Biodegradable ether dry cleaning solvent

Abstract

Compositions for dry-cleaning garments containing dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether (DPNB), water, and optionally at least one other solvent selected from cyclic siloxanes and glycol ethers other than DPNB suitable for use as dry-cleaning solvents, wherein the water is present at a level of about 2% by weight or less when only DPNB is present and about 10% by weight or less when other solvents are present.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/52,111 filed Jan. 6, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,008,458, which is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/020,681 filed Dec. 12, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,673,120, which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/874,136, filed Jun. 5, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,350,287, which is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/621,896, filed Jul. 20, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,919, which claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/211,301, filed Jun. 13, 2000, the disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein by reference. In addition, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/621,896 is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/402,412, filed Jan. 12, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,156,074, which application, in turn, is a §371 of PCT/US98/06811, filed Apr. 6, 1998, which, in turn, is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/833,341, filed Apr. 4, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,250, the disclosures of all of which are also incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel glycol ether dry-cleaning solvent and a method for effecting dry-cleaning using said solvent. More particularly, the present invention relates to a glycol ether solvent that not only is comparable or superior to perchloroethylene in its attributes and benefits, and does not suffer from the serious environmental, health and occupational negatives and problems associated with the use of perchloroethylene, but which also represents an improvement over the current glycol ether solvents that are contemplated as replacements for perchloroethylene.

Perchloroethylene is the most widely used dry-cleaning solvent, and is commonly referred to (and will be referred to sometimes hereinafter) as “perc”. Perc is a chlorinated hydrocarbon-based solvent. It is the dry-cleaning solvent of choice throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

In addition to perc's use in the dry-cleaning industry, it has found extensive use as a degreasing agent in the metals industry, in the scouring/milling of wool, and in various “clean room” applications in the semiconductor and electronics industries. The industrial uses of perc are approximately ten-fold greater than its use as a solvent for dry cleaning.

While perc has been found to be an effective dry-cleaning agent because it is non-flammable, does not damage synthetic fabrics or cause shrinkage to fabrics containing naturally occurring fibers, such as wool, and has a relatively low boiling point that permits its being reclaimed and purified by means of ordinary distillation, it does present a number of other problems which present drawbacks to its use. In particular, perchloroethylene presents a number of health and environmental hazards that would militate against its continued use, provided a substitute solvent of comparable quality were available that was free of the aforementioned hazards.

Because perc is heavier than water, its disposal represents a significant environmental risk because it will sink to the bottom of an aquifer, lake, river, and the like, with possibly resultant contamination of the water supply. Additionally, perc vapors have been implicated as having a deleterious effect on the central nervous system. In addition, because it is a highly chlorinated molecule, perc has been identified as being a significant health hazard to cattle, and as a cause of skin cancer, particularly melanoma, because of the action of the chlorine in perc depleting oxygen from the ozone layer. Furthermore, and of particular import, is the fact that perc is not biodegradable and, hence, will over a period of time accumulate, presenting a significant industrial waste disposal hazard.

As the nature and seriousness of the foregoing problems become more and more manifest with the passage of time and with the completion of various research and clinical investigations into the nature of perc and its mechanisms of action, the use of alternative solvents has been sought, but none have met with any degree of commercial success since they could not match the result obtained by perc as a dry-cleaning agent.

However, at this point in time, when environmental concerns are being rigorously monitored and policed by domestic and foreign governments by means of legislation and civil and even criminal prosecution, the need for a substitute solvent for perc for dry-cleaning operations, as well as other operations, has become a matter of some degree of urgency.

A difficulty in identifying a replacement dry-cleaning solvent for perc is that it must meet so many requirements, both as to its efficacy as a dry-cleaning agent, i.e. high purity, non-shrinking with respect to about 160 types of fabric, dye-fast for non-bleeding with respect to about 900 types of dyes, a high flashpoint to render it non-flammable and non-combustible, the ability to separate from water, effective detergency, ease of distillation, simplicity of reclamation, compatibility with existing dry-cleaning equipment, and the like, as well as its being non-polluting to the water supply and the ozone layer, biodegradable, non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, and the like.

