What is NMP?

N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is a polar aprotic solvent widely used in industries such as coatings, cleaners, and petrochemicals due to its ability to dissolve a variety of compounds, having a high boiling point, good thermal stability, and broad miscibility. In coating applications, for example, NMP is used as a tail solvent to improve flow and leveling properties and as a coalescent to improve film formation. When used in industrial cleaning formulations, NMP helps to dissolve oils, greases, and polymers easily.

What are the risks associated with using NMP?

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined several health risks associated with the use of NMP in accordance with its 2020 Risk Evaluation and revised risk determination in 2022. These risks, listed below, have led EPA to classify NMP as a chemical that causes unreasonable risk to human health.

 

• Acute toxicity from short-term exposure that compromises reproductive development, including fetal loss
• Chronic toxicity leading to compromised male and female reproductive organ function
• Liver, kidney, immune system, and neurological toxicity

Given the various industries NMP is used in, EPA estimates that approximately 226,000 workers are directly exposed to this chemical on an annual basis and are at the highest risk of being negatively impacted.193,000 occupational nonusers are also at risk on an annual basis. 

What does the future of NMP look like?

In June 2024, EPA proposed a new rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) aimed at curtailing exposure and risks. This would provide specific initiatives to implement over 12–24 months. These initiatives include restricting or limiting the use of NMP in a variety of formulations, implementing product container size limits and updated product labeling requirements. EPA has also proposed a NMP Workplace Chemical Protection Program (WCPP) that would implement exposure controls in industrial and commercial sectors to protect workers from direct skin contact with NMP.

What products will be impacted by the EPA proposal?

If finalized, the EPA ban will affect many products. NMP will be banned in many commercial applications, including automotive care products, cleaners and degreasers, furniture care products, and metal products and cleaners. NMP will also be banned in antifreeze, deicers, lubricants, fertilizers, and agrochemical manufacturing operations. In consumer applications, such as glues and adhesives, the NMP concentration, container sizes, and labeling will be tightly controlled.

What alternatives exist for NMP?

Since NMP is highly effective in a wide range of formulations, many alternative solvents are being evaluated that provide similar levels of performance with a more favorable safety profile. Some common alternatives today include dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), alternative pyrrolidones, methylamines, sulfolane, 1,3-dioxolane, tetraoxaundecane (TOU), dibasic esters (DBEs), propylene carbonate, and other dipolar solvents. Biobased solutions are also favorable replacements due to their biodegradable and sustainable nature. 

ChemPoint offers a portfolio of solvents that can effectively replace NMP, delivering similar performance while keeping your workers and customers safe. Click below to learn more and contact us today to speak with a technical specialist and find your solution! 

ChemPoint NMP Alternative Solvent Comparison Table