Cleaning system utilizing an organic and a pressurized fluid solvent

Abstract

A cleaning system that utilizes an organic cleaning solvent and pressurized fluid solvent is disclosed. The system has no conventional evaporative hot air drying cycle. Instead, the system utilizes the solubility of the organic solvent in pressurized fluid solvent as well as the physical properties of pressurized fluid solvent. After an organic solvent cleaning cycle, the solvent is extracted from the textiles at high speed in a rotating drum in the same way conventional solvents are extracted from textiles in conventional evaporative hot air dry cleaning machines. Instead of proceeding to a conventional drying cycle, the extracted textiles are then immersed in pressurized fluid solvent to extract the residual organic solvent from the textiles. This is possible because the organic solvent is soluble in pressurized fluid solvent. After the textiles are immersed in pressurized fluid solvent, pressurized fluid solvent is pumped from the drum. Finally, the drum is de-pressurized to atmospheric pressure to evaporate any remaining pressurized fluid solvent, yielding clean, solvent free textiles. The organic solvent is preferably dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether, tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether or tripropylene glycol methyl ether, a mixture thereof, or a similar solvent and the pressurized fluid solvent is preferably densified carbon dioxide.

1 . A process for cleaning a substrate selected from the group consisting of a textile, a flexible structure, a precision structure, a delicate structure, and a porous structure, comprising: 
 placing the substrates in a perforated cleaning drum within a pressurizable cleaning vessel;    adding organic solvent to the cleaning vessel, the organic solvent comprising less than 50% by weight water;    cleaning the substrates in the perforated cleaning drum in absence of pressurized fluid solvent;    removing at least a portion of the organic solvent from the cleaning vessel; and    thereafter removing a remaining portion of the organic solvent from the substrate using at least one pressurized fluid solvent, wherein the organic solvent is of the structural formula:                          wherein x, y, and z each is zero or one;    at least one of x, y, and z is one;    R″ is benzyl, phenyl, partially or fully fluorinated benzyl or phenyl, C j H 2j+1 , or C j H a F b  wherein j is an integer between one and (13-3(x+y+z)), inclusive, a and b each is independently an integer between zero and 2j+1, inclusive, and a+b=2j+1;    R 1-12  are independently C m H n F p  or C d H e F g  where m is an integer between zero and two, inclusive, n and p are integers between zero and five, inclusive and n+p=2m+1, d is an integer between zero and two, inclusive, e and g are integers between zero and five, inclusive, and e+g=2d+1; and    R′ is O, S, carbonyl or ester.    
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R′ is O;    R″ is C j H 2j+1 ;    R 1-3  are independently H or CH 3 ; and    R 4-12  each is H.    
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R′ is S, carbonyl or ester;    R″ is C j H 2j+1 ;    R 1-3  are independently H or CH 3 ; and    R 4-12  each is H.    
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R′ is O;    R″ is C j H 2j+1 ;    R 1-3  are independently H, CH 3 , or C 2 H 5 ; and    at least one of R 1-3  is CH 2 CH 3 ; and    R 4-12  are each H.    
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R′ is S, carbonyl or ester;    R″ is C j H 2j+1 ;    R 1-3  are independently H, CH 3 , or C 2 H 5 ; and    at least one of R 1-3  is CH 2 CH 3 ; and    R 4-12  are each H.    
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R′ is O;    R″ is C j H 2j+1 ;    R 1-9  are each H;    R 10-12  are independently H or CH 3 ; and    at least one of R 10-12  is CH 3 .    
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R′ is S, carbonyl or ester;    R″ is C j H 2j+1 ;    R 1-9  are each H;    R 10-12  are independently H or CH 3 ; and    at least one of R 10-12  is CH 3 .    
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R′ is O;    R″ is C j H 2j+1 ;    R 1-9  are each H;    R 10-12  are independently H, CH 3 , or C 2 H 5 ; and    at least one of R 10-12  is CH 2 CH 3 .    
   
   
       9 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R′ is S, carbonyl or ester;    R″ is C j H 2j+1 ;    R 1-9  are each H;    R 10-12  are independently H, CH 3 , or C 2 H 5 ; and    at least one of R 10-12  is CH 2 CH 3 .    
   
   
       10 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R′ is O;    R″ is C j H a F b ;    R 1-3  are independently H, F, CH 3 , CH 2 F, CHF 2 , or CF 3  and at least one is CH 3 , CH 2 F, CHF 2 , or CF 3 ; and    R 4-12  are independently H or F.    
   
   
       11 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R′ is S, carbonyl, or ester;    R″ is C j H a F b ;    R 1-3  are independently H, F, CH 3 , CH 2 F, CHF 2 , or CF 3  and at least one is CH 3 , CH 2 F, CHF 2 , or CF 3 ; and    R 4-12  are independently H or F.    
   
   
       12 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R 1-3  are independently C m H n F p ;    at least one of R 1-3  is C 2 H n F p ;    R 4-12  are independently H or F;    R′ is O; and    R″ is C j H a F b .    
   
