# US 2022/0034022 A1 · Method for treating personal protective equipment

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- Number: US 2022/0034022 A1
- Document ID: US20220034022A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/390,419
- Filed: 2021-07-30
- Published: 2022-02-03
- Earliest claimed: 2020-07-30
- Assignees: Cool Clean Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Cool Clean Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Nelson W. Sorbo; Jon R. Turner; Jon Wikstrom
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220034022A1

## CPC

- B08B 7/0021: {by liquid gases or supercritical fluids}
- D06F 43/007: {Dry cleaning methods}
- A47L 23/02: Shoe-cleaning machines, with or without applicators for shoe polish
- A61L 2/18: Liquid substances
- A61L 2/186: Peroxide solutions
- A61L 2103/50: Textiles, e.g. bedwear or towels
- A61L 2202/11: Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
- A61L 2202/122: Chambers for sterilisation
- A61L 2202/17: Combination with washing or cleaning means
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08)
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)

## Abstract

A method for cleaning and decontaminating apparel includes placing the apparel into a pressurizable cleaning vessel. The cleaning vessel is filled with a solvent comprising a mixture selected from at least one of propylene glycol ether, water, organic acid and carbon dioxide. After the apparel has been in contact with the solvent for a first selected period of time, carbon dioxide gas under pressure is introduced into the cleaning vessel to carbonate the solvent. After appropriate agitation, at least a portion of the solvent is then removed from the cleaning vessel while under pressure. A rinsing solution, comprising liquid carbon dioxide and alcohol, is then introduced into the cleaning vessel under pressure. After a third selected period of time, the rinsing solution is removed from the cleaning vessel under pressure. Finally, the cleaning vessel is depressurized and the the apparel is removed from the cleaning vessel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for cleaning and decontaminating apparel comprising:
providing a pressurizable cleaning vessel;
providing a permeable container;
placing the apparel within the permeable container;
placing the permeable container containing the apparel within the pressurizable cleaning vessel;
filling the cleaning vessel with a solvent, the solvent being a mixture selected from at least one of propylene glycol ether, water, organic acid or carbon dioxide;
allowing the permeable container and the apparel to be in contact with the solvent for a first selected period of time;
after contacting the permeable container and apparel with the solvent for the first selected period of time, introducing into the pressurizable cleaning vessel carbon dioxide gas under pressure to carbonate the solvent;
allowing the permeable container and the apparel to be in contact with the carbonated solvent for a second selected period of time;
after the permeable container and the apparel has been in contact with the carbonated solvent for the second selected period, removing at least a portion of the solvent from the cleaning vessel while under pressure;
introducing into the pressurizable cleaning vessel a rinsing solution consisting essentially of liquid carbon dioxide and alcohol;
agitating the cleaning vessel containing the rinsing solution, while under pressure, for a third selected period of time;
removing the rinsing solution from the pressurizable cleaning vessel while under pressure;
depressurizing the cleaning vessel; and
removing the permeable container containing the apparel from the pressurizable cleaning vessel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the apparel includes personal protective equipment.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the personal protective equipment includes clothing, helmets, goggles, pants, coats, gloves, hoods, boots and interface elements.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 whereupon contacting the permeable container and apparel with the solvent for the first selected period of time, the introduction into the pressurizable cleaning vessel of the carbon dioxide gas is done between 200 to 1000 psig.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising decreasing the pressure of the cleaning vessel to at least 200 psig, and then increasing the pressure up to 800 psig.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The process of claim 5, further comprising repeating the cycle of decreasing and increasing the pressure for up to 10 cycles.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein agitating the cleaning vessel containing the rinsing solution occurs at pressures between 250 to 1000 psig.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The process of claim 7 wherein agitating the cleaning vessel containing the rinsing solution occurs at pressures between 400 and 700 psig.

### Claim 9

A method for cleaning and decontaminating apparel comprising:
providing a pressurizable cleaning vessel;
providing a permeable container;
placing the personal apparel within the permeable container;
placing the permeable container containing the apparel within the pressurizable cleaning vessel;
introducing into the pressurizable cleaning vessel gaseous carbon dioxide under pressure;
filling the cleaning vessel with a solvent, the solvent being liquid carbon dioxide and a mixture selected from at least one of up to 2% by weight isoparaffinic detergents, up to 2% by weight of an organic acid, up to 2% by weight of a terpene, up to 2% by weight of an alcohol based detergent, up to 2% by weight of a glycol ether-based additive, up to 2% by weight of an alcohol, up to 1% by weight of a non-ionic surfactant, up to 2% by weight of water, up to 2% by weight hydrogen peroxide, up to 2% by weight docusate salts, up to 2% by weight ketones, and mixtures thereof;
allowing the permeable container and the apparel to be in contact with the solvent for a first selected period of time;
after the permeable container and the apparel has been in contact with the carbonated solvent for the first selected period, the pressure within cleaning vessel is cycled between a low pressure of 400 psig and a high pressure of 600 psig for a selected number of cycles;
removing at least a portion of the solvent from the cleaning vessel while under pressure;
introducing into the pressurizable cleaning vessel a rinsing solution, the rinsing solution being comprised of liquid carbon dioxide and a mixture selected from at least one of up to 2% by weight alcohol, up to 1% by weight hydrogen peroxide, and up to 2% by weight water;
agitating the cleaning vessel containing the rinsing solution, while under pressure, for a second selected period of time;
removing the rinsing solution from the pressurizable cleaning vessel while under pressure;
depressurizing the cleaning vessel; and
removing the permeable container containing the apparel from the pressurizable cleaning vessel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the apparel includes personal protective equipment.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the personal protective equipment includes clothing, helmets, goggles, pants, coats, gloves, hoods, boots and interface elements.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein introducing into the pressurizable cleaning vessel gaseous carbon dioxide occurs at between 300 and 800 psig.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein introducing into the pressurizable cleaning vessel gaseous carbon dioxide occurs at about 600 psig.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein allowing the permeable container and the apparel to be in contact with the solvent occurs at pressures between 250 and 1000 psig.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein allowing the permeable container and the apparel to be in contact with the solvent occurs at pressures between range from 400 and 700 psig.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein agitating the cleaning vessel containing the rinsing solution occurs at pressures between 250 and 1000 psig.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein agitating the cleaning vessel containing the rinsing solution occurs at pressures between 400 and 700 psig.