Solvent formulations

Abstract

The present disclosure provides, in part, solvent compositions including an acetic acid alkyl (C—C) ester (e.g., methyl acetate (MA), ethyl acetate (EA), or tert-butyl acetate (TBAc)) and a carbonate ester (e.g., dimethyl carbonate, or propylene carbonate), and optionally, a benzene-containing compound. The solvent compositions may be used to replace methyl ethyl ketone (MEK).

1 . A solvent composition comprising:
 (a) an acetate ester in an amount between about 40% v/v and about 90% v/v, wherein the acetate ester is an acetic acid alkyl (C 1 -C 4 ) ester;   (b) a carbonate ester in an amount between about 5% v/v and about 55% v/v; and   (c) a benzene-containing compound in an amount between about 5% v/v and about 15% v/v.   
     
     
         2 . The solvent composition of  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the acetate ester is present in an amount between about 65% v/v and about 75% v/v; 
 (b) the carbonate ester is present in an amount between about 10% v/v and about 30% v/v; and 
 (c) the benzene-containing compound is present in an amount between about 5% v/v and about 10% v/v. 
 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The solvent composition of  claim 1  wherein the acetate ester is methyl acetate (MA) or tert-butyl acetate (TBAc). 
     
     
         5 . The solvent composition of  claim 1  wherein the carbonate ester is dimethyl carbonate (DMC) or propylene carbonate (PC). 
     
     
         6 . The solvent composition of  claim 1  wherein the benzene-containing compound is benzyl alcohol (BA). 
     
     
         7 . The solvent composition of  claim 1 , comprising:
 (a) the acetate ester in an amount between about 65% v/v and about 80% v/v, wherein the acetate ester is tert-butyl acetate (TBAc);   (b) the carbonate ester in an amount between about 15% v/v and about 25% v/v, wherein the carbonate ester is dimethyl carbonate (DMC); and   (c) the benzene-containing compound in an amount between about 5% v/v and 10% v/v, wherein the benzene-containing compound is benzyl alcohol (BA).   
     
     
         8 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The solvent composition of  claim 1  consisting essentially of:
 (a) the acetate ester in an amount of about 40% v/v, wherein the acetate ester is tert-butyl acetate (TBAc); 
 (b) the carbonate ester in an amount of about 52% v/v, wherein the carbonate ester is dimethyl carbonate (DMC); and 
 (c) the benzene-containing compound in an amount of about 8% v/v, wherein the benzene-containing compound is benzyl alcohol (BA). 
 
     
     
         25 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A solvent composition comprising:
 (a) an acetate ester in an amount between about 65% v/v and about 90% v/v, wherein the acetate ester is an acetic acid alkyl (C 1 -C 4 ) ester and is VOC-exempt; and   (b) a carbonate ester in an amount between about 10% v/v and about 35% v/v.   
     
     
         36 . The solvent composition of  claim 35 , wherein the acetate ester is methyl acetate (MA) and the carbonate ester is dimethyl carbonate (DMC). 
     
     
         37 . The solvent composition of  claim 36  consisting essentially of:
 (a) MA in an amount of about 75% v/v; and 
 (b) DMC in an amount of about 25% v/v. 
 
     
     
         38 . The solvent composition of  claim 36  consisting of:
 (a) MA in an amount of about 75% v/v; and 
 (b) DMC in an amount of about 25% v/v. 
 
     
     
         39 . The solvent composition of  claim 35 , wherein the acetate ester is methyl acetate (MA); and the carbonate ester is propylene carbonate (PC). 
     
     
         40 . The solvent composition of  claim 39 , consisting essentially of:
 (a) MA in an amount of about 70% v/v; and   (b) PC in an amount of about 30% v/v.   
     
     
         41 . The solvent composition of  claim 35 , wherein the acetate ester is tert-butyl acetate (TBAc) and the carbonate ester is propylene carbonate (PC). 
     
     
         42 . The solvent composition of  claim 41  consisting essentially of:
 (a) TBAc in an amount of about 65% v/v; and 
 (b) PC in an amount of about 35% v/v. 
 
     
     
         43 . The solvent composition of  claim 41  consisting essentially of:
 (a) TBAc in an amount of about 75% v/v and 
 (b) PC in an amount of about 25% v/v. 
 
     
     
         44 . The solvent composition of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent composition is for use as a methyl ethyl ketone replacement, acetone replacement, or both. 
     
     
         45 . The solvent composition of  claim 35 , wherein the solvent composition is for use as a methyl ethyl ketone replacement, acetone replacement, or both. 
     
     
         46 . The solvent composition of  claim 1  for use in paints, varnish, fiberglass and gelcoat manufacturing, paint and varnish removers, coatings, inks, adhesives, hard surface cleaners, household dyes, tints, insecticides, laundry starches, lubricating greases and oils, automotive chemicals, markers, nail polish and polish remover, shoe polish, undercoats, waterproofing compounds, particleboard, surface preparation, general and heavy duty degreasing, laboratory and equipment wipe solvent, general purpose surface wipe cleaner, paint gun and paint line cleaner, dissolution and processing of acrylic polymers, the production of resins comprising acrylic resins, urethane resins, alkyd resins, phenolic resins, polyaspartic urethane resins, epoxy resins, saturated polyester resins or unsaturated polyester resins, formulation or removal of nail polish, wherein the nail polish comprises nitrocellulose-based nail polish, methacrylated monomer-based nail polish, oligonucleotide (“ligomer”)-based nail polish, a UV cure nail polish or a LED cure nail polish, fiberglass manufacturing, gelcoat manufacturing, or waterproofing compounds, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         47 . The solvent composition of  claim 35  for use in cleaning wax, cleaning paint, cleaning varnish, cleaning coatings, removing wax, removing paint, removing varnish, removing coatings, cleaning fiberglass, cleaning gelcoat, cleaning inks, cleaning markers, removing inks, removing markers, cleaning dyes, removing dyes, cleaning excess oils, cleaning grease, cleaning nail polish, cleaning shoe polish, cleaning brakes, cleaning contacts, cleaning adhesives, removing adhesives, removing paint formulations, cleaning adhesives, cleaning paint formulations, ink formulations, marker formulations, cleaning inks, cleaning markers, lubricating greases, lubricating oils, automotive chemicals, nail polish, nail polish remover, precision cleaning applications, surface preparation, cleaning hard surfaces, laboratory wipe solvents, equipment wipe solvents, aerospace cleaning applications, general cleaning, general degreasing, or a combination thereof.