6.22 Adhesive Sealants

6.22.1 Emissions

Introduction

Emissions reported in these categories are fugitive organic emissions resulting from the usage of adhesives and sealants. Adhesives and sealants are primarily used in wood, wood-related, and packaging activities. The emissions reported in these categories include emissions resulting from both industrial and consumer usage of adhesives and sealants. Emissions from categories 117 and 118 include point sources. Category 118 emissions are from area sources.

Adhesives and sealants are generally categorized and distinguished by source types. Most adhesives and sealants are either of a water-based type or of a solvent-based type. Adhesives and sealants can also be found, although in a smaller quantity, in the form of hot melts (100% solids), radicured, powders, and reactive types.

Raw materials primarily used in the production of adhesive and sealants are rubber, starch, animal glues, bitumen, and synthetic resins. Other materials of smaller quantity that can be found in adhesive and sealant formulations include phenolic resins, formaldehyde, polyolefins, polyvinyl acetate, acrylics, polyvinyl chloride, polyesters, polyvinyl alcohol, and solvents, including hexane, heptane, xylene, toluene, methylene chloride, and 1,1,1-trichloroethane.

Methodologies

Permitted Facilities

Companies utilizing large amounts of adhesives/sealants are monitored and regulated by the District’s permit system. Throughput of adhesive and sealant usage for each permitted facility are tracked and recorded in the District’s Data Bank system. Some of the industries affected under the District’s permit system for the usage of adhesives and sealants include large wood production manufacturers, wood related construction companies, and packaging companies. Emissions are calculated based on throughput data and emission factors. Emission factors used in the calculation are either derived from field tests and/or obtained from publications. If no specific factor is available, a generalized factor is used in the calculation.

Non-Permitted Facilities

Emissions from adhesive and sealant used in non-permitted industries are estimated based on a geographical area. These emissions are termed “area source” emissions. Non-permitted industries includes construction sites, small industrial companies, transportation facilities, dental and medical buildings, electric and electronics facilities, and other miscellaneous sites.

Data used to estimate area sources are based on “The Rauch Guide to the U.S. Adhesives and Sealants Industry, 2000-02 Edition”. Adjustments were made for 2008 using both the construction growth for each county in the Bay Area and the Rauch Guide’s projection. Emission factors used in the calculation of these area sources were taken from ARB’s report titled “Adhesives and Sealants”. The emission factors used in the calculations were 1,230 lbs. of VOC per ton of solvent-borne adhesives/sealants and 90 lbs. of VOC per ton of water-borne adhesives/sealants.

Monthly Variation

Monthly distribution was estimated based on each company’s reported quarterly seasonal percent throughput data.

County Distribution

The county location of each company as reported in the Data Bank was used to distribute emissions for each county.

Table 6.51: County fractions.
category ALA CC MAR NAP SF SM SNC SOL SON
#117 Solvent Base 19.8% 9.6% 3.3% 1.6% 17.7% 11.0% 30.6% 2.1% 4.3%
#118 Water Base 19.0% 9.5% 3.3% 1.6% 17.8% 11.3% 31.3% 2.0% 4.2%
#1901 Solvent Base (Area) 19.0% 9.5% 3.3% 1.6% 17.8% 11.3% 31.3% 2.0% 4.2%