Dry

Cleaning
Industry
By: Clint O. Tecson
INTRODUCTION
 3

Dry cleaning is a process of

What is cleaning textiles with solvents,
Dry rather than detergent and water.
Cleaning? The textiles are cleaned by
mechanical agitation in a non-
aqueous solvent bath, rinsed, spun
to remove excess solvent and then
tumbled dry in warm air.
(source: www.intact.ca)
 4

Dry
Cleaning The dry cleaning
industry includes
Industry three types of
firms:

Commercial
Industrial
Coin operated.
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TYPE SOLVENTS USED SERVICES CAPACITY

Small
Dry Commercial
perchloroethylene
and petroleum
neighborhood or
franchise dry
Washer and
reclaiming dryer:

Cleaning solvent
cleaning shops,
clean
soiled apparel
14 to 27 kg (30 to
60 lb)

Industry Supply rental

service of Washer: 230 kg
uniforms, mats, (500 lb)
Industrial Perchloroethylene
mops, etc., to Dryer: 3 to 638-kg
businesses or (100-lb)
industries

Laundry
Coin- supplying 3.6 to 11.5 kg (8
synthetic solvents
operated "self-service" dry to 25 lb)
cleaning
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TYPE SOLVENTS USED

Dry Perchloroethylene (also known as

PERC, tetrachloroethylene,

Cleaning PERC PLANTS tetrachloroethene, carbon

dichloride, and ethylene

Industry
tetrachloride).

NON-PERC CHLORINATED triflouorotrichloroethane

SOLVENT PLANTS (Fluorocarbon 113)

PETROLEUM SOLVENT PLANTS Stoddard or 140-F

 7

75%
Perchloroethylene

23%Petroleum

2%
Synthetic solvent (Fluorocarbon 113).
(source: www.intact.ca)
 8

Washing
Dry 1

Cleaning
Process Spinning 2

3 Drying
 9

Dry
Cleaning
TYPE MECHANISM

Machines TRANSFER
Washing and drying in separate
machines.

A single unit that performs all of

DRY-TO-DRY the washing, extraction, and
drying operations
IMPACTS
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Perchloro
IMPACTS
Workers Consumers Environment

ethylene Cancer
Reduced fertility
Dizziness, rapid Contaminate soil, water
and spontaneous
heartbeat and air
abortions
respiratory tract Seep down into the soil
Neurological
irritation and reach drinking
effects
Death water aquifers
Respiratory failure
Death
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Green
IMPACTS
Workers Consumers Environment

Earth
Potential fire
Cancer hazard for Accumulation in
liver disorders adjacent residents wildlife, including fish
and businesses
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Hydro
IMPACTS
Workers Consumers Environment

carbon
depress the central
nervous system Asthma Smog emission
headaches, Fire Hazard Contributes to global
dizziness warming
death
MITIGATION
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REDUCE &
MINIMIZE
 PERC PLANTS
(Chemicals Used: Perchloroethylene, also known as tetrachloroethylene) 16

Waste Potential Recycling, Treatment, and Potential Pollution

Generated Disposal Methods Prevention Methods
Directly reuse spent solvent without
prior reclamation.

Distill spent solvent to recover pure

solvent.
Spent Solvents
Ship spent solvent to a hazardous
waste TSDF for recovery, treatment,
and/or disposal

Drain filter cartridges well. Install filter recovery units.

Return recovered solvent to charged Install muck cooker to

Spent Filter
solvent tanks or distillation units. recover additional solvent.
Cartridges
Store spent filter cartridges and filter
cakes (muck) in closed containers.
 NON-PERC CHLORINATED SOLVENT PLANTS
(Chemicals Used: Trichloroethane (TCA) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFC-113)) 17

Waste Potential Recycling, Treatment, and Potential Pollution

Generated Disposal Methods Prevention Methods
Directly reuse spent solvent without
prior reclamation.

Distill spent solvent to recover pure

solvent.
Spent Solvents
Ship spent solvent to a hazardous
waste TSDF for recovery, treatment,
and/or disposal

Distill filtered solvent to remove oils,

Vent still condenser
fats, greases, etc.
Distillation offgases to unvented
Residues refrigeration systems for
Accumulate and store distillation
additional solvent recovery.
residues in closed containers.
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PETROLEUM SOLVENT PLANTS

(Chemicals Used: Stoddards Solvent)
Waste Potential Recycling, Treatment, and Potential Pollution
Generated Disposal Methods Prevention Methods
Use alternative petroleum
Ship spent solvent to a hazardous solvents with a higher flash
Spent Solvents waste TSDF for recovery, treatment, point or lower volatile
and/or disposal organic compounds (VOC)
content
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Thank you!
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https://www3.epa.gov/ttnchie1/ap42/ch04/final/c4s01.pdf
References: https://www.intact.ca/resources/intact-
insurance/assets/59732_FactSheet_DryCleaning.pdf
www.epa.gov
https://sfenvironment.org/sites/default/files/fliers/files/sfe_t
h_dry_cleaning_how_to_green_your_cleaning.pdf.pdf