One proposed solvent substitute, namely propylene glycol monomethyl ether, which is disclosed in EP 479,146 as possessing many desirable properties, was found to be wanting in that it causes damage to weak dyes, fine yarns, and delicate fabrics, such as acetates, because of its pronounced tendency to accumulate water from the environment, and from fabrics being dry-cleaned. Water accumulation or water-miscibility is also a decided negative from another aspect in that it significantly impairs the efficiency of the dry-cleaning process because the dry-cleaning equipment is burdened with the handling of excessive quantities of water and the solvent stock is diluted and must be brought back to a correct ratio for stability reasons.

Propylene glycol tertiary-butyl ether (PTB) and propylene glycol n-butyl ether (PNB) were disclosed by WO 98/45523 as being superior alternatives to propylene glycol monomethyl ether. PTB and PNB were disclosed to possess all of the dry-cleaning attributes associated with perc and none of its drawbacks. The water-absorbing capabilities of both solvents was disclosed to be within a range effective in preventing damage to acetates and the tendency of woolen garments to shrink in water. The water absorption also lowered the solvent boiling point while raising the flashpoint. Both solvents were also disclosed to be non-pollutants of the water supply and ozone layer, biodegradable, non-toxic and non-carcinogenic. In addition, both solvents were capable of being used in existing perc dry-cleaning equipment.

Aqueous PTB and PNB dry-cleaning compositions have flashpoints within industry standards. However, there has recently been a regulatory trend toward a higher flashpoint standard. Furthermore, regulatory agencies are also considering making the standard applicable to individual components of a composition, even if the flashpoint of the overall composition meets industry standards. Accordingly, there exists a need for dry-cleaning compositions based on higher flashpoint glycol ethers.

The conventional wisdom has been, however, that higher flashpoint glycol ethers make poor dry cleaning solvents because they are too incompatible with water. While glycol ether dry-cleaning solutions containing too much water are undesirable because of the consequential shrinkage to woolens and damage to acetates, not to mention the solvent dilution, a low water content hampers the ability of the dry cleaning composition to remove water-soluble stains, which make up the bulk of stains to be removed from garments requiring dry cleaning.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,919 disclosed dipropylene glycol tertiary butyl ether (DPTB) to have a suitable combination of water compatibility and high flash point. However, it has proven to be too water compatible in tropical regions such as the south-eastern United States. Thus, the need for dry-cleaning compositions based on higher flashpoint glycol ethers in high humidity regions remains unsatisfied.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This need is met by the present invention. In line with the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a solvent which possesses comparable, if not superior chemical and physical properties when compared to perc in dry cleaning, the cleaning of scoured and mill wool, and the dying of fabrics, while, simultaneously, protecting the environment, public health and safety from the many known negatives associated with the use of perc.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a solvent which possesses comparable, if not superior chemical and physical properties when compared to lower flashpoint glycol ethers when used in such end-use applications.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dry-cleaning solvent that has a specific gravity less than that of water. It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a dry-cleaning solvent that minimizes or eliminates the shrinkage of woolen garments, prevents or limits the bleeding of dyes, and which is able to treat acetates, silks, virgin wool and other delicate fabrics gently so as to avoid damage.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a solvent for dry-cleaning, fabric dying and the cleaning of scoured and milled wool, the individual components of which have flashpoints within industry standards, yet at the same time has a sufficiently low boiling point to allow the solvent to be reclaimed and purified via conventional distillation processes. It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a dye solution containing dyes that are not water-soluble and a solvent that minimizes or eliminates the shrinkage of woolen fabrics and does not damage acetates, silks, virgin wools and other delicate fabrics, yet penetrate the fabric fiber sufficiently to form a strong dye bond to fabric fibers.

