WO2000017436A1 - Method of removal of hydrocarbons from fabric - Google Patents

Method of removal of hydrocarbons from fabric Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2000017436A1
WO2000017436A1 PCT/US1999/014936 US9914936W WO0017436A1 WO 2000017436 A1 WO2000017436 A1 WO 2000017436A1 US 9914936 W US9914936 W US 9914936W WO 0017436 A1 WO0017436 A1 WO 0017436A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
hydrocarbons
fabric
fibers
nonwoven fabric
temperature
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1999/014936
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Jerry Zucker
Original Assignee
Thantex Holdings, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Thantex Holdings, Inc. filed Critical Thantex Holdings, Inc.
Priority to AU47297/99A priority Critical patent/AU749979B2/en
Priority to DE69935735T priority patent/DE69935735T2/en
Priority to EP99930850A priority patent/EP1141464B1/en
Publication of WO2000017436A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000017436A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08CLEANING
    • B08BCLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B3/00Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
    • B08B3/04Cleaning involving contact with liquid
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B09DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
    • B09BDISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B09B3/00Destroying solid waste or transforming solid waste into something useful or harmless
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B09DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
    • B09BDISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B09B2101/00Type of solid waste
    • B09B2101/02Gases or liquids enclosed in discarded articles, e.g. aerosol cans or cooling systems of refrigerators
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D10INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10BINDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B2321/00Fibres made from polymers obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
    • D10B2321/06Fibres made from polymers obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds polymers of unsaturated alcohols, e.g. polyvinyl alcohol, or of their acetals or ketals

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method of separating hydrocarbons and other organic materials from fabrics such as shop rags.
  • the fabric is made from fibers of polyvinyl alcohol. After use, the fabric is placed in a hot water bath and heated to a temperature above 37° C to dissolve the fabric in the water, whereupon the water is passed into a sewer.
  • PVA fiber employed has a dissolution temperature in
  • the fabric may be mildly agitated.
  • the water bath is generally free of any detergents
  • the hydrocarbons can be easily removed from the bath by draining or
  • skimming especially since they are not in emulsified form.
  • the articles may be subjected to
  • a fabric is prepared using conventional techniques.
  • the fabric may be woven
  • the fabric is
  • nonwovens made from staple fibers.
  • the fibers are carded into a web of suitable thickness and fiber orientation, and the web is consolidated using a variety of methods. Suitable methods are thermal point bonding and adhesive bonding.
  • One preferred method is hydroentanglement, in which the
  • unconsolidated web is conveyed over a porous conveyor and is treated with fine jets of
  • the fabric comprises in excess of 55 percent PVA fibers and preferably in
  • the polyvinyl alcohol fibers are highly polystyrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene excess of 90 percent PVA.
  • the polyvinyl alcohol fibers are highly polystyrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene-styrene
  • Fiber denier is not critical, and a mixture of deniers can be used. If other fibers are
  • the fibers are somewhat resistant to hydrocarbons. While the basis weight of
  • the fabric is not critical to the functional aspects, it is expected that in most application,
  • the PVA fiber is substantially
  • the resulting fabric is cut into individual sheets and may be dry packaged for
  • hydrocarbon is used in the general sense to
  • the soiled rags are placed in an aqueous bath and heated to a temperature of
  • the articles may be mildly agitated in the bath to speed up the separation.
  • no detergents, surfactants or emulsifying agents are used in the bath, since the primary objective is to remove the hydrocarbons from the water to allow for safe
  • the layer may be simply skimmed or drained, or the layer may be brought into contact with
  • a material capable of selectively absorbing hydrocarbons such as granules of
  • thermoplastic rubber thermoplastic rubber
  • the fabric may be additionally washed and
  • Another alternative is to recycle the polymer in the fabric, or simply dispose
  • a fabric having a basis weight of 80 gsm was prepared from 100% PVA fibers.
  • the fabric was made from carded and cross lapped fiber layers to achieve high strength
  • the fabric was cut into 8 x 8 sheets, pre-weighed, and soaked in
  • the samples were immersed in a water bath at temperatures of 80, 100, 125 and

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Cleaning Implements For Floors, Carpets, Furniture, Walls, And The Like (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
  • Nonwoven Fabrics (AREA)
  • Detergent Compositions (AREA)
  • Treatments For Attaching Organic Compounds To Fibrous Goods (AREA)

Abstract

A method for removing and disposing hydrocarbons absorbed in a fabric, the method comprising the steps of providing a nonwoven fabric which comprises in excess of 55 % fibers of polyvinyl alcohol, and wherein the nonwoven fabric is contaminated with hydrocarbons, disposing the nonwoven fabric in a warm aqueous bath heated to a temperature substantially less than the dissolution temperature of the polyvinyl alcohol fibers, whereby to cause liberation of the hydrocarbons from the fabric.

