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Analytical Chemistry

Periodic graphics: The chemistry of dry cleaning

Chemical educator and Compound Interest blogger Andy Brunning cycles through the chemistry used to wash our delicates

by Andy Brunning
November 13, 2017 | APPEARED IN VOLUME 95, ISSUE 45
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Most Popular in Analytical Chemistry

 

To download a pdf of this article, visit cenm.ag/drycleaning.

References used to create this graphic:

Dry cleaning dreams

A chronology of historical developments in dry cleaning

Reducing worker exposure to perchloroethylene (perc) in dry cleaning

Perchloroethylene dry-cleaning facilities required to meet federal regulation

Evaluation of glycol ether as an alternative to perchloroethylene in dry cleaning

Preliminary study of propyl bromide exposure among New Jersey dry cleaners as a result of pending ban on perchloroethylene

A collaboration between C&EN and Andy Brunning, author of the popular graphics blog Compound Interest

To see more of Brunning’s work, go to compoundchem.com. To see all of C&EN’s Periodic Graphics, visit http://cenm.ag/periodicgraphics.

Chemical & Engineering News
ISSN 0009-2347
Copyright © 2020 American Chemical Society

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Comments
dennis mac caskie (November 15, 2017 1:53 PM)
you might also note that hydrocarbon mixtures are and continue to be used as alternatives to PCE. Stoddard solvent was developed for that purpose in 1928 and the modern equivalent is Green Earth 2000.
Ian Jamie (November 15, 2017 5:11 PM)
Green Earth 2000 is decamethylclopentasiloxane, one of the siloxanes mention in the graphic as an alternative to "perc".
Paul E. Eckler (November 15, 2017 2:56 PM)
A little known tidbit. Because many forms of dirt dissolve in water, small amounts of water are often present in dry cleaning fluids. The "soap" (or surfactant) used helps stabilize this water as an invert emulsion.
Tom Farrell (November 16, 2017 2:02 PM)
It is not clear to me how PVA/Elmer’s glue fits into this discussion. Would you please explain further? Thanks

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