Dry cleaning chemicals Dry cleaning machines use various solvents to clean fabrics. Early solvents included gasoline, kerosene, benzene, turpentine and petroleum, which were very flammable and dangerous. According to the National Dry Cleaners Remediation Alliance (SCRD), members of this organization enjoy information about the cleaning plan. In 1930s, the development of synthetic and nonflammable solvents, such as perchloroethylene (also known as perc or PCE) and decamethylcyclopentyl siloxane (also known as GreenEarth), was still in use.
Detergents are usually added to solvents to help remove dirt. According to a SCRD report called "Chemicals Used in Dry Cleaning", there are three ways for detergents to help dry cleaning:
Carrying water helps to remove water-soluble soil. Remove the dirt from the fabric and hang it so that it will not be reabsorbed. It acts as a detergent and penetrates into the fabric, so that the solvent can remove stains. Detergent can be added together with solvent before the start of dry cleaning, or it can be added to the dry cleaning process at a specific time.
The dry cleaning machine consists of four parts. According to the Dry Cleaning and Laundry Association (DLI), an international trade association, clothing care professionals:
The storage tank or base tank stores the solvent. A pump that circulates the solvent in the machine. A filter that removes solid impurities and dirt from solvents or fabrics. A cylinder or wheel for cleaning items. ""In the process of dry cleaning, the pump draws solvent from the water tank and passes it through the filter to remove any impurities. The filtered solvent enters the cylinder, where it interacts with the fabric and removes any dirt. Then, the solvent will flow back to the storage tank so that the process can be started again. After the cleaning cycle is completed, the machine will carry out an extraction cycle to remove excess solvent. In this process, the rotation speed of the drum increases, much like the last rotation cycle on the home washing machine.
After the dehydration cycle is completed and the drum stops moving, the clothes are either dried in the same machine (if it is a closed system) or transferred to a separate dryer. Excess solvent is collected, filtered and transferred back to the storage tank. According to DLI,
The history of dry cleaning can be traced back to ancient times. Records of how to clean up exquisite articles were found in the ruins of Pompeii, which was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79. At that time, many clothes were made of wool. As we all know, wool shrinks when it meets water. A professional clothes cleaner is called Fuller, which uses solvents such as ammonia (produced by urine) and lye, and a kind of clay called fuller, which is good at absorbing dirt, sweat and oil stains.
According to DLI, the earliest mention of something similar to modern dry cleaning is a story about a clumsy maid who spilled kerosene on a greasy tablecloth. Kerosene evaporated quickly, and she noticed that the place where the chemicals fell was much cleaner. After the accident, people have done many experiments to determine which solvent is most suitable for cleaning oil stains. These substances include turpentine, kerosene, petroleum-based liquids, gasoline and camphor oil. According to SCRD,
This is the first commercial film. According to the solvent manual, Aier Dry Cleaning belongs to Jolyberling Company, which opened in Paris on 1825. Of course, in Paris, fashion is an important part of society. Soak clothes in a vat filled with turpentine, then put them into the precursor of washing machine, and then air-dry to evaporate turpentine.
The first dry cleaning machine in America appeared at the same time. Thomas Jennings, an American tailor and inventor, was the first African-American to obtain a patent in the United States. He used a method called "dry cleaning" to clean clothes that would be damaged by traditional cleaning methods. His craft was patented at 182 1, and Jennings runs a very successful tailor and dry cleaning business in new york.
The fundamental problem of petroleum solvents is their extreme flammability, so we seek alternatives. PCE was first synthesized by British physicist and chemist michael faraday in 182 1 year. However, it was not until the early 1930s that william joseph stoddard, an American dry cleaner, further developed PCE as a dry cleaning solvent, and PCE was used for dry cleaning. Due to the shortage of oil during World War II,
In the late 1930s and early 1940s, the use of tetrachloroethylene increased. Involving environmental and health issues. Although this is the most popular choice for dry cleaning, it is found that tetrachloroethylene is dangerous to health and the environment. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), exposure to perc puts dry cleaning employees at high risk of health complications. When employees put dirty clothes into the machine, take things out before the drying cycle is completed, clean flannel or button traps, change filters, they may be exposed to perc steam, or perform maintenance on the machine.
Those who often dry clean clothes and uniforms may also experience the side effects of perc. Long-term inhalation of these vapors will lead to dizziness, drowsiness, loss of coordination, mild memory loss, decreased vision, and skin blistering after long-term contact.
People in the dry cleaning industry are also at risk of some kind of cancer. According to the National Library of Medicine, long-term exposure may lead to certain types of cancer, including esophageal cancer, cervical cancer, bladder cancer, multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It may also be related to cervical cancer and breast cancer.
It may also cause damage to the central nervous system, liver, kidneys and lungs.
Studies, such as the one published in Environmental Health Outlook 20 14, discussed the relationship between perc and cancer, especially in the dry cleaning industry. After reviewing many similar studies in the past and studying the effects of perc on rats, 20 14 researchers concluded that the exposure of perc is indeed closely related to some types of cancer. Similar to the classification of EPA in 20 12, the study in 20 14 classified the substance as "possibly carcinogenic to human beings", no matter how people came into contact with the chemical.
Another study in 20 14 is also from the perspective of environmental health, especially to check the risk of bladder cancer in people exposed to perc. The researchers also found that there is a strong correlation between dry cleaners using perc as solvent and the increased risk of bladder cancer. Even if smoking is considered, this is true. Smoking is another known risk factor for bladder cancer.
The EPA also pointed out that although uncertain, there is some evidence that perc will affect the reproductive system of men and women, leading to structural changes and fertility decline. There are also some studies on birth defects caused by perc, but there are few studies with great limitations.
Perc can be released into air, water and soil in production or use environment, including nearby dry cleaners. Yagao