Method for cleaning textile absorbers

Abstract

A method and system for cleaning textile absorbers that can be recycled. The system includes the use of a particular cleaning fluid, n-propyl bromide, to clean the textile absorbers for reuse. The system may also include a removal component in which excess extraneous substances are removed from the textile absorbers prior to cleaning the textile absorbers.

1 . A method for recycling a textile absorber used to absorb extraneous substances, said method comprising the step of: 
 cleaning said a textilr absorber in n-propyl bromide to remove extraneous substances from said textile absorber.    
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of removing a portion of said extraneous substances from said textile absorber prior to cleaning said textile absorber.  
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said removing step is done by placing said textile absorber in a barrel to drain said extraneous substances by gravity.  
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said removing step is done by placing said textile absorber on a grid to drain said extraneous substances by gravity.  
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said removing step is done by centrifuging said textile absorber.  
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said centrifuging takes place at a rate of atleast 900 RPM.  
   
   
       7 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said centrifuging takes place at a rate between 900 and  1200  RPM.  
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said centrifuging is done until less than approximetely 2% extraneous substances remain in said textile absorber.  
   
   
       9 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said centrifuging is done until less than approximetely 0.5% extraneous substances remoan in said textile absorber.  
   
   
       10 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprisingthe step of distilling said n-propyl bromide for reuse after said cleaning step.  
   
   
       11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said distilled n-propyl bromide contains less than approximately 15% extraneous substances.  
   
   
       12 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said distilled n-propyl bromide contains less than approximately 5% extraneous substances.  
   
   
       13 . A method for recycling a textile absorber used to absorb extraneous substances, said method comprising steps of: 
 removing a first portion of extraneous substances from a textile absorber used to absorb said extraneous subatances;    dry cleaning said textile absorber in reused n-propyl bromide to remove a second portion of said extraneous substances from said textile absorber; and    distilling said n-propyl bromide to remove said second portion from said n-propyl bromide.    
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said n-propyl bromide contains less than approximately 15% extraneous substances.  
   
   
       15 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said n-propyl bromide contains less than 5% extraneous substances.  
   
   
       16 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said removing step is done by placing said textile absorber in a barrel to drain said first portion of extraneous substances by gravity.  
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said removing step is done by placing said textile absorber on a grid to drain said first portion of extraneous substances by gravity.  
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said removing step is done by centrifuging said textile absorber.  
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said dry cleaning step is done in an industrial dry cleaning machine having two distillers.  
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said reused n-propyl bromide consists essentially of 100% n-propyl bromide.