[pct-l] SCAQMD Rule 1143 & Denatured Alcohol Question

[Donna Saufley]

Greg, I hope you are right in your interpretation. There are also some
modifications in proposed amendments to the rule that you find on a search
that I could not ascertain were adopted. I'm certainly not an expert in law,
science, or labeling (deceptive or otherwise). The cans of denatured
recently donated are labeled "alcohol appliance fuel" "marine stove fuel"
and made no mention of solvent uses. For me the litmus test is whether or
not the hardware store can order the product. If they can't order it,
chances are good other retailers in the SCAQMD boundaries won't be able to
order it either.  Our dear Trish is a busy lady, but I will check to see if
she can order plain marine fuel, Heet, sterno, and esbits or other solid
fuel like trioxane.  I know she can't order fuel canisters because she's
tried that before. 

Maybe too the new lower VOC products might still be effective for our cat
can stoves. Going cookless is a great option if you're prepared to do so. I
confess I would really miss the creature comforts of hot tea and cleaning up
with warm water.  Yes, I'm a wussy hiker.

L-Rod



-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Greg Mikol
Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2011 10:29 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] SCAQMD Rule 1143 & Denatured Alcohol Question

Bull Burge wrote:
> http://www.packserv.com/Content-Public/Products-By-Brand/Page.asp?iID=8
>
>  These guys are providing a denatured alcohol that will pass the voc
> levels.
>
> I haven't been able to do good research on my phone, but automotive
> additives like HEET may not be covered by this based on their
> intended use.
>
> BillB Typoed on my iPhone...


Bill, I think you may have mis-read something on your iphone. This 
company is making some vague claims about "biodegradable" and "95% 
natural" and "renewable" for their denatured alcohol, but if you look at 
the MSDS, it still is, fundamentally, alcohol. 90-95% ethanol, 5-10% 
isopropyl alcohol, pretty typical denatured alcohol. ~800 g/L VOC.

The simple alcohols (methyl, ethyl, propanol, isopropyl) are all VOC's. 
Period. Anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is probably lying.

However, in reading through Rule 1143, it appears as if denatured 
alcohol could still be sold if it is explicitly labeled with a specific 
end-use that is not as a solvent. (NOTE: I don't live in SoCal, and I am 
neither an expert, nor a lawyer). For example, a 1-quart can of 
denatured alcohol with a manufacturer's printed label which identifies 
it for use as marine stove fuel only, and gives no other usage 
instructions is OK, since it's designed to be burned = no VOC's. That 
same quart, with a label that simply reads "Denatured Alcohol" or 
"Shellac Thinner", with multiple uses listed, is not OK, since many of 
those uses are designed for evaporation of the alcohol into the atmosphere.

Just my interpretation, but it doesn't do any good for tracking down 
fuel in the middle of nowhere. However, if there are a couple of 
PCT-friendly stores at key locations that could be talked into stocking 
"Marine Stove Fuel", properly labeled, that might help, in the future.

My opinion is worth what you paid for it...

--Greg
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