagarajan surfactant project
• Providing support/training for TURN Grant - Montachusett Opportunity Council

Database Web Tool
• DIY site – reworking layout
• Student completing work on P2OASys updates

Disinfection Testing
• Meeting scheduled for 9-26-11 to discuss status of project with electrolyzed water system
• Steam-vapor testing – underway
• Received two grants for disinfection evaluations

Do-it-Yourself Cleaning Recipes
• Working on videos for recipe making and performance testing

Outreach
• TURI Lab asked to represent IEHA at ISSA State of Green Cleaning conference in September in VA.
• TURI Lab asked to speak at IEHA meeting October 18th
• Working on new Lab and possibly TCE, metal finishing or HHS help brochure
• Working within TURI for cadmium, hex chrome and TCE plans for Fall and for NESF conference. Want to use this conference to help our work with HHS substances, stakeholder work and to get out factsheets.
• Greening your facility fact sheet being worked on

TURI Projects
• TURI Web redesign
• Will review PCE alternatives report and go to meeting this month
• Working on matching grant possibly with Capacitor Mfr and maybe demo site with them or someone doing alternatives to cad or hexchrome plating.
• TUR Planner course assistance on Alternatives Assessment section. Met with other TURI staff to discuss next steps

Lab General
• New training docs and SOPS need to be worked on students
• Getting products in database and put away, updating inventory, database project of checking vendor contact information

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