Q: Does the quality and/or purity of a solvent change over time as the solvent is repeatedly recycled?
A: No. In fact, the recycled solvent usually is of a higher quality than the vendors originally-supplied starting-grade, due to the purification that results from the fractional distillation process that is part of the CBG Biotech recycling process. The solvents themselves are extremely stable and do not show any measurable decomposition even after many years of storage at elevated temperatures.

Q: Does a CBG Biotech Solvent Recycler need any water hook-ups, or special ventilation systems?
A: No. All Solvent Recyclers are air cooled using multiple, internal fans. This feature, coupled with both the "no-pour gravity-fill" and the "vapor-recovery" systems, ensures that no vapors, or odors will be released into your working area.

Q: How long does each cycle take?
A: The actual length of each cycle depends upon the type of material being recycled, the volume being recycled, and the type of Solvent Recycler that is used. However, the following is a good generalization:

Q: Why is fractional distillation, as compared to simple distillation, so important to my solvent recycling?
A: You need fractional distillation if you are to obtain the high purity solvents that you need for your work. Only fractional distillation can separate two or more volatile liquids from one another, while yielding good purities. Simple distillation, by contrast, simply collects all of the liquids together without very much, if any, separation of the individual solvents.

Q: Have Recyclers and recycling changed much over the past few years?
A: Yes, and in an enormous way. The only fractional distillation recyclers, that were available just a few years ago, were big, clumsy, fixed-location, breakable (glass) units. These units often needed constant operator attention during runs, cool-down, tear-down and clean-out between runs, water hook-ups and special ventilation. Operators were exposed to hot surfaces and to hazardous liquids and fumes. In addition, they were subject to frequent and expensive repairs. In fact, if you want to hear some "horror stories," just ask a person who used one of these old style recyclers.

By contrast, Solvent Recyclers from CBG Biotech are much smaller, portable and easily-moved units that are essentially unbreakable (metal construction). CBG Biotech Recyclers do not require water hook-ups, or special ventilation, and they are almost completely automatic in operation, including automatic waste disposal. There are no fumes, no hot surfaces, no hazards, almost no work, and virtually no maintenance. The differences are enormous.

Q: What are the benefits of recycling?
A: The benefits are numerous: You simply use, recycle, and re-use your solvents at the point of generation. They never leave the area. Your facility can save a lot of money not having to buy new solvents and not having to pay someone to haul away your old solvents. Your facility also saves on storage space and storage lockers. Your institution saves on labor in Purchasing and Accounts-payable, by not having to transport hazardous and flammable liquids through hospital corridors, and not having to store these solvents in a central location. Finally, recycling increasingly is being required as part of various Federal, State and Local mandates on waste minimization. Finally, waste minimization not only makes good sense as a way to avoid compliance problems, but it also makes good environmental sense. Recycling is one of the few times in life when "doing good" also saves you money, time and space.

Q: What if I don't have any capital funds, but I would like to start recycling? How is it possible?
A: No problem at all. CBG Biotech has a variety of programs that can handle your individual needs. If you have cost-savings, we can show you to handle this problem. For example, we offer short-term rental programs that will bridge the gap between the end of your evaluation period and the time when your purchasing, or leasing funds become available. The actual rental payments can come from your supply budget, and it will cost you less than you currently are paying for new solvents and disposal of the old solvents. And in some instances, a portion of your rental payments can be applied to the purchase price. We also offer various operating leases that can be handled through your supply budget, rather than through a capital appropriation. The lack of capital funds should not be a barrier to starting recycling.