It has now been discovered that dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether (DPNB) has a flashpoint far above current industry standards, yet at the same time possesses a degree of solvency for water-soluble stains that is at least equivalent to, and in most cases better than, perc and the other glycol ether dry cleaning solvents presently in commercial use. Furthermore, DPNB is less water-compatible than DPTB, but not to the extent that water-soluble stain solubility is significantly compromised. The degree of solvency increases as water is added to DPNB up to the maximum quantity soluble in the solvent at room temperature, typically about 2% by weight of the total composition, and can be modified by the addition of other dry-cleaning solvents, particularly other glycol ethers such as DPTB, PTB and PNB. Furthermore, particularly under conditions of high humidity, the clothing added to the DPNB for cleaning carries sufficient additional moisture for effective water-soluble stain removal.

Therefore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a dry-cleaning composition is provided containing dipropylene glycol normal-butyl ether (DPNB), water and at least one other solvent selected from cyclic siloxanes and glycol ethers other than DPNB suitable for use as dry-cleaning solvents, wherein the water is present at a level of about 10% by weight or less. Preferably the water is present at a level between about 2% and about 8% by weight.

DPNB absorbs water under ambient conditions to the point of saturation, some of which is bound as an azeotrope. Therefore, commercial grades of DPNB unavoidably contain some water. Preferred dry cleaning compositions according to the present invention contain greater than about 90% by weight of glycol ether and between about 2% and about 10% by weight of water.

The ability of DPNB to absorb water increases as the temperature of the composition increases, so that even compositions that are moisture saturated at room temperature will absorb water from garments when heated during the dry cleaning process. The dry cleaning compositions of the present invention will thus absorb water from the garments being dry cleaned. The water is then separated from the solvent by azeotropic distillation, with the recovery of essentially pure DPNB with an azeotropic level of water. Because DPNB is less water compatible than DPTB, the water will separate more readily permitting more rapid and economical solvent recycling.

Therefore, the present invention also includes a method for dry-cleaning garments using a dry-cleaning compositions of the present invention. Methods in accordance with this embodiment of the present invention treat the garments with a composition containing dipropylene glycol normal-butyl ether (DPNB) and water for a period of time sufficient to effect dry-cleaning. When DPNB is the only solvent, the water is present at a level of about 2% by weight or less.

The present invention also includes methods wherein the dry-cleaning composition contains DPNB, water and at least one other solvent selected from cyclic siloxanes and glycol ethers other than DPNB suitable for use as dry-cleaning solvents, wherein the water is present at a level of about 10% by weight or less. Preferably the water is present at a level between about 2% and about 8% by weight.

The compositions of the present invention can also be used to clean, scour and mill wool. Methods in accordance with this embodiment of the present invention treat the scoured and milled wool with a composition containing dipropylene glycol normal-butyl ether (DPNB), water and optionally for a period of time sufficient to effect cleaning. The composition may optionally include at least one other solvent selected from cyclic siloxanes and glycol ethers other than DPNB suitable for use as dry-cleaning solvents. The water is present at a level of about 10% by weight or less, except when DPNB is the only solvent, wherein the water is present at a level less than about 2% by weight.

The compositions of the present invention can also be used for wool scouring and milling processes as well. In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, a method of scouring wool is provided characterized by scouring the wool with the compositions of the present invention containing dipropylene glycol normal-butyl ether (DPNB) and water. The composition may optionally include at least one other solvent selected from cyclic siloxanes and glycol ethers other than DPNB suitable for use as dry-cleaning solvents. The water is present at a level of about 10% by weight or less, except when DPNB is the only solvent, wherein the water is present at a level less than about 2% by weight. The solvent compositions of the present invention cleanly dissolve the lanolin contained in the raw wool for subsequent recovery and purification for use as an ingredient in cosmetics and other products.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for milling wool, characterized by milling the wool with a composition containing dipropylene glycol normal-butyl ether (DPNB) and water. The composition may optionally include at least one other solvent selected from cyclic siloxanes and glycol ethers other than DPNB suitable for use as dry-cleaning solvents. The water is present at a level of about 10% by weight or less, except when DPNB is the only solvent, wherein the water is present at a level less than about 2% by weight.

The present invention further incorporates the discovery that water-insoluble dyes that are soluble in aliphatic glycol ethers are soluble in the compositions of the present invention to provide compositions that may be used to dye non-woolen fabrics with significantly improved colorfastness. The drying times of fabrics dyed with the dye compositions of the present invention significantly decreased as well, yet at the same time, a stronger bond between the dye molecules and the fabric fibers is formed.