Description

METHOD OF REMOVAL OF HYDROCARBONS FROM FABRIC
Background of the Invention This invention relates to a method of separating hydrocarbons and other organic materials from fabrics such as shop rags.
Conventional shop rags are typically made of woven cotton fabrics as well as nonowoven fabrics, and these rags are used in the industry to wipe up oil, grease and solvents, or to clean parts with hydrocarbons and other solvents. These reusable rags are then laundered, using sufficient detergent and high temperature and agitation to emulsify hydrocarbons.
There is increasing governmental regulation in the field of cleaning of soiled rags and garments, and there is a limitation on the amount of hydrocarbons which may
be discharged to a sewer. In order to deal with these problems, special cleaning procedures have been developed, usually involving extraction of the soiled item with a volative organic
solvent. Such methods require recovery of the solvent and subsequent evaporation to separate the hydrocarbons and are not entirely satisfactory. Examples of various proposals may be found in U.S. patents 5,222,267, 5,207,922, and 5,112,358. An example of a disposable fabric may be found in U.S. patent 5,207,837.
Here, the fabric is made from fibers of polyvinyl alcohol. After use, the fabric is placed in a hot water bath and heated to a temperature above 37° C to dissolve the fabric in the water, whereupon the water is passed into a sewer. Summary of the Invention
In accordance with the present invention a rag or other article subject to
contamination by hydrocarbons is made from a fabric comprising a majority of fibers of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The PVA fiber employed has a dissolution temperature in
water of about 180° to 210° F.
The rags or other articles are employed in the normal manner, and it has been
found that PVA fibers have a strong affinity for absorbing oil.
After the fabric has become soiled it is placed in a bath of warm water in the
order of 80° to 130° F and substantially below the dissolution temperature of the PVA. The fabric may be mildly agitated. The water bath is generally free of any detergents
or emulsifying agents.
It has been found that fabrics comprising PVA fibers will release hydrocarbons
more easily than other fabrics. As a result, hydrocarbons are released from the fabric and rise to the top of the bath, since most have a density of less than the water in the
bath. Thus, the hydrocarbons can be easily removed from the bath by draining or
skimming, especially since they are not in emulsified form.
Following the hydrocarbon separation step, the articles may be subjected to
additional cleaning and returned to service.
Detailed Description
A fabric is prepared using conventional techniques. The fabric may be woven
or knitted using conventional methods. In order to reduce costs, however, the fabric is
preferably a nonwoven. Especially suitable are nonwovens made from staple fibers. The fibers are carded into a web of suitable thickness and fiber orientation, and the web is consolidated using a variety of methods. Suitable methods are thermal point bonding and adhesive bonding. One preferred method is hydroentanglement, in which the
unconsolidated web is conveyed over a porous conveyor and is treated with fine jets of
water, causing the fibers to become tangled in a pattern. The basic process is described
in U.S. patent 3,485,706, incorporated herein by reference.
The fabric comprises in excess of 55 percent PVA fibers and preferably in
excess of 90 percent PVA. Preferably, the polyvinyl alcohol fibers are highly
crystallized by post drawing or annealing. These fibers are available commercially. Fiber denier is not critical, and a mixture of deniers can be used. If other fibers are
present, they can be in the form of any natural or synthetic fiber available, but
preferably the fibers are somewhat resistant to hydrocarbons. While the basis weight of
the fabric is not critical to the functional aspects, it is expected that in most application,
such as use in rags, shop towels, mop heads, aprons and the like, the basis weight will
exceed 50 grams per square meter (gsm). Preferably, the PVA fiber is substantially
insoluble in aqueous baths until heated to 180° F and higher.
The resulting fabric is cut into individual sheets and may be dry packaged for
use in a dry form, or the sheets may be pretreated with a solvent. The articles are then employed in the normal fashion, and articles contaminated with hydrocarbons are
collected for recycling.
Surprisingly, it has been found that PVA fabrics have the ability to strongly
absorb hydrocarbons in a dry state at room temperature and the ability to strongly repel hydrocarbons when warmed in an aqueous bath, allowing recovery in excess of 90
percent of the hydrocarbons.
As employed herein, the term "hydrocarbon" is used in the general sense to
solids, liquids and volatile materials, which are organic in nature, as well as substances which may be dissolved in these organic materials. Also, this term is generally used to
refer to organic materials and solvents which may encounter rags of this nature and
which are insoluble in water.
The soiled rags are placed in an aqueous bath and heated to a temperature of
about 80° to 130°F. Although somewhat higher temperatures can be used, the PVA cloth tends to start dissolving, and in any event, no gain in separation efficiency is realized. The articles may be mildly agitated in the bath to speed up the separation.
Preferably, no detergents, surfactants or emulsifying agents are used in the bath, since the primary objective is to remove the hydrocarbons from the water to allow for safe
disposal.
As the hydrocarbons become separated in the bath, they will generally rise to
and float on the surface, allowing for easy removal. For example, the hydrocarbon
layer may be simply skimmed or drained, or the layer may be brought into contact with
a material capable of selectively absorbing hydrocarbons, such as granules of
thermoplastic rubber.
Following the separation step, the fabric may be additionally washed and
reused. Another alternative is to recycle the polymer in the fabric, or simply dispose
of the fabric. EXAMPLE
A fabric having a basis weight of 80 gsm was prepared from 100% PVA fibers.
The fabric was made from carded and cross lapped fiber layers to achieve high strength
in two directions. The fabric was cut into 8 x 8 sheets, pre-weighed, and soaked in
10W40 motor oil for 60 seconds. The samples were again weighed to determine the weight of oil absorbed.
The samples were immersed in a water bath at temperatures of 80, 100, 125 and
155° F and agitated. At a temperature of 125° F, minor shrinkage of the fabric was
noted, and substantial shrinkage was noted at 155°. In all cases, in excess of 93% of
the absorbed oil was removed by virtue of immersion in warm water. The fabrics
maintain excellent machine direction and cross machine direction strength when
compared to conventional nonwoven wiping cloths of the same basis weight.

