Johnson & Johnson Medical, Inc.

Year Submitted: 2003

Process: surface preparation

Industry: Rubber

Wastes Reduced: VOC Emissions

Substance: Methanol, Ethanol

Equipment: Aqueous Coagulant

Location: Arlington TX

No. of employees: 580

Contact: Tasheen A. Khan

Phone: (817) 784-124

Description:

Major VOC emissions from Johnson & Johnson Medical Inc. (JJMI) were ethanol and methanol used as solvents to carry solids to be deposited on surfaces. When rapid drying is needed, traditionally, solvents with high evaporation rates like alcohols are used. In 1994 JJMI used 895,000 pounds of ethanol/methanol mixture and 419,000 pounds of formaldehyde/methanol mixture.

P2 Application:

To date, JJMI has successfully formulated a water based coagulant. As we changed from alcohol to water, the loss of quick drying properties of alcohol was compensated by adjusting temperature, humidity and air flow to increase the evaporation rate of water in the formulation. This approach can be used to replace high evaporation rate solvents, especially in circumstances where solvents are used as sacrificial materials like cleaners or carriers of solids to be deposited on surfaces.

Environmental Benefits:

The implementation of this project could serve as a model for other environmental projects because it takes into consideration several aspects of pollution reduction. Going to an aqueous based system eliminates the use of flammable alcohols reducing liquid, solid and air emissions. This has a positive impact on safety at the facility. Since Tarrent county is a moderate non-attainment area, reductions in VOC emissions is a major concern for they area. The project when fully implement will reduce solid hazardous waste by 3 tons and air emissions of methanol by 59,000 pounds.

Details of Reductions

Additional Information :

Direct savings from the project are approximately $385,000 per year from reduced waste disposal, purchase of chemicals, electrical and water use. In addition, indirect costs such as regulatory compliance reporting, cleaning tanks, health and safety will also produce savings. The expected payback for the 1.15 million project is 4.2 years.

Source: TCEQ