Higher BP doesn't necessarily mean slower evaporation. But then I REALLY wouldn't recommend evaporating PCE to the open air. Back salt the base extract, then return the solvent to the dry cleaning operation's waste stream.
Thanks for the heads up, I would likely have ended up evaporating to open air. Not sure what you mean by "back salt to base extract"? Are you suggesting I convert it to a fumarate while in the solvent, pull to water, then do with the fumarate what I will?
Would you suggest I add a salt to cut down on emulsion? Or is that what you were referring to?
What you are describing, 5pac3mau5, is essentially experimental w.r.t. the solvent used, so in a way it would be interesting to know how it turns out. I'd suggest starting with an A/B in order to avoid getting particulates in the extracting solvent.
Just hearing those words gets my blood pumping!:lol: It's going to take quite a bit more prep/supplies than I previously thought, but I am very interested in trying it mainly just for the sake of doing it. I think I need to get my xylene A/B extraction perfected before I take on an experimental tek though
But the C2Cl4 isn't going anywhere.
I am surprised that your friend is still making use of this chemical in dry cleaning. In most of the civilized world, this practice has been banned for ages. Its use in industry is severely restricted, only the use in strictly closed systems is allowed.
It's my understanding that the machines they use are allowed because they drain most/all of the solvent off of the clothing before opening to allow workers to touch them. This is only what I've gathered from what he has told me however, and I'm no expert in dry-cleaning.
He has all of the safety equipment for when the solvent needs to be replaced so if/when I actually move forward with this tek we would be using OSHA approved equipment for the purpose of exposure to C2Cl4. I feel fairly confident we would be safe and I certainly wouldn't attempt it if I thought there were risk factors unaddressed.
In regards to harming environment, we'll have to dispose through whatever way his business disposes, so the only potential harm I can forsee would be through escaped fumes. Knowing what I do now, we'll have to work out a way to prevent this. Maybe an airtight container with proper gloves over sealed holes?
As for wastefulness, the other 2 owners who won't know this is occurring, so there will have to be limits to prevent issues.
He's already said we're on the cheap here, bro!
Not totally true, not totally false. Neither of us have a whole lot of disposal income (it's a family business so while he is a partial owner he won't make a decent amount until his dad retires) but I foresee this extraction being a few months out so we would have time to save up a bit. But as for why we don't just buy some naptha? Why spend extra money on something my friend has plenty of access to?
