Method of cleaning heavily soiled textiles
AssigneeParadigm Technology, Inc.
InventorJames F. Deal, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Heavily soiled shop towels, mops and other industrial laundry are initially contacted with a mixture of a cleaning solvent and an emulsifier to efficiently penetrate the industrial soil in the fabric. Thereafter water is added to provide an oil-in-water emulsion cleaning composition which effectively removes both the industrial soil and the solvent from the goods. A preferred class of hydrocarbon solvents suitable for this purpose is the class of solvents known as terpene solvents. Particularly suitable are terpene solvents having a tagg closed cup flash point, of 140.degree. F. or higher. The oil-in-water emulsion thereafter is demulsified for separation of the cleaning solvent from the water and recycle of the solvent to the process.
Claims21
A method of cleaning heavily soiled textiles with a mixture of at least one of a cyclic and acyclic hydrocarbon terpene solvent and at least one of an oil-soluble anionic, an oil soluble nonionic and an oil-soluble cationic surfactant having an HLB number of about 1 to about 10, said mixture containing the surfactant in an amount from about 0.5 to about 2.0 percent by weight of solvent, said method comprising the steps of:
- soaking the heavily soiled textiles in an amount of said solvent/surfactant mixture sufficient substantially to saturate the textiles with said mixture;
- forming a solvent-in-water emulsion in contact with said soiled textiles by adding water to said mixture-saturated textiles only in an amount sufficient to form a solvent-water emulsion and by agitating the soiled textiles, the solvent/surfactant mixture and the added water together;
- effecting a first low water level wash step by adding a low volume of water to said solvent-in-water emulsion and agitating the soiled textiles therein to separate a substantial portion of the soil from the textiles such that the soil forms a part of the solvent-in-water emulsion;
- separating the washed textiles from a major portion of the solvent-in-water emulsion from the first wash step;
- effecting a second low water level wash step by adding a low volume of an aqueous alkaline salt solution to the washed textiles and agitating the washed textiles and aqueous alkaline salt solution to remove a substantial portion of the solvent remaining from with the textiles from the first wash step and for additional soil removal therefrom;
- and
- separating the textiles from a major portion of the solvent and water from said second wash step to achieve textiles substantially free of solvent.
A method of cleaning heavily soiled textiles with a mixture of one of an acyclic terpene, a cyclic terpene, an acyclic dipentene and a cyclic dipentene with one of an oil-soluble anionic surfactant, an oil-soluble non-ionic surfactant and an oil-soluble cationic surfactant having an HLB number about 1 to about 12, said mixture containing the surfactant in an amount from about 0.5 to about 2.0 percent by weight of solvent, said method comprising the steps of;
- soaking the heavily soiled textiles in an amount of the solvent/surfactant mixture sufficient to substantially saturate the textiles with said mixture sufficient to substantially saturate the textiles with said mixture without substantial excess of solvent/surfactant beyond saturation;
- forming a solvent-in water emulsion in contact with said soiled textiles by adding water to said mixture saturated textiles in an amount only sufficient to form said solvent-in water emulsion and agitating the soiled textiles solvent/surfactant mixture and water together;
- effecting a first low water level wash step containing no more than about 125 gallons of water per 800 pounds of soiled textiles by adding said water and agitating said soiled textiles by adding said water and agitating said soiled textiles in said solvent-in-water emulsion to separate a substantial portion of the soil from the textiles with the soil forming a part of the solvent-in-water emulsion;
- textiles with a mixture of one of an acyclic terpene, a cyclic terpene, an acyclic dipentene and a cyclic dipentene with one of an oil-soluble anionic surfactant, an oil-soluble non-ionic surfactant and an oil-soluble cationic surfactant having an HLB number about 1 to about 12, said mixture containing the surfactant in an amount by weight of solvent from about 0.5 to about 2.0 percent by weight of solvent, said method comprising the steps of;
- soaking the heavily soiled textiles in an amount of the solvent/surfactant mixture sufficient to substantially saturate the textiles with said mixture sufficient to substantially saturate the textiles with said mixture without substantial excess of solvent/surfactant beyond saturation;
- forming a solvent-in-water emulsion in contact with said soiled textiles by adding water to said mixture saturated textiles in an amount only sufficient to form said solvent-in-water emulsion and agitating the soiled textiles solvent/surfactant mixture and water together;
- effecting a first low water level wash step containing no more than about 125 gallons of water per 800 pounds of soiled textiles by adding said water and agitating said soiled textiles by adding said water and agitating said soiled textiles in said solvent-in-water emulsion to separate a substantial portion of the soil from the textiles with the soil forming a part of the
- separating the washed textiles from a major portion of the solvent-in-water emulsion from the first wash step;
- effecting a second low water level wash step by agitating the washed textiles with an aqueous alkaline salt solution a substantial portion of the solvent remaining with the textiles from the first wash step and for additional soil removal;
- separating the washed textiles from a major portion of the solvent and water of the second wash step;
- and
- washing the second washed textiles in a third water wash step to achieve cleaned textiles substantially free of solvent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.