Paint spray booth chemical treatment

Claim 1

In a process for controlling pollution and contamination in paint or lacquer spray booths in which water is used to wash the air in the spray booth and to remove over-sprayed paints or lacquers and solids are removed from the water which is then recirculated for further use in washing the air in the spray booth, of the type which comprises adding to said water a quantity of a blend of a water soluble electrolyte salt of an amphoteric metal and a polycationic water dispersible polymer, said quantity being sufficient to reduce the tackiness of paints and lacquers and thereby reduce the tendency of over-sprayed paints and lacquers to adhere to walls, ceilings and floors of said spray booths, said polymer also being effective to condition paint and lacquer solids removed with said water so that they can be separated from the water which is then returned for recirculation in the process, the improvement comprising adding to said water containing the blend of a water soluble electrolyte salt of an amphoteric metal and a cationic water dispersible polymer, from 1-30 ppm of a polypropylene glycol, said polypropylene glycol having an average molecular weight of from 100 to 1,000.