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Burlytic Systems
A Technical Products, Inc. Company
50 Pratt’s Junction Road
Sterling, MA 01564
(P): 508-887-1944
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A workplace-friendly electrolyte
The Burlytic® Systems electrolyte, or Burlyte®, is an ethylene glycol-based deburring electrolyte. There is a lot of confusion about the handling of ethylene glycol. It is found in paints, glass cleaners, printing inks, soft drink bottles and engine anti-freeze. It is not drinkable, but it biodegrades naturally into water and carbon dioxide. As a result ethylene glycol does not accumulate in the environment. Regarding its characteristics for industrial use, Burlyte® carries the low NFPA rating of 1 (water being “0”) in terms of health, flammability and reactivity hazards. The electrolyte is near neutral pH, in practice is used cold, and therefore is non-fuming.
Byproducts and Waste Streams
The two waste streams from the Burlytic® Systems electrochemical process are hydroxide sludge and rinse water. Hydroxide sludge results from the combination of metal ions from the burrs and hydroxyl ions from the electrolyte. The rinse water needs to be treated because it contains the electrolyte and hydroxide drag-out from the washed part.
Given time, the hydroxides will separate from the electrolyte. Alternative means of separation include filters and centrifuges. In practice, Burlytic® systems are equipped with an efficient cartridge filtration system, with easy to change filters. The hydroxide sludge from deburring aluminum, stainless steel or iron parts must be disposed of with attention to EPA and local regulations. In the worst case, such material is carted away as an industrial waste by a licensed hazardous waste disposal agency. The Burlytic® System hydroxide will contain ethylene glycol, which is a biodegradable, non-toxic material, considered harmless to the environment when disposed of properly. The remaining ingredients are the metals resulting from dissolved burrs.
The rinse water carries some of the electrolyte and whatever metal ions and hydroxides may have been clinging to the part surface. This rinse water needs to be treated before disposition in accordance with EPA and local regulations. An alternative to treatment of the rinse water is to recycle it through a closed loop, low temperature vacuum distillation unit that returns condensed clean water back to the rinsing station. This type of system does not usually require a permit. The residue that remains after treatment of the rinse water should be collected and disposed of with sludge.
In today`s environmentally conscious world, we all need to be concerned about how we use chemicals. It is important to thoroughly understand what we are using and how to manage disposal without damaging the environment. Technical Products, Inc. cares about the environment, and we will work with our customers to find satisfactory solutions to handling waste products.
pH Scale