Claims

1. Method of removing and disposing of hydrocarbons absorbed in a fabric,
said method comprising the steps of providing a nonwoven fabric which comprises in
excess of 55% fibers of polyvinyl alcohol, and wheren the nonwoven fabric is
contaminated with hydrocarbons, disposing the nonwoven fabric in a warm aqueous
bath heated to a temperature substantially less than the dissolution temperature of the
polyvinyl alcohol fibers, whereby to cause liberation of the hydrocarbons from the
fabrics.
2. The method of Claim 1 wherein the aqueous bath is free from detergent.
3. The method of Claim 1 wherein the aqueous bath is heated to a
temperature of 80 to 130° F.
4. The method of Claim 1 wherein the nonwoven fabric is a hydroen tangled
fabric.
5. Method of cleaning fabrics soiled with hydrocarbons comprising the steps of providing a nonwoven fabric made from at least 55% of polyvinyl alcohol
fibers, said fibers being soluble in an aqueous bath when heated to a first temperature, and after the nonwoven fabric has been soiled by hydrocarbons, immersing the soiled
fabric into an aqueous bath heated to a second temperature substantially below the first
temperature, whereby to separate the hydrocarbons from the fabric without
emulsification.
PCT/US1999/014936 1998-09-22 1999-07-01 Method of removal of hydrocarbons from fabric WO2000017436A1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU47297/99A AU749979B2 (en) 1998-09-22 1999-07-01 Method of removal of hydrocarbons from fabric
DE69935735T DE69935735T2 (en) 1998-09-22 1999-07-01 METHOD FOR REMOVING CARBON HYDROGEN FROM WOVEN FABRIC
EP99930850A EP1141464B1 (en) 1998-09-22 1999-07-01 Method of removal of hydrocarbons from fabric

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/158,318 US5931971A (en) 1998-09-22 1998-09-22 Method for removal of hydrocarbons from fabrics
US09/158,318 1998-09-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000017436A1 true WO2000017436A1 (en) 2000-03-30

Family

ID=22567571

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1999/014936 WO2000017436A1 (en) 1998-09-22 1999-07-01 Method of removal of hydrocarbons from fabric

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US5931971A (en)
EP (1) EP1141464B1 (en)
CN (1) CN1158418C (en)
AU (1) AU749979B2 (en)
DE (1) DE69935735T2 (en)
WO (1) WO2000017436A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7114610B2 (en) 2002-12-04 2006-10-03 3M Innovative Properties Company Conveyor belt cleaning system

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6691536B2 (en) * 2000-06-05 2004-02-17 The Procter & Gamble Company Washing apparatus
US6854135B2 (en) * 2002-12-06 2005-02-15 Microtek Medical Holdings, Inc. Reusable, launderable water-soluble coveralls
US7328463B2 (en) * 2003-09-08 2008-02-12 Microtek Medical Holdings, Inc. Water-soluble articles and methods of making and using the same
US20050183208A1 (en) * 2004-02-20 2005-08-25 The Procter & Gamble Company Dual mode laundry apparatus and method using the same

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5112358A (en) * 1990-01-09 1992-05-12 Paradigm Technology Co., Inc. Method of cleaning heavily soiled textiles
US5207837A (en) * 1991-04-10 1993-05-04 Honeycutt Travis W Method of disposal of hot water soluble garments and like fabrics
US5207922A (en) * 1990-10-25 1993-05-04 Diversey Corporation Method for treating laundry waste water
US5222267A (en) * 1992-01-17 1993-06-29 Fierro James V Industrial rag cleaning process for the environmentally safe removal of petroleum-based solvents
US5707731A (en) * 1996-05-09 1998-01-13 Isolyser Company, Inc. Disposable cleaning articles
US5762716A (en) * 1997-01-09 1998-06-09 American Iron & Metal Company, Inc. Methods for wiping a metal contaminated surface with a water soluble fabric

