- Chemical name
- Isopropyl alcohol / propan-2-ol
- CAS number
- 67-63-0
- Formula
- C3H8O
- Also known as
- IPA, isopropanol, 2-propanol
Identifying IPA products and waste
Isopropyl alcohol is a flammable solvent. “IPA” may mean a high-strength solvent, an alcohol-and-water cleaning solution or a formulated product with additional ingredients. The abbreviation does not establish concentration or full composition.
The supplier name, product code and safety data sheet help identify the original product. After use, cleaning liquid may contain extra water, dissolved residues or other contaminants even when the starting product contained a single solvent.
Liquid waste, wipes and packaging
Unused IPA, spent wash liquid and IPA-contaminated wipes are physically different waste streams. Liquids, absorbent materials and packaging need separate consideration because their composition, handling and waste classification can differ.
If IPA has been used with resins or coatings, those materials are part of the waste description. Cured residues, uncured products and solvent washings are not equivalent. A clear or colourless spent solvent is not necessarily suitable for recovery.
Solvent recovery and treatment
A segregated IPA stream may be suitable for solvent recovery. Water content and process contamination can affect acceptance by the receiving facility. If recovery is unsuitable, the waste needs a correctly classified, authorised treatment route.
Open evaporation is not a disposal route for IPA waste, and drain discharge should not be assumed to be available. Adding other solvents or cleaning chemicals changes the mixture and may change its classification, so the waste description must reflect the actual contents.
What matters when describing IPA waste
Concentration, original product identity, cleaning use and the residues contacted by the IPA are central to the assessment. Quantity and the condition of the liquid waste, wipes or packaging complete the description of each waste stream.