Dyneon eliminates PFOA/APFO from fluoropolymer production

Nov. 6, 2008
November 6, 2008 -- The chemical, used as a polymerization aid in the production of certain fluoropolymers, has come under study by the Environmental Protection Agency.

November 6, 2008 -- Dyneon, a 3M company, today introduced a new emulsifier, Dyneon ADONA, which the company says eliminates the use of ammonium perfluorooctanoate (APFO), which is a salt derived from perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) from its production of fluoropolymers.

According to Dyneon, PFOA and in particular APFO, has played a historical role as a polymerization aid in the manufacture of certain fluoropolymers. "In 2006, the EPA invited Dyneon and seven other companies to participate in a voluntary program to try to eliminate global emissions of PFOA by 2015," Dyneon said in a release announcing the ADONA Emulsifier.

"Dyneon's stewardship strategy includes sophisticated systems to minimize the release of APFO into the environment and recapture and reuse APFO in its processes," the company continued. "Dyneon has offered to license this APFO containment technology to other companies in the industry."

The company further stated that eliminating the use of APFO from its manufacturing processes, and the transition to a fluoropolymer-product portfolio made using Dyneon ADONA Emulsifier is complete for Dyneon's aqueous dispersions, and is underway for non-dispersion products. The company said there is essentially no difference between its products made using APFO and products made using ADONA.

"We believe that sustainable technology is one of today's leading business issues," said Netha Johnson, president and general manager of Dyneon. "We are building the foundation for a new generation of products made using a new, environmentally responsible technology."

On the Web: The Environmental Protection Agency's PFOA initiative

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