Patent ID: 6051035
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: B01D,B01F,C02F,C08G,C11D,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for cleaning fabric bearing hydrophobic contaminants, comprising:(a) contacting said fabric under basic conditions with an aqueous solution of a surfactant of either of, or mixtures of, the formulas ##STR5## of which R is hydrogen and R' is the residue of a substituted or unsubstituted organic compound derived from of an aldehyde of the formula ##STR6## wherein R is hydrogen and R' is the residue of a substituted or unsubstituted organic compound which contains a total of about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms; X is hydrogen or the residue of a hydrophobic end-cap; Y is hydrogen or methyl; Z is hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl; m is 0 or 1; and n is an integer of 1 to about 40;(b) removing an effluent stream comprising at least some of said hydrophobic contaminants in aqueous emulsion with said surfactant;(c) treating said effluent stream with an acidic material to reduce its pH sufficiently to cause the surfactant to irreversibly split into an aldehyde and a polyol, thereby causing the hydrophobic contaminants to be released from the emulsion to create a water-insoluble phase and a relatively contaminant-free aqueous phase; and(d) separating at least some of said water-insoluble phase from said aqueous phase.