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FACTS ABOUT THE ACETYLENE MARKETPLACE AND THE FUTURE
In the USA and in the countries all over the world, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and similar government agencies, are currently joining together to work towards having “Clean Air Acts” passed.
The EPA organizations oppose anything that emits pollutants into the air, the water and the water tables, or the ground. Acetylene is a pollutant that does all of the aforementioned. The following is how acetylene does pollute and why acetylene sales are deminishing.
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The cost of calcium carbide, the main ingredient of acetylene, increases annually. This raises the cost of acetylene to the distributer and to the end-user.
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After the manufacturing process, the calcium carbide leaves a toxic residue or “sludge.” The disposal methods of the “sludge” contaminate the ground, water, and water tables. The disposal costs are expensive.
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In acetylene manufacturing, acetone, which is a condemned EPA chemical is placed in the cylinder to help create stabilization of acetylene in the cylinder. The acetone contaminates the steel walls of the cylinder which creates a disposal problem when the cylinder can no longer be refilled due to rust, dents, or can not be recertified to fill due to age. The disposal costs of the spent cylinders are expensive which adds to the cost of acetylene.
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The stability of acetylene in a cylinder is rated UNSTABLE. Also, at the manufacturing level it is very dangerous in all phases of manufacturing. Thus, the insurance premiums are very expensive for the manufacturers. This expensive cost to the manufacturer raises the cost of acetylene for the end-user.
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At the end-user level when the acetylene torch is ignited the “smoke” and “soot” contaminates the air that we breathe. This is in opposition of the “Clean Air Acts.” The cost to maintain safety in the workplace continues to make the demand less for acetylene. Acetylene is not safe to maintain at the work or storage sight for the end-user.
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The demand or need of acetylene lessens daily as the welding machines have become the way to weld with and liquid fuel gases become the product of choice for the end-user as there are many more benefits gained in using a liquid fuel gas.
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All chemicals in CHEMTANE 2 are EPA registered. CHEMTANE 2 is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 313 of Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization of 1986 and 40 CFR Part 372.
In summary, the future of acetylene can be summed up as “A Fuel Gas Of The Past.”
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