Solvent Monitoring And Care - BÖWE P12 Instruction Manual

12. Solvent Monitoring and Care

The most important factor in solvent inspection and care is the use of high-quality perc and
suitable chemical additives. The drycleaning detergent, in particular, should contain solvent-
stabilizing components.
The pH value is an important indicator for the quality of the solvent. In a well-run operation, the
value should be determined once a month as a matter of course.
Solvent care is an essential factor in the reliability and long-life of the machine and in the quality
of the cleaning that the garments receive. It includes routine maintenance of the still and water
separator and the use of quality products.
Because of the small amount of solvent used, we recommend that you add neutralizing, acid-
binding adsorbents to the still as preventive neutralization.
- Determining the pH Value:
3
Remove a few cm of water from the water separator/safety separator and place in a test tube. Then
dip the indicator paper into the water and determine the pH value by using the comparison scale. It is
not possible to measure the solvent directly.
pH value Reaction
under 5 Solvent highly acidic
5 - 6 Solvent slightly acidic
7 - 9 Good solvent condition
over 9 Solvent alkaline
Possible causes of an acidic reaction:
- Instable solvent
- Steam temperature too high (solvent decomposition with acid formation)
- Unwanted addition of acids
- Incorrect solvent
- Bad quality of the solvent - new garments
Possible causes of alkaline reaction:
- Highly alkaline pre-spotter or chemical additives
(nitrogen compounds, ammonia),
- Overstabilized solvent,
- Garments containing a high level of sweat.
96
Measure
Replace solvent
Neutralize the solvent
Determine the cause and correct
12.
P12 /P15 /P18