A formulated alternative: Recochem’s Recosol 185

Recochem’s Recosol 185 oleo fluid is much more than just a viable alternative to diesel for cold mix asphalt formations. Daniel Dalling, Business Development Manager – Hygiene, Household and Industrial Fluids, explains.

Developed in late 2016, Recochem’s Recosol 185 oleo fluid made an immediate impact on the bitumen and asphalt production market.

With diesel presenting potential safety hazards including being a suspected carcinogen, having a lower flash point and a strong odour, Recosol 185 is a readily biodegradable substitute.

As Daniel Dalling, Recochem Business Development Manager- Hygiene, Household and Industrial Fluids says, there’s more than meets the eye with Recosol 185.

“A lot of testing was done in 2016, specifically with cold mix asphalt, and in other projects, to see if we could create a replacement for diesel, which could perform on the same level, if not better,” he says.

“Recosol 185 is biodegradable and presents major safety and health benefits. It’s also low odour, has strong solvency and has a much higher boiling range, making it a much safer product to use. We’ve seen numerous examples where there’s been explosions and fires due to companies housing flammable products on site.”

Because of its strong safety credentials, Recosol 185 has also been certified as non-hazardous by Safe Work Australia.

“By using Recosol 185, operators are drastically reducing the potential of fire hazards occurring. The safety aspect alone is a very good reason to make the switch,” Dalling says.

The Recochem difference

Recosol 185 is backed by Recochem’s extensive experience in developing household and industrial fluids, as well as automotive fluids.

Over the past 72 years, Recochem has established itself as one of the global leaders in formulating, producing, contract packaging and wholesale distribution of household and transportation fluids.

The company has also grown significantly across Australia, with manufacturing plants in Brisbane and Perth, and offices and warehouses in all mainland capital cities. Its Brisbane plant alone handles 30 million kilograms of material annually.

Dalling says the company’s long-term presence has enabled products to be tailored to Australian industries. He says that now more than ever, companies are looking at ways to diminish their environmental impact.

“The health, safety and environmental aspects of asphalt and bitumen are of paramount importance,” he says.

“As most businesses move to find safer and more environmentally friendly products to help meet their sustainability goals, Recosol 185 offers an easy alternative to provide performance improvement and reduce impact on the environment.”

Recosol 185 has a flashpoint of 165°C, more than doubling the flashpoint of diesel (65°C).

Recosol 185 offers safety and health benefits when used with cold mix asphalt.

It also has strong solvency, allowing the product to be used as an equipment cleaner, by soaking or using a high-pressure sprayer. It can also be mixed with emulsifiers to wash off with water. Recosol 185 has also been used as a slip agent to release asphalt from conveyors on site, as well as from trays of trucks.

Dalling says the combined versatility of Recosol 185 has resulted in the fluid being popular among large-scale operators.

“The main use has been replacing diesel for cold mix asphalt, but it has been used successfully as a cleaning and flushing fluid,” Dalling says. “More than 20 plants are currently using Recosol 185, including some of the largest cold mix asphalt manufacturers nationally. It has similar application rates to diesel, generally ranging between 1.0 and 1.8 per cent.”

Recosol 185 has also been designed to provide optimal results in a range of applications. Low volatility ensures the fluid has minimal evaporation losses, while its low freeze point means it can be used in cooler conditions.

Recosol 185 is available in 1000-litre intermediate bulk containers, with Recochem able to cater for bulk deliveries.

For those companies who may be sitting on the fence, Dalling says the benefits are clear.

“The bitumen industry is looking to introduce recyclable materials into the product in any way possible. By using a product such as Recosol 185, operators can demonstrate to their customers, whether it be a government contract, or local councils, that they’re being environmentally responsible by using an oleo base product instead of diesel,” he says.

“By using Recosol 185, these companies are actually making a difference.”

This article was originally published in the August edition of our magazine. To read the magazine, click here.

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