   
       13 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R 1-3  are independently C m H n F p ;    at least one of R 1-3  is C 2 H n F p ;    R 4-12  are independently H or F;    R′ is S, carbonyl or ester; and    R″ is C j H a F b .    
   
   
       14 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R 1-9  are independently H or F;    R 10-12  are independently H, F, CH 3 , CH 2 F, CHF 2  or CF 3 ;    at least one of R 10-12  is CH 3 , CH 2 F, CHF 2  or CF 3 ;    R′ is O; and    R″ is C j H a F b .    
   
   
       15 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R 1-9  are independently H or F;    R 10-12  are independently H, F, CH 3 , CH 2 F, CHF 2  or CF 3 ;    at least one of R 10-12  is CH 3 , CH 2 F, CHF 2  or CF 3 ;    R′ is S, carbonyl or ester; and    R″ is C j H a F b .    
   
   
       16 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R′ is O;    R″ is C j H a F b ;    R 1-3  are independently C m H n F p ;    R 4-9  are independently H or F; and    R 10-12  are independently C d H e F g .    
   
   
       17 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R′ is S, carbonyl or ester;    R″ is C j H a F b ;    R 1-3  are independently C m H n F p ;    R 4-9  are independently H or F; and    R 10-12  are independently C d H e F g .    
   
   
       18 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R′ is O;    R″ is benzyl or phenyl;    R 1-3  are independently H, CH 3 , or C 2 H 5 ;    at least one of R 1-3  is CH 2 CH 3 ; and    R 4-12  are each H.    
   
   
       19 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R′ is S, carbonyl or ester;    R″ is benzyl or phenyl;    R 1-3  are independently H, CH 3 , or C 2 H 5 ;    at least one of R 1-3  is CH 2 CH 3 ; and    R 4-12  are each H.    
   
   
       20 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R′ is O;    R″ is benzyl or phenyl;    R 1-9  are each H;    R 10-12  are independently H or CH 3 ; and    at least one of R 10-12  is CH 3 .    
   
   
       21 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R′ is S, carbonyl or ester;    R″ is benzyl or phenyl;    R 1-9  are each H;    R 10-12  are independently H or CH 3 ; and    at least one of R 10-12  is CH 3 .    
   
   
       22 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R′ is O;    R″ is benzyl or phenyl;    R 1-9  are each H;    R 10-12  are independently H, CH 3 , or C 2 H 5 ; and    at least one of R 10-12  is CH 2 CH 3 .    
   
   
       23 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R′ is S, carbonyl or ester;    R″ is benzyl or phenyl;    R 1-9  are each H;    R 10-12  are independently H, CH 3 , or C 2 H 5 ; and    at least one of R 10-12  is CH 2 CH 3 .    
   
   
       24 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R″ is benzyl, phenyl, or partially or fully fluorinated benzyl or phenyl;    R 1-3  are independently C m H n F p ;    at least one of R 1-3  is C 2 H n F p ;    R 4-12  are independently H or F; and    R′ is O.    
   
   
       25 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R″ is benzyl, phenyl, or partially or fully fluorinated benzyl or phenyl;    R 1-3  are independently C m H n F p ;    at least one of R 1-3  is C 2 H n F p ;    R 4-12  are independently H or F; and    R′ is S, carbonyl or ester.    
   
   
       26 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R″ is benzyl, phenyl, or partially or fully fluorinated benzyl or phenyl;    R 1-9  are independently H or F;    R 10-12  are independently H, F, CH 3 , CH 2 F, CHF 2  or CF 3 ;    at least one of R 10-12  is CH 3 , CH 2 F, CHF 2  or CF 3 ; and    R′ is O.    
   
   
       27 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R″ is benzyl, phenyl, or partially or fully fluorinated benzyl or phenyl;    R 1-9  are independently H or F;    R 10-12  are independently H, F, CH 3 , CH 2 F, CHF 2  or CF 3 ;    at least one of R 10-12  is CH 3 , CH 2 F, CHF 2  or CF 3 ; and    R′ is S, carbonyl or ester.    
   
   
       28 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R″ is benzyl, phenyl, or partially or fully fluorinated benzyl or phenyl;    R 1-9  are independently H or F;    R 10-12  are independently C m H n F p ;    at least one of R 10-12  is C 2 H n F p ; and    R′ is O.    
   
   
       29 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R″ is benzyl, phenyl, or partially or fully fluorinated benzyl or phenyl;    R 1-9  are independently H or F;    R 10-12  are independently C m H n F p ;    at least one of R 10-12  is C 2 H n F p ; and    R′ is S, carbonyl or ester.    
   
   
       30 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R′ is O;    R″ is benzyl, phenyl, or partially or fully fluorinated benzyl or phenyl;    R 1-3  are independently C m H n F p ;    R 4-9  are independently H or F; and    R 10-12  are independently C d H e F g .    
   