Therefore, according to another aspect of the present invention, a composition for dyeing fabrics is provided that is a solution of a water-insoluble aliphatic glycol ether-soluble dye dissolved in a solvent containing dipropylene glycol normal-butyl ether (DPNB) and water. The composition may optionally include at least one other solvent selected from cyclic siloxanes and glycol ethers other than DPNB suitable for use as dry-cleaning solvents. The water is present at a level of about 10% by weight or less, except when DPNB is the only solvent, wherein the water is present at a level less than about 2% by weight.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for dyeing fabric with the dye compositions of the present invention. Methods in accordance with this aspect of the present invention treat the fabric for a period of time sufficient to effect dyeing with a dye composition containing a solution of a water-insoluble aliphatic glycol ether soluble dye dissolved in a solvent containing dipropylene glycol normal-butyl ether (DPNB) and water. The composition may optionally include at least one other solvent selected from cyclic siloxanes and glycol ethers other than DPNB suitable for use as dry-cleaning solvents. The water is present at a level of about 10% by weight or less, except when DPNB is the only solvent, wherein the water is present at a level less than about 2% by weight. Methods in accordance with the present invention further include the step of drying the fabric after the step of treating the fabric to effect dyeing is completed.

The compositions of the present invention were discovered to present several unexpected properties in comparison to perc and commercial glycol ether compositions. DPNB greatly improves water separation performance, and results in lower odors once the garment is removed from the dry-cleaning machine. Fabrics that were dry-cleaned or dyed with the compositions of the present invention dryed virtually wrinkle-free with a noticeably soft hand, particularly in comparison to fabrics that were similarly treated with perc, or other commercial glycol ether compositions. Thus, fabrics cleaned or dyed with the compositions of the present invention require significantly less ironing or other processing to remove wrinkles in fabrics cleaned or dyed with perc or other glycol ethers, and at the same time feel softer. This is a significant commercial advantage for dry-cleaning establishments.

Other features of the present invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims, which disclose the principles of the invention and the best modes which are presently contemplated for carrying them out.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It has been found that when dipropylene glycol normal-butyl ether (DPNB) is used in the dry-cleaning of garments, the solvent possesses all of the attributes associated with perchloroethylene and none of its drawbacks. Furthermore, DPNB also has certain significant advantages not possessed by perchlorethylene. The DPNB compositions of the present invention are non-flammable, non-combustible, non-carcinogenic, non-toxic and, of the utmost import, biodegradable. The compositions weigh less than water, i.e., the specific gravity is less than that of water.

Advantageously, the flashpoint of DPNB is higher than that of other glycol ethers used as dry-cleaning solvents, even DPTB. Yet the solvent can still be reclaimed and purified via conventional distillation processes, including vacuum distillation, and despite having a higher flashpoint, the solvent is still effective in the removal of water-soluble stains.

DPNB has been discovered to be sufficiently water-compatible to absorb water from garments being dry-cleaned, so that the water component is effectively tied-up, thus avoiding the tendency of woolen garments to shrink, while simultaneously preventing damage to acetates.

It has also been determined that solutions of DPNB and water are effective in the cleaning of scoured and milled raw wool, as well as in the scouring of raw wool, which involves the pulling of oils and fatty acids, e.g. lanolin, from the wool and in the milling of yarns formed therefrom. Such scouring and milling operations are conducted in dry-cleaning machinery employing otherwise conventional scouring and milling techniques.

A particular advantage of the DPNB-water solutions of the present invention in dry-cleaning is that they do not behave like a typical mixture, but rather, the behavior is the same as a single substance. This permits a better defined separation upon azeotropic distillation at a lower boiling point and also facilitates reclamation more effectively, at a level of 99% or greater, and also enhances purification using conventional distillation techniques.

