Process for treating articles in an aq. treatment bath contg. chemicals comprises: (a) contacting the articles with the treatment bath; (b) rinsing the articles in at least one wash bath, whereby entrained chemicals are transferred to the first wash bath; (c) recycling part of the (first) wash bath to the treatment bath; and (d) removing water from the treatment bath and passing it to one of the wash baths. Step (d) is effected by continuously passing a dry gas stream through the treatment bath to entrain water in the gas stream; passing the wet gas stream through a cooler to condense the water; recycling the dry gas stream to the treatment bath; and passing the condensed water to a wash bath.
展开▼
