Nitrogen-containing compounds in foundry mold emissions

Abstract

Nitrogen compounds have been identified in the decomposition products from several commonly used foundry sand binders. These compounds include nitrogen oxides, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, simple aromatic amines, and isocyanates. The concentrations of these compounds in foundry mold emissions do not appear to be directly related to the nitrogen content of the organic binders. Measurable concentrations were observed in some cases, indicating the necessity for periodic, monitoring in the foundry. Adequate ventilation will permit the use of these binders. The substitution of nitrogen-free binders suggests another possible control strategy.

A cohort mortality study of foundry workers

“…These pyrolysis products include carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, formaldehyde and other aldehydes, amines, phenols, benzene, benzoic acid, toluene, acrolein, cresols, methane, ethylene, acetylene, and various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) including the carcinogenic compounds benzo(a)pyrene and benz(a)anthracene [Bates and Scheel, 1974;Virtamo and Tossavainen, 1976;Scott et al, 1977;Emory et al, 1978;Palmer et al, 1981;Schimberg et al, 1980;Schimberg et al, 1981;Verma et al, 1982;Knecht et al, 1986]. As regards PAH, 70-80% occur as volatiles [Knecht et al, 1986].…”

Cancer mortality among danish molders

“…The development of synthetic resins led to a partial replacement of green sand by core and molding sands containing synthetic resin binders. By 1975, about half of the tonnage was produced in synthetic resin molds [Huusmann, 19761. The synthetic resins most widely used in the Danish foundry industry were: 1) the acid-hardening phenol-furan, urea-furan, and urea-phenol-furan resins that all contain an excess of formaldehyde; 2) the resole resins (phenol-furan resins used for hot box processes) to which an ammonium salt is added to harden the resin; 3) the novolak resins (another group of phenol-furan resins) used in shell molding, to which hexamethylen-tetraamine is added as a catalyst; and 4) the phenolic-isocyanate resins (used for cold box processes) to which triethylamine or dimethyl ethylamine is added as a catalyst [Huusmann, 19761. The emissions from the molding processes and the decomposition effluents from the heated molds and cores include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, amines, aldehydes, phenols, benzene, benzoic acid, toluene, cresols, methane, ethylene, acetylene, and various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) including the carcinogenic compounds benzo(a)pyrene and benz(a)anthracene [Bates and Scheel, 1974;Virtamo and Tossavainen, 1976;Scott et al, 1977;Emory et al, 1978;Schimberg et al, 1980Schimberg et al, , 1981Verma et al, 19821.…”