Of particular note, from an economic as well as an operational standpoint, is the ability of DPNB to separate from water by azeotropic distillation. This is of particular significance in dry-cleaning because garments entering a dry-cleaning plant contain water in the form of moisture. As noted above, if water were not absorbed by DPNB, damage to woolen and acetate garments would occur. If the absorbed water could not then be separated from the DPNB by azeotropic distillation, the solvent would be diluted with free water and, thus, the dry cleaning process, and its efficiency, would be seriously compromised, as would the reclaimability of the DPNB.

Furthermore, DPNB out-performs DPTB, PTB and PNB from the perspective of having an optimum combination of elevated flashpoint and water retention. That is the water retention and flashpoint are neither too high not too low. This combination prevents the bleeding of the most fugitive dyes. Yet, the degree of moisture retention has surprisingly been found to be more than adequate to complete the cleaning process, but well below levels that promote the shrinkage of woolen garments. Additionally, the limited degree of miscibility avoids dilution of the solvent stock with its dependent problems, which are not inconsiderable when one considers the need to replenish the solvent.

DPNB is a very effective dry-cleaning solvent because its detergency action breaks down solvent-soluble (water-insoluble) stain, which account for 15% of all stains found in garments and which are caused by fatty acids. The detergency of the solvent occurs by lifting the soiled area from a surface and by displacing it with surface active materials that have a greater affinity for the surface than they do for the soiled area. Yet at the same time, DPNB also deals most effectively with water-soluble stains, which account for more than 80% of stains encountered in dry-cleaning, such as, for example, stains from fruit, blood, urine, sweat, etc. Despite this affinity for water-soluble materials, DPNB has been found to be most effective in limiting the bleeding of dyes and avoiding the shrinkage of man-made polymers, such as acetates. In comparison to other glycol ethers such as PTB and PNB, DPNB, like DPTB, exhibits an unexpectedly superior combination of detergency action toward solvent-soluble stains and affinity for water-soluble stains.

The DPNB compositions of the present invention dry at a relatively low temperature, well within the drying requirements for fabrics constructed of fine yarns so as to avoid damage thereto by excessive heat.

In preparing the compositions of the present invention, DPNB is combined with an amount of water up to the maximum quantity soluble in the DPNB at room temperature. Ambient conditions may already have resulted in the DPNB being saturated with water. If not, water may be added to the DPNB to obtain the desired weight ratio of solvent and water, i.e., but never greater than about 2% by weight.

In drier climates, a dry cleaning composition may be desired containing up to 10% by weight of water in which case the DPNB may be formulated with other glycol ethers suitable for use as dry-cleaning solvents may be added as well, including dipropylene glycol tertiary-butyl ether (DPTB), PTB and PNB. Thus, dry-cleaning compositions according to the present invention may include less than 98% by weight of DPNB, provided that the level of water remains about 10% by weight or less. Compositions according to the present invention may contain as little as 70% by weight of DPNB, or even less, or any quantity between 70% and 100% by weight, i.e., 75 weight %, 80 weight %, 85 weight %, etc. Preferred compositions will contain less than 10% by weight of a glycol ether other than DPNB suitable for dry cleaning garments, less than 10% by weight of water and from 80 to 95% by weight of DPNB. More preferred compositions will contain between about 1% and about 5% by weight of a dry cleaning solvent other than DPNB

While DPNB can quite successfully and efficiently clean garments made of all types of textile fabrics without the need for additional agents, such as detergents and fabric softeners, it may be desirable to include in the formulation one or more surfactants to enhance the detergency action of the DPTB by means of reducing the surface tension of the composition. Exemplary surfactant include fatty alcohol polyethylene glycol ethers, linear primary alcohol ethoxylates and cyclic siloxanes.

Cyclic siloxanes and glycol ethers other than DPNB suitable for use as dry-cleaning solvents are determined on the basis of composition boiling point (preferably less than 220° F.), composition flash point (preferably greater than 215° F.), moisture retention, rate of evaporation from fabric, residual odor and colorfastness, and are readily identified by those skilled in the art without undue experimentation.

While fabric softening agents are not necessary to achieve dry-cleaning, they are beneficial and serve to enhance the dry-cleaning process. Other dry-cleaning solvent additives can also be used. Thus, compositions according to the present invention may optionally include an effective amount of one or more dry-cleaning solvent additives such as fabric softening agents.