   
       31 . The process of  claim 1  wherein: 
 R′ is S, carbonyl or ester;    R″ is benzyl, phenyl, or partially or fully fluorinated benzyl or phenyl;    R 1-3  are independently C m H n F p ;    R 4-9  are independently H or F; and    R 10-12  are independently C d H e F g .    
   
   
       32 . A process for cleaning a substrate selected from the group consisting of a textile, a flexible structure, a precision structure, a delicate structure, and a porous structure, comprising: 
 placing the substrates in a perforated cleaning drum within a pressurizable cleaning vessel;    adding organic solvent to the cleaning vessel, the organic solvent comprising less than 50% by weight water;    cleaning the substrates in the perforated cleaning drum in absence of pressurized fluid solvent;    removing at least a portion of the organic solvent from the cleaning vessel; and    thereafter removing a remaining portion of the organic solvent from the substrate using at least one pressurized fluid solvent, wherein the organic solvent is of the structural formula:                          wherein x, y, and z are each zero or one;    at least one of x, y, and z is one;    R″ is selected from the group consisting of: 
 H;  
                     
 and  
   wherein R′″ is H, F or combinations of H and F;    R IV  is selected from the group consisting of: 
 H;  
                     
 and  
   wherein R V  is H, F or combinations of H and F; and    when R″ is H or F, R IV  is not H or F;    R 1-3  are independently H, F, CH 3 , CH 2 F, CHF 2  or CF 3 ; and    R 4-12  are independently H or F.    
   
   
       33 . The process of  claim 32  wherein: 
 R IV  is: 
 H  
   or                        wherein R V  is H, F or combinations of H and F; and      R″ is:                        wherein R′″ is H, F or combinations of H and F.      
   
   
       34 . The process of  claim 32  wherein: 
 R″ is: 
 H  
   or                        wherein R′″ is H, F or combinations of H and F; and      R IV  is:                        wherein R V  is H, F or combinations of H and F.      
   
   
       35 . The process of  claim 32  wherein: 
 R″ is: 
 H;  
 F; or  
                     
 wherein R′″ is H, F or combinations of H and F; and  
   R IV  is: 
 H;  
 F; or  
                     
 wherein R V  is H, F or combinations of H and F; and  
 when R″ is H or F, R IV  is not H or F.  
   
   
   
       36 . The process of  claim 32  wherein: 
 R 1-3  are independently H or CH 3 ;    R 4-12  are each H;    R IV  is: 
 H  
   or                          and    R″ is:                          
   
   
       37 . The process of  claim 32  wherein: 
 R 1-3  are independently H or CH 3 ;    R 4-12  are each H;    R″ is: 
 H  
   or                          and    R IV  is:                          
   
   
       38 . The process of  claim 32  wherein: 
 R 1-3  are independently H or CH 3 ;    R 4-12  are each H;    R″ is: 
 H;  
   or                          R IV  is: 
 H;  
   or                          and when R″ is H, R IV  is not H.    
   
   
       39 . A process for cleaning a substrate selected from the group consisting of a textile, a flexible structure, a precision structure, a delicate structure, and a porous structure, comprising: 
 placing the substrates in a perforated cleaning drum within a pressurizable cleaning vessel;    adding organic solvent to the cleaning vessel, the organic solvent comprising less than 50% by weight water;    cleaning the substrates in the perforated cleaning drum in absence of pressurized fluid solvent;    removing at least a portion of the organic solvent from the cleaning vessel; and    thereafter removing a remaining portion of the organic solvent from the substrate using at least one pressurized fluid solvent, wherein the organic solvent is of the structural formula:                          wherein R′ is                          and    R″ is independently                          wherein R′″ is O and j is 1 or R′″ is N and j is 2;    n is an integer between zero and two;    R IV  are each independently H, CH 3  or CH 2 CH 3  and k is an integer between zero and two inclusive; and    wherein R is C y H 2y+1  and y is an integer between one and (12-(3k+3n+x)) inclusive, and x is an integer between one and (12-(3k+y)), inclusive.    
   
   
       40 . A process for cleaning a substrate selected from the group consisting of a textile, a flexible structure, a precision structure, a delicate structure, and a porous structure, comprising: 
 placing the substrates in a perforated cleaning drum within a pressurizable cleaning vessel;    adding organic solvent to the cleaning vessel, the organic solvent comprising less than 50% by weight water;    cleaning the substrates in the perforated cleaning drum in absence of pressurized fluid solvent;    removing at least a portion of the organic solvent from the cleaning vessel; and    thereafter removing a remaining portion of the organic solvent from the substrate using at least one pressurized fluid solvent, wherein the organic solvent is of the structural formula:    the organic solvent is of the structural formula:                        wherein R′″ is O or NH;    R IV  are each independently H, CH 3  or CH 2 CH 3  and k is an integer between zero and two inclusive; and    wherein R is C y H 2y+1  and y is an integer between one and (12-(3k+x)) inclusive, and x is an integer between one and (12-(3k+y)), inclusive.