This is not a database of “green” or “safe” solvents, but a collection of objective data to help decided if a solvent is safer option than what you are currently using. In this database, the term solvent has been broadened to be “a nonreactive liquid that has the potential to dissolve something.” This description allows for more unique chemicals to be considered and increases the possibilities for a suitable safer replacement. The solvents in this database are organic, there are no aqueous solutions in the database at this time.

DOSS was created by TURI out of necessity from using the Hansen Solubility Parameters (HSP) theory and its software Hansen Solubility Parameters in Practice (HSPiP) for replacing highly hazardous chemicals. When there is no current safer substitute that is both effective and affordable TURI has used HSPiP to find or create solutions such as creating a paint and coatings remover and replacing trichloroethylene in vapor degreasing. Through these projects, one of the longest tasks of the research has been curating a list of solvents that reflect the needed Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), physical properties, and cost requirements for that solvent application. The HSPiP program is extremely helpful in understanding the effectiveness of different chemicals, but it isn’t easy to tell the health/safety effects, physical properties, or cost while using the program.

The database was originally created as an internal tool to accelerate TURI’s method of solvent replacement but found it could be helpful for others’ research as well, so it was converted to a searchable open source website. The website is maintained through our students who update each solvent’s EHS and cost information every semester (Fall/Spring/Summer) to preserve the reliability of the data. We are hoping to add more physical properties, other solubility theories, and other environmental factors to the database to expand the usefulness of DOSS.

Criteria of Safety for Chosen Solvents

The process of selecting solvents is based on GHS Categories listed on the most recent SDS that reflects the hazards confirmed through other toxicology databases (more information in Data Collection Process below). The following are descriptions of the GHS Categories that were determined “unsafe” and “safe”:
Health Hazards
Environmental Hazards

Acute Toxicity (Oral/Dermal/Inhalation):
Excluded:

• Category 1 & 2, Fatal if swallowed/in contact with skin/inhaled.

Included:

• Category 3, Toxic if swallowed/in contact with skin/inhaled.
• Category 4, Harmful if swallowed/in contact with skin/inhaled.
• Category 5, May be harmful if swallowed/in contact with skin/inhaled.

Skin Corrosion/Irritation:
Excluded:

• Category 1, Destroys skin tissue through epidermis into dermis.
• Category 1A, Corrosive response following < 3 mins after exposure.
• Category 1B, Corrosive response following 3 mins to 1 hr after exposure.
• Category 1C, Corrosive response following 1 to 4 hrs after exposure.

Included:

• Category 2, Causes skin irritation.
• Category 3, Causes mild skin irritation.

Serious Eye Damage/Eye Irritation:
Excluded:

• Category 1, Causes irreversible damage to the eyes in 21 days.

Included:

• Category 2A, Irritating to the eyes, reversible within 21 days.
• Category 2B, Mildly irritating to the eyes, reversible within 7 days.

Respiratory or Skin Sensitization:
Excluded:

• Category 1A, Showing high frequency of occurrence in humans.
• Category 1B, Showing low to moderate frequency of occurrence in humans.

Germ Cell Mutagenicity:
Excluded:

• Category 1, Substances known to induce heritable mutations or induce heritable mutations.
• Category 1A, Substances known to induce heritable mutation in germ cells.
• Category 1B, Substances should be regarded as if they are known to induce heritable mutation in germ cells.
• Category 2, Substances have the possibility to induce heritable mutation in germ cells.

Carcinogenicity:
Excluded:

• Category 1A, Known to have carcinogenic potential for humans based on human evidence.
• Category 1B, Presumed to have carcinogenic potential for humans based on animal evidence.
• Category 2, Suspected human carcinogen.

Reproductive Toxicology:
Excluded:

• Category 1A, Known human reproductive toxicant.
• Category 1B, Presumed human reproductive toxicant.
• Category 2, Suspected human reproductive toxicant.

Target Organ Systemic Toxicity - Single Exposure:
Excluded:

• Category 1, Substances that have produced significant toxicity in humans in a single exposure.
• Category 2, Substances based on the evidence of animal testing have the potential to produce significant toxicity in humans in a single exposure.

Included:

• Category 3, Transient target organ effects.

Target Organ Systemic Toxicity - Repeated Exposure:
Excluded:

• Category 1, Produced significant toxicity in humans following repeated exposure.
• Category 2, Has potential to be harmful to human health following repeated exposure.

Aspiration Toxicity:
Excluded:

• Category 1, Chemicals known to cause human aspiration toxicity.

Included:

• Category 2, Chemicals which cause concern owing to the presumption that they cause human aspiration.

GHS Environmental Hazards

Aquatic Toxicity - Acute
Excluded:

• Category 1, Injurious to an aquatic organism in short-term exposure to that substance.

Included:

• Category 2, LC50 for fish, crustacea, and algae between 1 to 10 mg/L.
• Category 3, LC50 for fish, crustacea, and algae between 10 to 100 mg/L.

Aquatic Toxicity- Chronic
Excluded:

• Category 1, Causes adverse effects to aquatic organisms determined in relation to the life cycle of the organism.

Included:

• Category 2, LC50 for fish, crustacea, and algae between 1 to 10 mg/L.
• Category 3, LC50 for fish, crustacea, and algae between 10 to 100 mg/L.

Data Collection Process

EHS Information

We find a solvent’s SDS sheet using ToxPlanet’s MSDSOnline search which has a collection of all of a chemical’s SDS sheets available online sorted by the date it was updated. We look at these SDS sheets and cross reference them with toxicology websites such as the Pharos Database to verify that the GHS hazards reflect the chemical’s toxicology. We find the most recently updated SDS sheet with verified GHS hazards and link it to the database.

The glove type is taken from the found SDS sheet or from the chemical’s Sigma Aldrich SDS sheet. If no glove type was specified, the glove type is labeled as “Unknown.” We list both the splash and full contact gloves needed, although the database doesn’t differentiate between the two it is easily found by looking at Section 8 of the SDS sheet.

HSP Value

The HSP values of each chemical was taken from the HSPiP Program. The chemicals that were not found in the HSPiP program and were created from SMILES code. The source of the HSP value will be indicated on the solvent’s page.

Physical Properties

We collect the physical properties data from a variety of different sources which are referenced on the solvent’s page. We mostly collect data from SciFinder Scholar, SDS sheets from various companies, and technical data sheets. If needed we also do an internet search for specific properties. If a reference points to a journal article, it was most likely collected on SciFinder Scholar under their Substance Identifier search. We try to gather reliable physical properties information at room temperature and pressure, but if we have input a false value please let us know at Doss.turi@mail.com.

Cost

The cost of the chemical is determined by the public cost of what is available online through various chemical manufacturers. The price listed is an average of the costs we have found in both Bulk and Lab sizes. Lab size are in USD $/g and are typically sizes of 1 kg or less. Bulk sizes are in USD $/lb and are typically the size of 1 kg or greater. Bulk costs are going to be inflated because they are publicly listed bulk units and will not be the same cost as $/ton. Most of the bulk costs are from Molbase.com which has the reference price of $/kg.

Cost is included in the database to give the user an idea of the price of the chemical to show that it is being manufactured by multiple sources. If you are interested in a chemical, inquire at the various companies for a more accurate (and most likely cheaper) price.

Companies are not obligated to charge the price of our posted prices.

Disclaimer

This is a tool that can be misused. TURI is not responsible for the misuse of this tool and does not claim that every solvent in this database is safe for your application. Please do further research on each solvent to determine if it is safe for your application.

For information about how to use the optimization guide and database please click the Resources page.