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS61164538A (en) * 1985-01-18 1986-07-25 株式会社ダスキン Mop excellent in antistaining property

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5112358A (en) * 1990-01-09 1992-05-12 Paradigm Technology Co., Inc. Method of cleaning heavily soiled textiles
US5207922A (en) * 1990-10-25 1993-05-04 Diversey Corporation Method for treating laundry waste water
US5207837A (en) * 1991-04-10 1993-05-04 Honeycutt Travis W Method of disposal of hot water soluble garments and like fabrics
US5207837B1 (en) * 1991-04-10 1996-06-11 Isoyser Comp Inc Method of disposal of hot water soluble garments and like fabrics
US5222267A (en) * 1992-01-17 1993-06-29 Fierro James V Industrial rag cleaning process for the environmentally safe removal of petroleum-based solvents
US5707731A (en) * 1996-05-09 1998-01-13 Isolyser Company, Inc. Disposable cleaning articles
US5762716A (en) * 1997-01-09 1998-06-09 American Iron & Metal Company, Inc. Methods for wiping a metal contaminated surface with a water soluble fabric

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of EP1141464A4 *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7114610B2 (en) 2002-12-04 2006-10-03 3M Innovative Properties Company Conveyor belt cleaning system
US7204365B2 (en) 2002-12-04 2007-04-17 3M Innovative Properties Company Conveyor belt cleaning system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69935735T2 (en) 2007-12-27
EP1141464A4 (en) 2005-06-08
DE69935735D1 (en) 2007-05-16
CN1158418C (en) 2004-07-21
CN1325467A (en) 2001-12-05
AU4729799A (en) 2000-04-10
EP1141464A1 (en) 2001-10-10
EP1141464B1 (en) 2007-04-04
US5931971A (en) 1999-08-03
AU749979B2 (en) 2002-07-04

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3854871A (en) Textile cleaning process for simultaneous dry cleaning and finishing with stain repellent
IE904311A1 (en) Process for the manufacture of hydrophilic nonwovens comprising natural fibres, in particular unbleached cotton, nonwovens obtained
JP2530589B2 (en) Process for treating non-woven sheets and resulting product
US5931971A (en) Method for removal of hydrocarbons from fabrics
JP2939892B2 (en) Method for recovering and treating non-aqueous droplet liquid using liquid recovery cloth and liquid recovery cloth for use therein
SE424206B (en) SCIENCE-TAKING TEXTILE PRODUCTS
JP2002088660A (en) Wiper base fabric
JP2004512854A (en) System and method for extracting water in a dry cleaning process that includes a silicone-based solvent, and a method for enhancing the cleaning process
JPS5853112B2 (en) Orimonozairiyoukarafujiyunbutsuoyobi Yogoreojiyokiyosuruhouhou
JP3697788B2 (en) Wiping cloth and manufacturing method thereof
US20030182730A1 (en) Nonwoven fabric having low ion content and method for producing the same
KR101933517B1 (en) Method for preparing clean fabric for clean room and clean fabric prepared by the same
US20030186609A1 (en) Nonwoven fabric having low ion content and method for producing the same
JP3413256B2 (en) Oil absorption treatment material
KR100580859B1 (en) Fabric for cleaning wiper
JP2003509596A (en) Manufacturing method of synthetic leather
EP1216735B1 (en) Removal of oil from waste water
WO1999041024A1 (en) Oil absorption and reclamation methods
JPS6328411A (en) Method for recovering solvent
JPH1085476A (en) Cleaning method and cleaning device
WO2017011722A1 (en) Method for clean fiber recovery from contaminated articles
KR0185763B1 (en) Method of manufacturing man-made leather
EP1488033A1 (en) Nonwoven fabric having low ion content and method for producing the same
JPH10506690A (en) Refining wool
JPS63309673A (en) Nonwoven sheet like article for cleaning

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 99811205.4

Country of ref document: CN

AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AL AM AT AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CU CZ CZ DE DE DK DK EE EE ES FI FI GB GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SK SL TJ TM TR TT UA UG UZ VN YU ZA ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW SD SL SZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 47297/99

Country of ref document: AU

Ref document number: 1999930850

Country of ref document: EP

REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 1999930850

Country of ref document: EP

WWG Wipo information: grant in national office

Ref document number: 47297/99

Country of ref document: AU

WWG Wipo information: grant in national office

Ref document number: 1999930850

Country of ref document: EP