Method for introducing dyes and other chemicals into a textile treatment system

• US 6,615,620 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2001
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: North Carolina State University (University of North Carolina System)
• Original Assignee: North Carolina State University (University of North Carolina System)
• Inventors: Smith, C. Brent, Montero, Gerardo A., Hendrix, Walter A., Butcher, Donald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): EINSMANN, MARGARET V
• Application Number:
  US09/888,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20010037530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 682/07, 681/89, 681/84, 847/5
• US Class Current: 68/207
• CPC Class Codes: D06B 19/00 Treatment of textile materials by liquids, gases or vapours, not provided for in groups D06B1/00 - D06B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: D06B 23/205 for adding or mixing constituents of the treating material
• CPC Class Codes: D06L 4/60 Optical bleaching or brightening
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/105 Processes in which the solvent is in a supercritical state
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 1/94 using dyes dissolved in solvents which are in the supercritical state

Abstract

A process for introducing a textile treatment material into a textile treatment system, particularly a supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (SCF—CO₂) treatment system. The process includes the steps of providing a preparation vessel in fluid communication with a textile treatment system; loading a textile treatment material into the preparation vessel; dissolving or suspending the textile treatment material in near-critical liquid carbon dioxide or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide in the preparation vessel; and introducing the dissolved or suspended textile treatment material into the textile treatment system. The textile treatment material can be selected from a group including a brightening agent, a whitening agent and a dye. A system suitable for use in carrying out the process is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for introducing a textile treatment material and for treating a textile material, the system comprising:

(a) a preparation vessel adapted for placement in fluid communication with a textile treatment system, the preparation vessel also adapted for receiving a textile treatment material and for containing near-critical liquid carbon dioxide or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide at a first set of temperature, pressure and flow conditions;

(b) introducing means for introducing a solution or suspension of textile treatment material into a textile treatment system; and

(c) a textile treatment system that is adapted to be maintained at a second set of temperature, pressure and flow conditions controllably independent from the first set of temperature, pressure and flow conditions.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising isolating means for reversibly isolating the preparation vessel from the textile treatment system.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising mixing means for mixing a textile treatment material with near-critical liquid carbon dioxide or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide in the preparation vessel.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the mixing means comprises circulating means for circulating a textile treatment material and near-critical liquid carbon dioxide or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide through the preparation vessel.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the mixing means comprises stirring means for stirring a textile treatment material and near-critical liquid carbon dioxide or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide in the preparation vessel.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a filter for filtering a solution of textile treatment material prior to introducing the solution into the textile treatment system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the textile treatment system is a supercritical fluid textile treatment system.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the supercritical fluid textile treatment system is a supercritical fluid carbon dioxide textile treatment system.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising diverting means for diverting carbon dioxide from the supercritical fluid carbon dioxide textile treatment system to the preparation vessel.

10. A system for introducing a textile treatment material and for treating textile materials, the system comprising:

(a) a preparation vessel adapted for placement in fluid communication with a textile treatment system, the preparation vessel also adapted for receiving a textile treatment material and for containing near-critical liquid carbon dioxide or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide at a first set of temperature, pressure and flow conditions;

(b) isolating means for reversibly isolating the preparation vessel from a textile treatment system;

(c) mixing means for mixing a textile treatment material with near-critical liquid carbon dioxide or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide in the preparation vessel;

(d) introducing means for introducing a solution or a suspension of the textile treatment material in near-critical liquid carbon dioxide or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide into a textile treatment system; and

(e) a textile treatment system that is adapted to be maintained at a second set of temperature, pressure and flow conditions controllably independent from the first set of temperature, pressure and flow conditions.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the mixing means comprises circulating means for circulating a textile treatment material and near-critical liquid carbon dioxide or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide through the preparation vessel.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the mixing means comprises stirring means for stirring a textile treatment material and near-critical liquid carbon dioxide or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide in the preparation vessel.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising a filter for filtering a solution of textile treatment material prior to introducing the solution into the textile treatment system.

14. A system or introducing a textile treatment material and for treating textile materials, the system comprising:

(a) a preparation vessel adapted for placement in fluid communication with a supercritical fluid carbon dioxide textile treatment system, the preparation vessel also adapted for receiving a textile treatment material and for containing near-critical liquid carbon dioxide or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide at a first set of temperature, pressure and flow conditions;

(b) isolating means for reversibly isolating the preparation vessel from a supercritical fluid carbon dioxide textile treatment system;

(c) mixing means for mixing a textile treatment material with near-critical liquid carbon dioxide or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide in the preparation vessel;

(d) introducing means for introducing a solution or a suspension of the textile treatment material in near-critical liquid carbon dioxide or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide into a supercritical fluid carbon dioxide textile treatment system; and

(e) a supercritical fluid carbon dioxide textile treatment system that is adapted to be maintained at a second set of temperature, pressure and flow conditions controllably independent from the first set of temperature, pressure and flow conditions.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the mixing means comprises circulating means for circulating a textile treatment material and near-critical liquid carbon dioxide or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide through the preparation vessel.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the mixing means comprises stirring means for stirring a textile treatment material and near-critical liquid carbon dioxide or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide in the preparation vessel.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising a filter for filtering a solution of textile treatment material prior to introducing the solution into the supercritical fluid carbon dioxide textile treatment system.

18. The system of claim 14, further comprising diverting means for diverting carbon dioxide from the supercritical fluid carbon dioxide textile treatment system to the preparation vessel.