Soy-based mastic remover can be applied to a variety of surfaces, including asbestos mastic, vinyl mastic, latex mastic, and ceramic mastic.

- One such product called BEAN-e-doo®, made by Franmar Chemical®, Inc., has been used by several government agencies including the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), which found it so effective and safe for removing asbestos-containing mastic that it is the only mastic remover being recommended for USPS use by those who tested it. According to Franmar, the mastic remover provides costs savings over conventional products, is easy to apply, is user friendly with only a mild, non-offensive odor, has a low evaporative rate that allows it to work up to 24 hours, is biodegradable, and contains no hazardous ingredients

- Green Products, LLC manufacturers aMAIZEing™, which is a solvent and stripper made from a combination of corn and soybean oil esters and is designed to lift and remove mastics and adhesives. According to its manufacturer, aMAIZEing™ is 100% biobased (per ASTM D 6866-04), is readily biodegradable, contains no environmentally hazardous ingredients, contains no ozone depleting chemicals (OCDs), and contains no hazardous air pollutants.

-SoyGreen® Mastic and Adhesive Remover, according to the manufacturer Soy Technologies, LLC, is formulated to remove mastic and all types of adhesives from most surfaces and is also a very effective solvent to remove paint and paint overspray, scuff marks, heavy grease and carbon build-up, and much more. According to Soy Technologies, this product is low in VOCs, non-flammable, and biodegradable. It is recognized by EPA’s Design for the Environment program.

-Vertec BioSolvents, Inc. manufactures a product, VertecBio Gold™ #3, that can be used as a mastic remover. According to the manufacturer, it has excellent solvency power, low vapor pressure, is 100% biodegradable to carbon dioxide and water, has a low toxicity profile, a flash point over 150 degrees F, and contains no hazardous ingredients, ozone depleting chemicals, or listed hazardous air pollutants.

Contact Information:

• BEAN-e-doo®: Dan Brown, Franmar Chemical®, Inc., (800) 539-5069, www.franmar.com.
• aMAIZEing™: Grant Grable, Green Products, LLC, (877) 474-7481, www.greenproducts.net.
• SoyGreen® Mastic and Adhesive Remover: Randy Frees, Soy Technologies, LLC, (859) 219-9705, www.soytek.com.
• VertecBio Gold™ #3: Jim Opre, Vertec BioSolvents, Inc., (630) 960-0600, www.vertecbiosolvents.com.