Water removal from glass objects leaving no stains - using row of tanks contg. organic solvent immiscible with water

Water is removed from the surface of an object, esp. glass, by immersion in a boiling dewatering bath (1) of solvent immiscible with water and contg. surfactants. The glass is then rinsed in pure organic solvent baths (2) to remove surfactants. The vapour is condensed and recycled. The water layer formed in bath (1) is removed, the water sepd. out and the solvent returned to bath (1). The novelty is the separate condensn. of the vapours from baths (1,2) and only condensate obtd. from bath (1) is returned to bath (1) via a water separator; only the condensate from bath (2) is returned to this bath via a drier. Three rinsing baths are pref. used, the first and third contg. boiling solvent, the middle bath contg. cold solvent and an ultrasonic vibrator. Used e.g. to dry optical glass.