A solvent is a liquid that dissolves a solid, liquid or gaseous substance to form a homogeneous mixture. Solvents are the base component of paints, varnishes, inks and cleaners. After use they are classified as hazardous waste.

What are solvents used for?

Solvents are used for paint and varnish production, metal surface degreasing, printing ink preparation, adhesive formulation, electronic circuit board cleaning, and dry cleaning.

What are the most common types of solvent?

The most common industrial solvents are: Acetone (bp 56°C), Isopropyl Alcohol/IPA (82°C), Methyl Ethyl Ketone/MEK (80°C), Ethyl Acetate (77°C), Toluene (111°C), Xylene (138°C), n-Heptane (98°C) and Perchloroethylene (121°C).

Are solvents dangerous?

Yes. Most solvents are flammable, volatile and toxic. Prolonged exposure to solvent vapours can cause headaches, liver and kidney damage. Use in confined spaces carries explosion risk. Appropriate PPE and ATEX-rated equipment are essential.

What should be done with waste solvent?

Waste solvent is classified as hazardous waste and must be handled by licensed disposal companies. Alternatively, it can be recovered at 85–99% efficiency using a solvent distillation machine — the preferred option for cost and environmental reasons.

Can solvents be recovered and reused?

Yes. Acetone, IPA, MEK, ethyl acetate, toluene and xylene can be recovered at 85–99% efficiency by distillation. ARMIN AR-series machines perform this process automatically with batch cycles.

How does a solvent recovery machine work?

Spent solvent is loaded into the reactor tank, heated until it vaporises, and then condensed back to liquid in the cooling unit. The clean, reusable solvent is collected in a separate container; the concentrated residue (sludge) remains in the tank for disposal.

What Is Solvent?

A solvent is a liquid that dissolves a solid, liquid or gaseous substance to form a homogeneous mixture. Solvents are the essential base component of paints, varnishes, inks and industrial cleaners. They are used for surface degreasing, thinning and coating preparation across manufacturing industries. After use, solvents are classified as hazardous waste under environmental regulations worldwide.

500+

Solvent types in use

99%

Max recovery rate

Key industries

3–6 mo

Typical payback period

Solvent Types

Most common industrial solvents by boiling point and recovery rate

Solvents are classified as halogenated (containing chlorine: trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene) and non-halogenated (acetone, IPA, MEK, ethyl acetate, etc.). Non-halogenated solvents are generally recovered at higher efficiency and present lower health risks.

Solvent Name	Boiling Point	Primary Use	Recovery Rate
Acetone	56 °C	Paint, cosmetics, resins	99%
Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA)	82 °C	Electronics, pharma, cleaning	98%
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)	80 °C	Printing, paint, adhesives	95%
Ethyl Acetate	77 °C	Inks, food flavouring	95%
Toluene (Thinner)	111 °C	Paint, varnish, coatings	92%
Xylene	138 °C	Paint, varnish, fine chemicals	90%
n-Heptane / Hexane	69–98 °C	Oil extraction, cleaning	95%
Perchloroethylene (PERC)	121 °C	Dry cleaning	90%
NMP (N-Methyl Pyrrolidone)	202 °C	Electronics, petrochemicals	85%

✅ Note: Recovery rates are typical values measured on ARMIN AR-series machines. Actual rates vary by solvent purity and mixture composition.

Which Industries Use Solvents?

The 8 sectors with the highest solvent consumption

🎨

Paint & Varnish

Acetone, toluene, xylene; heavy use in equipment cleaning

🖨️

Printing / Flexo

MEK, ethyl acetate; solvent used at every colour change

🚗

Automotive Paint

Thinners, IPA; spray booth cleaning and paint prep

💻

Electronics Mfg.

IPA, acetone; PCB and component cleaning

🪑

Furniture & Wood

Acetone, toluene; lacquer and varnish application

⚙️

Metal Working

Hexane, heptane; degreasing and surface prep

💊

Pharma & Chemicals

Ethanol, IPA, acetone; synthesis and extraction

👕

Textile & Leather

DMF, MEK; adhesive and coating processes

Solvent Hazards

Key risks every industrial user must understand

🔥

Fire and Explosion Risk: Acetone, MEK and ethyl acetate have low flash points. Vapour accumulation in confined spaces creates explosion hazard. ATEX-rated equipment and proper ventilation are mandatory.
☠️

Inhalation Toxicity: Prolonged exposure to solvent vapours causes headaches, nausea and impaired concentration. Halogenated solvents (trichloroethylene, PERC) can cause liver and kidney damage at chronic exposure levels.
🧴

Skin and Eye Contact: Repeated contact with organic solvents causes dermatitis and eczema. Eye splashes cause serious irritation. Appropriate PPE including gloves and goggles must be worn.
⚗️

Carcinogenic Effects: Benzene, trichloroethylene and some halogenated solvents are classified as carcinogens. Where possible, substitute with safer non-halogenated alternatives.
🌊

Environmental Pollution: Solvents discharged to drain severely contaminate water sources. Solvent vapours released to atmosphere contribute to VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions and ground-level ozone formation.

What Should You Do With Waste Solvent?

Legal obligation and the smarter alternative

Hazardous Waste Regulations

Spent solvent is classified as hazardous waste under environmental legislation in Turkey and the EU. Unlicensed disposal carries heavy fines. Two options are available:

❌ Licensed Disposal (Expensive)

Cost: 0.30–0.70 USD per litre
Waste manifest and transport required
Solvent is lost permanently
Recurring monthly cost

✅ Solvent Recovery Machine (Smart)

85–99% recovery rate
Disposal volume reduced 90%+
3–6 month payback period
One-time capital investment

View ARMIN Machines →

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions about solvents and solvent recovery

A solvent is a liquid that dissolves another substance (solid, liquid or gas) to form a homogeneous solution. The most familiar example is water — the "universal solvent" — but in industry the term usually refers to organic solvents such as acetone, IPA, MEK and toluene that dissolve oils, resins and polymers.

Not exactly. Thinner is a mixture of solvents — typically toluene, xylene and acetone blended in specific ratios — while a solvent refers to a single chemical compound. Thinner is technically a solvent mixture.

Single-component solvents with low boiling points recover at the highest efficiency. Acetone (99%), IPA (98%), MEK (95%) and ethyl acetate (95%) lead the list. Higher-boiling-point solvents and mixed solvents can also be recovered but typically at slightly lower efficiency.

Absolutely not. Solvent is hazardous waste; disposing of it in drains is both illegal and seriously damaging to water sources. It must be handed to a licensed hazardous waste contractor or recovered using a solvent distillation machine.

The ARMIN AR series is available in four capacities: AR-60 (60 litres), AR-120 (120 litres), AR-200 (200 litres) and AR-500 (500 litres). The right model depends on your monthly waste solvent volume — ARMIN engineers provide free sizing analysis.

The spent solvent is loaded into the reactor tank. The tank is heated, vaporising the solvent while leaving contaminants behind. The vapour travels to the condenser (cooling unit) where it liquefies back into clean, reusable solvent. The residue (sludge) left in the tank is collected and disposed of — typically only 5–15% of the original waste volume.