System and method for solvent recovery and purification in a low water or waterless wash

Apparatus for purifying and recovering a solvent used in an article cleaning appliance comprising:

• a coarse filter coupled to receive solvent-based cleaning fluid from a wash basket, the coarse filter configured to remove relatively large particulates from the cleaning fluid;
• a particulate filter coupled to receive cleaning fluid from the coarse filter, the particulate filter configured to remove relatively fine particulates from the cleaning fluid;
• a fluid filter/separator assembly coupled to receive cleaning fluid from the particulate filter, the assembly configured to separate an aqueous phase that may be present in the cleaning fluid;
• a regeneration cartridge coupled to receive cleaning fluid from the filter/separator assembly, the regeneration cartridge comprising water adsorption media for removing any water that may remain in the cleaning fluid, the regeneration cartridge further comprising adsorption media configured to adsorb organic contaminants that may be present in the cleaning fluid;
• and
• a tank for storing recovered solvent for subsequent use in a cleansing process performed by the appliance.

A method for recovering and purifying a solvent used in an article cleaning appliance, the method comprising:

• passing solvent-based cleaning fluid from a wash basket through a coarse filter configured to remove relatively large particulates from the cleaning fluid;
• passing cleaning fluid from the coarse filter through a particulate filter configured to remove relatively fine particulates from the cleaning fluid;
• separating an aqueous phase that may be present in the cleaning fluid by decanting and coalescing of fluid through a separator/filter assembly;
• passing the cleaning fluid through a regeneration cartridge for removing any water that may remain in the cleaning fluid, and for adsorbing organic contaminants that may be present in the cleaning fluid;
• and
• storing recovered solvent in a tank for subsequent use in a cleaning process performed by the appliance.