It has also been determined that the DPNB compositions of the present invention are effective solvents for water-insoluble dyes and the dyeing of fabrics. Dye compositions can be prepared by dissolving aliphatic glycol ether-soluble dyes in the DPNB compositions of the present invention. Dyes that are water-insoluble but soluble in aliphatic glycol ethers can be readily identified by those of ordinary skill in the art without undue experimentation by performing simple solubility testing. Classes of water-insoluble dyes include basic or cationic dyes, dispersed dyes and vat dyes. Dye compositions are prepared by heating an effective amount of the dye with the DPNB composition of the present invention, with mixing until the dye is completely dissolved in the DPNB composition.

Fabric dying can be conducted using conventional dyeing equipment, or by using dry-cleaning machinery. The DPNB composition of the present invention as a solvent for the dye not only functions to dissolve the dye, it also promotes the penetration of the dye into the fabric fiber to form a stronger bond between the dye molecule and the fabric fiber.

After dyeing is completed, the fabric is dried by essentially conventional techniques. Fabrics dyed with aliphatic glycol ether-soluble dyes dissolved in the DPNB compositions of the present invention exhibit faster drying times than fabrics dyed with water-based dyes. However, the greatest advantage is that the DPNB compositions of the present invention permit the use of water-insoluble dyes to dye fabrics that are colorfast when the dyed fabrics are subsequently washed in water.

As will be readily appreciated, numerous variations and combinations of the features set forth within the foregoing description and examples can be utilized without departing from the present invention. The foregoing examples are intended to be illustrative only and are not to be deemed as in any way limiting the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A composition for dry-cleaning garments consisting essentially of dipropylene glycol normal-butyl ether (DPNB), water, and at least one other solvent selected from the group consisting of cyclic siloxanes and glycol ethers other than DPNB suitable for use as dry-cleaning solvents, wherein said water is present at a level of about 10% by weight or less.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the level of DPNB is greater than about 70% by weight.

3. The composition of claim 2, consisting essentially of glycol ethers and water.

4. The composition of claim 3, further comprising less than about 10% by weight of one or more glycol ethers selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol tertiary-butyl ether (DPTB), propylene glycol tertiary-butyl ether (PTB) and propylene glycol n-butyl ether (PNB).

5. A method of dry-cleaning garments, comprising treating the garments for a period of time sufficient to effect dry-cleaning in the dry-cleaning composition of claim 1.

6. A method of dry-cleaning garments, comprising treating the garments for a period of time sufficient to effect dry cleaning in a dry-cleaning composition consisting of DPNB and water.

7. The method of claim 5 or 6, wherein the period of time is sufficient to remove both solvent-soluble and water-soluble stains.

8. A method of cleaning scoured and milled wool, comprising treating the scoured and milled wool with a composition to effect cleaning, said composition consisting of DPNB and water.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said composition further comprises at least one other solvent selected from the group consisting of cyclic siloxanes and glycol ethers other than DPNB suitable for use as dry-cleaning solvents.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said composition consists essentially of glycol ethers and water.

11. A composition for dyeing fabrics comprising a solution of a water-insoluble aliphatic glycol ether-soluble dye dissolved in a solvent consisting of DPNB and water.

12. The composition of claim 11, wherein said solvent further comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of cyclic siloxanes and glycol ethers other than DPNB suitable for use as dry-cleaning solvents.

13. The composition of claim 12, wherein said solvent consists essentially of glycol ethers and water.

14. A method of dyeing fabric, comprising treating the fabric to effect dyeing with the dye composition of claim 11.

15. The method of claim 14, further characterized by the step of drying said fabric after said dyeing has been effected.

16. A method of scouring raw wool comprising scouring raw wool with a composition consisting of DPNB and water.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said composition further comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of cyclic siloxanes and glycol ethers other than DPNB suitable for use as dry-cleaning solvents.

18. A method of milling scoured raw wool comprising milling said scoured raw wool with a composition consisting of DPNB and water.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said composition further comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of cyclic siloxanes and glycol ethers other than DPNB suitable for use as dry-cleaning solvents.