IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,087,094
Granted Patent B2
US 7,087,094 · App. 10/653,725 · Granted Aug 8, 2006

Drycleaning method using dipropylene glycol n-propyl ether

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,087,094
App. No.
10/653,725
Granted
Aug 8, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A drycleaning method is disclosed. In the method, a composition that comprises dipropylene glycol n-propyl ether (DPnP) and is essentially free of siloxanes or polysulfonic acids is used. The composition contains at least about 80 wt. % DPnP and up to about 15 wt. % of water. The method enables superior stain removal while avoiding excessive fabric shrinkage or soil redeposition.

Claims (14)

1. A method which comprises drycleaning a fabric or fiber using a composition comprising water and at least 95 wt. % of dipropylene glycol n-propyl ether (DPnP), wherein the composition is essentially free of siloxanes and polysulfonic acids.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises up to 5 wt. % of water.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition consists essentially of DPnP and water.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the fabric is a garment.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the fiber is wool fiber.

6. A method which comprises drycleaning a fabric using a composition comprising water and at least 95 wt. % of DPnP, wherein the composition is essentially free of siloxanes and polysulfonic acids.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the composition comprises up to 5 wt. % of water.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the fabric is a garment.

9. A method which comprises:

(a) tumbling garments in the presence of a cleaning composition comprising water and at least 95 wt. % of DPnP, wherein the composition is essentially free of siloxanes and polysulfonic acids;

(b) separating the garments from the cleaning composition; and

(c) tumbling the garments in heated air to remove traces of the cleaning composition from the garments.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the cleaning composition comprises up to 5 wt. % of water.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the cleaning composition is reused after purifying it by adsorption, distillation, or a combination of these methods.