Approved Alternative Solvents for Dry Cleaning
After September 6th of 2018, only the following NYSDEC (Department) approved alternative solvents may be used in alternative solvent dry cleaning equipment. These solvents were formulated as a desirable replacement for perchloroethylene (perc). Perc solvent may presently be used in dry cleaning equipment at all permitted facility locations but its future use at co-located residential facilities is prohibited after December 21, 2020. Water-based cleaning machines (a.k.a., "wet cleaning") and dry cleaning machines that use only liquid carbon dioxide are exempt from air permitting requirements.
Approved alternative solvents have a flash point about 140° F, meet the criteria for a low or moderate toxicity air contaminant and have an acceptable batch-to-batch consistency as demonstrated in the laboratory analyses of five independent batch samples. Detailed information about an approved alternative solvent may be obtained by clicking the link below to view the solvent's Safety Data Sheet.
Manufacturers requesting approval of an alternative solvent must submit to the Department the information specified in Part 232-3.8(c) of the Dry Cleaning Facilities regulation. Proposed determinations of approval will then be issued within 90 days of receipt of a complete submission. Solvents proposed for approval will be noticed in the Environmental Notice Bulletin (ENB) on the Department's website. If no significant comments are received after the required thirty (30) day comment period, approval will be granted after posting on this webpage. Should the chemical formulation of a solvent be modified after approval, the re-formulated alternative solvent must be resubmitted and reapproved by the Department prior to use in New York State.
The Department published a list of all alternative solvents proposed for approval in the Environmental Notice Bulletin on June 27, 2018. Since the Department received no comments by July 27, 2018, all alternative solvents listed below are now "officially" approved for use in dry cleaning equipment in New York State.
- Green Earth® (SB-32): decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, CAS 541-02-6, by General Electric. Green Earth® (SB32) Safety Data Sheet (PDF, 126 KB).
- ExxonMobil DF-2000: synthetic hydrocarbon, CAS 64742-48-9. DF-2000 Safety Data Sheet (PDF, 122 KB).
- Chevron Philips EcoSolv®: highly refined hydrocarbon, CAS 68551-17-7. EcoSolv® Safety Data Sheet (PDF, 183 KB).
- Rynex 3™: dipropylene glycol tert-butyl ether, CAS 132739-31-2. Rynex 3™ Safety Data Sheet (PDF, 170 KB).
- Sasol (LPA-142): highly refined hydrocarbon, CAS 64742-47-8. LPA-142 Safety Data Sheet (PDF, 186 KB).
- R.R. Streets Solvair™1: dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether (DPGnBE), CAS 29911-28-2. Solvair™ Safety Data Sheet (PDF, 128KB).
- SolvonK4™: dibutoxymethane, CAS 2568-90-3, by Kreussler. SolvonK4™ Safety Data Sheet (PDF, 1 MB).
- Green Earth® GEC-5: decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, CAS 541-02-6, by Shin-Etsu. Green Earth® GEC-5 Safety Data Sheet (PDF, 138 KB).
- DC-142: aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, CAS 64742-88-7, by Essential Solvents. DC-142 Safety Data Sheet (PDF, 1.2 MB).
- Sensene™: synthetic hydrocarbon (CAS 64742-48-9) and alkoxypropanol formulation mixture, by SAFECHEM. Sensene™ Safety Data Sheet (PDF, 236 KB).
- R.R. Streets Ktex™: synthetic hydrocarbon (CAS 64742-48-9), propylene glycol monobutyl ether (CAS 5131-66-8), and orange terpenes (CAS 68647-72-3) formulation mixture, by BARDAHL. Ktex™ Safety Data Sheet (PDF, 231 KB).
NOTE: None of the above approved alternative solvents is a drop-in replacement for perc. Contact the solvent manufacturer for the required dry cleaning machine specifications for the approved alternative solvent under consideration.
1 The Solvair™ dry-cleaning system uses both DPGnBE and carbon dioxide (an exempt solvent) as dry cleaning solvents.
