The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the signing of a final rule excluding tertiary butyl acetate from the definition of a VOC (volatile organic compound). The rule is expected in the Federal Registrar shortly. Lyondell Chemical Company's tertiary butyl acetate (TBAc), a non-HAP (Hazardous Air Pollutant) organic solvent, is expected to find widespread use in coatings, inks, adhesives, industrial cleaners, photo-resist strippers and other formulated products as a result of the exemption and its versatile properties. TBAc offers broad solvency, an intermediate evaporation rate, low density and a flash point well within accepted industry parameters. The solvent's negligible photochemical reactivity prompted Lyondell to petition the EPA for the VOC exemption.

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