ASTM D4579-00(2017)

Standard Practice for Handling an Acid Degreaser or Still

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice describes the symptoms and causes of an acid degreaser as well as methods for correcting the problem.  
4.2 This practice is intended as a reference for use by persons responsible for the operation or maintenance of vapor degreasers or stills.4  
4.3 This practice is not intended to cover every possible situation.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the procedures required for recognizing and handling an acid vapor degreaser or still.  
1.2 If the degreaser(s) is equipped with a still, follow the procedure in this practice for all of the equipment.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2017
• ICS: 25.220.10 - Surface preparation
• Technical Committee: D26 - Halogenated Organic Solvents and Fire Extinguishing Agents
• Drafting Committee: D26.02 - Vapor Degreasing

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D4579 − 00 (Reapproved 2017)
Standard Practice for
1
Handling an Acid Degreaser or Still
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4579; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 4. Significance and Use
1.1 This practice covers the procedures required for recog- 4.1 This practice describes the symptoms and causes of an
nizing and handling an acid vapor degreaser or still. acid degreaser as well as methods for correcting the problem.
1.2 If the degreaser(s) is equipped with a still, follow the 4.2 This practice is intended as a reference for use by
procedure in this practice for all of the equipment. persons responsible for the operation or maintenance of vapor
4
degreasers or stills.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.3 This practice is not intended to cover every possible
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
situation.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5. Symptoms of an Acid Degreaser/Still
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
5.1 An acid condition in a vapor degreaser may be recog-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
nized by one or more of the following symptoms:
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
5.1.1 A strong acid odor.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
5.1.2 A dense white smoke in the vapor zone.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
5.1.3 An unusually dark brown to black-colored solvent in
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
the degreaser sumps.
5.1.4 Dark spots and pitting of aluminum parts after
2. Referenced Documents
degreasing.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
5.1.5 Rusting of mild steel parts immediately after removal
D2110 Test Method for pH of Water Extractions of Haloge-
from the degreaser.
nated Organic Solvents and Their Admixtures
5.1.6 New formation of green deposits on copper condens-
D2942 Test Method for Total Acid Acceptance of Haloge-
ing coils or chiller coils.
nated Organic Solvents (Nonreflux Methods)
5.1.7 Newly formed blush rusting of stainless steel
D3698 Practice for Solvent Vapor Degreasing Operations
degreaser components, especially welded seams.
D4276 Practice for Confined Area Entry
5.1.8 Low pH of solvent as determined by Test Method
3
2.2 Federal Regulations:
D2110 by water extraction or a low acid acceptance of the
29 CFR 1910.146, Permit-Required Confined Spaces
solvent as determined by Test Method D2942, or both.
5.1.9 Severe pitting and corrosion inside water separator.
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
6. Possible Causes of an Acid Degreaser
3.1.1 acid degreaser, n—an acid degreaser is the result of
6.1 It is rare for a solvent vapor degreaser to go acid when
the decomposition of the degreasing solvent to acid products.
properly operated and maintained. An acid degreaser can result
from any one or a combination of the following causes:
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D26 on Haloge-
6.2 Lack of Proper Maintenance—If a degreaser is not
nated Organic Solvents and Fire Extinguishing Agents and is the direct responsi-
bility of Subcommittee D26.02 on Vapor Degreasing. cleaned out on a regular basis, the accumulations of soluble
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2017. Published December 2017. Originally
and insoluble contaminants, especially reactive white metal
approved in 1986. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D4579 – 00 (2012).
chips (for example, aluminum), can cause both thermal and
DOI: 10.1520/D4579-00R17.
2
chemical breakdown of the solvent resulting in the generation
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
of hydrochloric acid.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
3
Available from U.S. Government Publishing Office, 732 N. Capitol St., NW,
4
Washington, DC 20401, http://www.gpo.gov. See also Practice D3698.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D4579 − 00 (2017)
6.3 Deterioration of Heating Surfaces: caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) or caustic potash (potassium
hydroxide) or other strong alkali, because an explosive product
6.3.1 Damaged Heating Elements—Deterioration of either
may re
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D4579 − 00 (Reapproved 2012) D4579 − 00 (Reapproved 2017)
Standard Practice for
1
Handling an Acid Degreaser or Still
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4579; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers the procedures required for recognizing and handling an acid vapor degreaser or still.
1.2 If the degreaser(s) is equipped with a still, follow the procedure in this practice for all of the equipment.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D2110 Test Method for pH of Water Extractions of Halogenated Organic Solvents and Their Admixtures
D2942 Test Method for Total Acid Acceptance of Halogenated Organic Solvents (Nonreflux Methods)
D3698 Practice for Solvent Vapor Degreasing Operations
D4276 Practice for Confined Area Entry
3
2.2 Federal Regulations:
29 CFR 1910.146, Permit-Required Confined Spaces
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 acid degreaser, n—an acid degreaser is the result of the decomposition of the degreasing solvent to acid products.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This practice describes the symptoms and causes of an acid degreaser as well as methods for correcting the problem.
4.2 This practice is intended as a reference for use by persons responsible for the operation or maintenance of vapor degreasers
4
or stills.
4.3 This practice is not intended to cover every possible situation.
5. Symptoms of an Acid Degreaser/Still
5.1 An acid condition in a vapor degreaser may be recognized by one or more of the following symptoms:
5.1.1 A strong acid odor.
5.1.2 A dense white smoke in the vapor zone.
5.1.3 An unusually dark brown to black-colored solvent in the degreaser sumps.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D26 on Halogenated Organic Solvents and Fire Extinguishing Agents and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee D26.02 on Vapor Degreasing.
Current edition approved March 1, 2012Nov. 1, 2017. Published June 2012December 2017. Originally approved in 1986. Last previous edition approved in 20062012 as
D4579 – 00 (2006).(2012). DOI: 10.1520/D4579-00R12. 10.1520/D4579-00R17.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from U.S. Government Printing Office Superintendent of Documents, Publishing Office, 732 N. Capitol St., NW, Mail Stop: SDE, Washington, DC 20401,
http://www.access.gpo.gov.http://www.gpo.gov.
4
See also Practice D3698.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D4579 − 00 (2017)
5.1.4 Dark spots and pitting of aluminum parts after degreasing.
5.1.5 Rusting of mild steel parts immediately after removal from the degreaser.
5.1.6 New formation of green deposits on copper condensing coils or chiller coils.
5.1.7 Newly formed blush rusting of stainless steel degreaser components, especially welded seams.
5.1.8 Low pH of solvent as determined by Test Method D2110 by water extraction or a low acid acceptance of the solvent as
determined by Test Method D2942, or both.
5.1.9 Severe pitting and corrosion inside water separator.
6. Possible Causes of an Acid Degreaser
6.1 It is rare for a solvent vapor degreaser to go acid when properly operated and maintained. An acid degreaser can result from
any one or a combination of the following causes:
6.2 Lack of Proper Maintenance—If a degreaser is not cleaned out on a regular basis, the accumulations of sol
...