US1484167A - Cleaning solvent - Google Patents

Description

v Patented'feb. 19, 1924.

- hereinafter set forth-and as claimed.

' hereinafter more particularly describe it as or pseudo-solutions of finely l lo Drawing.

citizen of the United-States, residing at wherein such generally Ioccasionally. there are oline having a length of time,

partly because of stances present.

v I 1,484,161 uurrao' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

inc'ron s., ALL1EN, or WiLMINGTdN, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR T0 mmoo oo'aroaa'rron, or WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

CLEANING, so'nvnnrl Application filed January 19, 1922. Serial No. 530,453.

I solved matters andit takes out but little of the colloidal. matter. Distillation is sometimes employed by cleaners in recovering soline,-but where the gasoline contains ree fatty acids (from dissociated soaps), after a few distillations the distillate is apt to become what is known as sour gasoline, which is not deemed desirable for cleaning his invention relates to cleaning solvents; and must be discarded. I Y and it comprises a method of purifying In the present invention I -modify the solvents (gasoline, benzol, etc.) used in dry purification process by incorporating alittle cleaning garments, and for similar purposes, decolorizing carbon into the used gasoline solvent is exposed to centrifprior to the centrifugal separation. While ugal action in the presence of activated other kinds of activated carbon may be carbon, advantageously that of the Mumused, I find the type described and claimed ford Patent No. 1,286,187 all'asmore fully in various patents to one Mumford (see No. 1,286,187) best adapted. In treating dirty gasoline, the activated carbon adds several other functions of importance to its ordinary decolorizing function. One of these added functions is removal (to a greater or less extent) of dissolved greases and resins, and another is collection of colloid suspensions and emulsions and their conversion into a form amenable to centrifugal separation. By the simple expedient of adding a little activated carbon to gasoline and agitating the two together for a time, the carbon collects very fine matters in suspension or pseudo-suspension. On then centrifugaling the two are thrown out together. In so doing, a light-colored clean gasoline is obtained suitable for direct use in dryicleaning. If the gasoline treated is acid, that is, contains free fatty acids or resin acids, it is-advantageous to use a little calcium carbonate, or lime with the carbon, v say, one per cent or so, of calciumcarbonate on the weight of the carbon. The calcium salts of these fatty and resin acids are insoluble and are collected by the carbon. The gasoline thus neutralized can be dis tilled withoutproduction of fsour gasoline.

In a specific embodimentyof the [present invention, used asolinefis allowed to stand 100 in a storage tan or is-filtered in anysuitable way to free it of coarse dirt..' To this gasoline is then added a small proportion of one of the commercial-activated carbons. In the case of the Mum-ford ma terial, about 35 parts by weight to' 100gallons-of used. gasoline are advantageous. th gasoline is particularlydirty, somewhat be employed, while 'ifit is fairly e b somewhat re- To all whom it may concern Be 1t known that I, VICTOR S. ALLIEN, a

Wilmington, in the county of New Castle and State ofDelaware, have invented certain new and ,useful Improvements 1n Cleaning Solvents, of which the following is a specification. I

In dry cleaning garments, the solvents used by the cleaners are gasoline and benzol (coal tar benzene); although used carbontetrathe chlorethylene; and particularly is a desideratum. le to any of these state, but I shall chlorid, chloroform,

ethylene chlorid, etc., where non-inflammabilit My invention is applica solvents in an impure applied to the treatment of gasoline which may be regarded as typical of the cleaners solvents. "Dry cleaners gasoline is a special grade of petroleum distillate or of gaslow end boiling point. rimary object in using gas oline in dry (ileaning is to dissolve and re-. move grease, gasoline being an excellent solventfor fatty and greasy substances, yet, as a matter of fact, it removes and carries with it dirt of all kinds. After a certain gasoline used in cleaning becomes too much contaminated or dirty and must be purified. This purificationofi'ers considerable difliculty, this being the wide variety of sub- In addition to the coarse and easily removed dirt and greases, resins, etc., in so ution, there are colloid suspensions divided liquid and solid matters. In cleaning establishments the dirty, used gasoline is ordinaril put in storage 'tanksto settle'out as much dirt as possible and is then frequent y run through a centrifugal to separate a further quantity. This, however, is not very efi'ect-' ual and does not give a clean product. A more -ma, I centrifugal does not, of course, remove disclean, the proportion may While the Q I insane? duced. With other activated carbons or- What I claim is dinarily considerably more is required. a The Y 1. In the purification of used and impure carbon and the gasoline are well a 'tated solvents carrying colloidal matter of the for a period of 10 to 30 minutes and to settle. Much of the carbon deposits, carvwhich comprises agitating such a solvent rying impurities removed from the gasoline with activated carbon to collect such 001- with it. Without waiting for a complete loid matter and separating the carbon and separation in this manner, the gasoline is collected matter by centrifugal action.

next treated in an eflicient separating ma- '2. In the purification of used and impure chine of the centrifugal separator type, solvents carrying colloidal matter of the wing carbon, together with dissolved and WlllCll comprises agitating such a solvent suspended impurities of the gasolene. Inwith activated carbon in the presence of lowed type of dry cleaners gasoline, the process 30 thereby removing the residue of the decolortype of dry' cleaners gasoline, the process I stead of using a centrifugal, a filter press calcium carbonate to collect such colloid may be employed; but the centrifugal I rematter and neutralize acidity and separating gard as. better. The eflluent gasoline is the carbon and collected matter by centrifuready for re-use but, if desired, it may be gal action.

distilled. As the carbon takes out the'mois- 3. The process of recovering ,dry cleaners ture (of soap emulsions and :the like), the gasoline, which comprises settling said gasgasoline coming fro the centrifugal is suboline to remove coarse impurities, adding stantially dry. Where the used oline is activated carbon and calcium carbonate, ag1-' acid in its nature, it is, as statei useful tating and separating by centrifugal action; expedient to add a little calcium carbonate In. testimony whereof, I have hereunto at the time of adding the carbon. Or the 'aflixed my signature. carbon may be treated with a little lime water prior to use. v VICTOR S. ALLIEN.