Method for economically viable and environmentally friendly central processing of home laundry

Abstract

An economically viable process and system for centrally processing multiple loads of laundry with minimum environmental impact. A system and method of laundering whereby successive loads of laundry may be washed while continuously providing effective soil removal comprising at least partially recycled wash water from at least one previous wash cycle. The system and the method of using the same comprises filtering wash water with at least one filter to form wash retentate and wash permeate. The use of wash permeate in successive washes provides for reuse of chemicals and water recovery. A similar arrangement may be used with regard to the rinse water. Advantageously, one embodiment of the invention provides for the use of rinse retentate as make up water in the wash loop which increases water recovery and chemical recovery. Ultimately, the invention can reduce the production of gray water and recover chemicals used in the laundering process.

1 - 52 . (canceled)  
     
     
         53 . A method of processing laundry which comprises the steps of: 
 (a) washing a first load of laundry with a detergent in at least one wash vessel to produce a first clean load of laundry and a first wash effluent;    (b) passing the first wash effluent through at least one wash filter, producing a first wash permeate and a first wash retentate; and    (c) rinsing the first clean load of laundry to produce a first rinsed load of laundry and a first rinse effluent.    
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53  which further comprises the steps of: 
 (d) washing a second load of laundry using in part at least a portion of the first wash permeate in the at least one wash vessel to produce a second clean load of laundry and a second wash effluent;    (e) passing the second wash effluent through the at least one wash filter, producing a second wash permeate and a second wash retentate; and    (f) rinsing the second clean load of laundry to produce a second rinsed load of laundry and a second rinse effluent.    
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53  which further comprises the step of: 
 (d) passing at least a portion of the first rinse effluent through at least one rinse filter to produce a first rinse permeate and a first rinse retentate.    
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54  which further comprises the step of: 
 (g) passing at least a portion of the second rinse effluent through the at least one rinse filter to produce a second rinse permeate and a second rinse retentate.    
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 54  wherein Step (f) is accomplished in part by using at least a portion of the first rinse permeate.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 53  which further comprises the steps of: 
 (d) passing the first rinse effluent through at least one rinse filter, producing a first rinse permeate and a first rinse retentate;    (e) washing a second load of laundry with the detergent and in part at least a portion of the first wash permeate in the at least one wash vessel to produce a second clean load of laundry and a second wash effluent;    (f) passing the second wash effluent through the at least one wash filter, producing a second wash permeate and a second wash retentate;    (g) rinsing the second clean load of laundry with in part at least a portion of the first rinse permeate to produce a second rinsed load of laundry and a second rinse effluent; and    (h) passing the second rinse effluent through the at least one rinse filter to produce a second rinse permeate and a second rinse retentate.    
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 54  wherein between about 30% and about 90% of the washing in Step (d) is accomplished with first wash permeate.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 57  wherein between about 30% and about 90% of the rinsing in Step (f) is accomplished with first rinse permeate.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 58  wherein between about 30% and about 90% of the washing in Step (e) is accomplished with first wash permeate and between about 30% and about 90% of the rinsing in Step (g) is accomplished with first rinse permeate.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 55  which further comprises the step of: 
 (e) transferring at least a portion of the first rinse retentate to the first wash effluent.    
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 56  which further comprises the step of: 
 (h) transferring at least a portion of the second rinse retentate to the second wash effluent.    
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 53  which further comprises the step of repeating Steps (e)-(h) at least once on additional loads of laundry.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64  wherein up to about nine loads of laundry are processed.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the method is steady state.  
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the method is steady state.  
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 53  which further comprises the steps of: 
 (d) passing a previous rinse effluent through at least one rinse filter, producing a previous rinse permeate and a previous rinse retentate;    (e) washing a subsequent load of laundry with the detergent and in part at least a portion of a previous wash permeate in the at least one wash vessel to produce a subsequent clean load of laundry and a subsequent wash effluent;    (f) passing the subsequent wash effluent through the at least one wash filter, producing a subsequent wash permeate and a subsequent wash retentate; and    (g) rinsing the subsequent clean load of laundry with in part at least a portion of the previous rinse permeate to produce a subsequent rinsed load of laundry and a subsequent rinse effluent;    (h) repeating Steps (d)-(g) at least once;    wherein the previous rinse effluent is the second rinse effluent prior to Step (h) and the previous wash permeate is the first wash permeate prior to Step (h).    
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 66  wherein up to about nine loads of laundry are processed.  
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 68  wherein the method is steady state.