ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS IN CUTTING FLUID SELECTION

Traditionally, negative environmental impacts of cutting fluid disposal have not been considered during cutting fluid selection. These impacts may result from hazardous chemicals or chips that might be found in a spent cutting fluid or from excesses in biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), oil content (FOG), nitrates, or phosphates that cutting fluids typically feature. By considering the portion of the cutting fluid life cycle after final use at the machine tool, this work considers simple, quantifiable metrics that might be used to compare fluids based on their impact on industrial wastewater pre-treatments and publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). The discussion begins with definitions of various environmental issues associated with cutting fluid disposal. Subsequently, a three component matrix is developed that can serve as a metric to compare alternative cutting fluids on the basis of the cost of disposal and legally defined hazards due to fluid chemistry and workpiece residuals found in cutting fluid wastes.