Why Non-Volatile Organic Solvents Need Dedicated Leak Detectors, Not Gas Detectors

Hello! Today, let’s take a closer look at non-volatile organic solvents, which are widely used in advanced industries, and why leak detectors are essential for safe management. Why are these materials risky, and why do they require a dedicated detection system? Let’s break it down.

Because non-volatile organic solvents do not evaporate easily, leaks often go unnoticed until operators visually discover them. That is exactly why a leak detector is essential.

• Low Vapor Pressure: Because vapor pressure is low, these chemicals do not readily disperse into the air and tend to remain on the floor. NMP (N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone), for example, has a much lower vapor pressure than water, so leaks often produce little odor and can be hard for workers to notice. In this situation, only a floor-installed liquid leak detection sensor can provide an early warning.

• High Boiling Point: These solvents remain liquid even in high-temperature processes. In other words, when they leak at room temperature, they do not dry out naturally and can continue causing equipment corrosion and environmental contamination. Without fast liquid leak detection, the scale of damage can expand rapidly.

Leak detectors should be installed at the right locations based on the characteristics of each solvent.

• NMP (Secondary Battery Process): Common installation points include beneath slurry mixing equipment and at pipe connection points in battery cathode and anode manufacturing lines. Because NMP is often recovered for recycling, electronic point-type leak detectors are widely used to detect leaks in recovery lines.

• DMSO & PGME (Semiconductor / Bio Industry): These are often monitored on floors in semiconductor photoresist (PR) processes or in bio sample storage areas. Since these materials are costly and hazardous, highly sensitive sensors that trigger an alarm immediately even for a small leak are essential.

A common mistake in many facilities is installing only a gas detector in areas where non-volatile solvents are handled.

• If it does not evaporate, a gas sensor cannot detect it: Because non-volatile solvents do not easily become vapor, gas detectors that measure airborne concentration are not effective for detecting these leaks.

• A liquid-contact leak detector is essential: To ensure reliable protection, you need a sensor that detects the liquid itself as it flows or pools on the floor. YOOHANTECH’s leak detection solution responds immediately even to small leaks.

Safety in processes handling non-volatile organic solvents depends on the right combination of equipment and sensors.

• Real-Time Monitoring: A leak detector does more than sound an alarm. It can also be linked to a central monitoring system to identify the leak location accurately.

• Prevention of accident escalation: When a leak is detected, an interlock configuration can automatically shut off valves or activate exhaust fans, helping prevent a major incident.

Non-volatile organic solvents are essential in modern industry, but without proper leak detector installation, they can become a hidden safety threat. Build a safer and more efficient working environment with YOOHANTECH.