Pre-treatment methods and compositions for carbon dioxide dry cleaning
US6491730B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 20, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 10, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 21, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC D)Textiles; Paper
- CPC primaryD06L1/16
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method for dry-cleaning articles such as fabrics and clothing in carbon dioxide. The article includes a stained portion or region, which is pretreated with a pretreatment composition prior to initiating the cleaning cycle. The pretreatment step is followed by contacting the pretreated article to be cleaned with a liquid dry cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the article. The liquid dry-cleaning composition comprises a mixture of carbon dioxide, a surfactant, and an organic co-solvent. After the contacting step, the article is separated from the liquid dry cleaning composition. The pretreatment composition, in a preferred embodiment, comprises at least one of (a) a surfactant; (b) d-limonene, and (c) a C12-C15 alkane co-solvent. Preferably the pretreatment composition comprises at least two, and in some particularly preferred embodiments, the pretreatment composition comprises all three, of the aforesaid ingredients.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.