Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-12-18
Paper From Grass.

One of tile subjects of a recent patent is
the manufacture of paper pulp and paper
from common grass. The patentee claims
that grass treated when green and reduced
to pulp, has a very flexible. silky, long and
tenacious fiber. which when made into pa
per. assimlates linen paper. and. if any
thing. possesses greater sOftness and trans
parency. Any OF the common field lawn,
or meadow grasses can be used. and for
this purpose il is best that the grass should
be cut or moved before it begins to bloom !;
but young or old may he used. so long as
the sap is vet in circulation and the chlorO-
phyl, silica. and other organic matters are
not dried in. which is found to make seri-
Gus change in the quality of the fiber for
the purpose of paper.
After The grass is cut or mOwn. it is
passed between the rollers Of ''rOller
press" which squeeze out the main por-
ton of the sap and crush or loosen the
fiber. When the grass has been passed
through the roller press. it is next placed
in large tank of water. in which it is
thoroughly washed by agitation or other
suitable means. SO as 10 remove the dirt. |
The water of the tank may be either warm
or cold. and the tank is constructed with a
perforated false bottom on which the |
crushed grass rests and through which the
dirt falls into the compartment below. from
which u pipe extends to allow the dirt and
wasll-water to escape. When the crushed
grass is sufficiently washed. il is boiled in
an open kettle or in II steam kettle with
lye, in proportions Of about one tenth ola
pound Of callstic soda. or two tenths Of a
pound of caustic potash. or six tcn!hs OF
lime to one hundred pounds of grass. The
boiling is continued when an open kettle
IS used for from -four to five hours. but
when steam kettle is used. two hours
will suffice.
After the boiling operation is completed.
he material is removed from the kettle I
md put into lettering trough. in which
I is beaten and fetered from one to two
lOurs. After this il is washed until clean
n clear water.
The coarse pulp or felt thus produced is
etined and bleached for the production of
inc papers, as follows: 1t is first placed
n cold solution of carbonate of soda for
bout fifteen minutes: next in Il dilute So
ution of slllphuric acid for about the same
ime. and again in Il solution of. chloride of
nagneSia tor about thirty minutes. and at
er this 1t is placed Il third time in "A solu- q
ion of carbonate OF soda: and. finally. IA
econd time in "A solution OF sulphnric acid. 1
'hese operations may be repeated more or J
ess till the pulp is as fine and white as re-
uiled. after which it is finally washed in
lear wafer. Another method is to felter
he crude pulp with wafer glass and bleach
with solution OF chloride of soda. Still
notEer is to bleach the crude pulp in chic
me gas. then in Il solution OF soda. and
nish with water glass. after which tie !,
nip is washed with clear water
Papers produced from this green grass
ulp are said to possess the qualities of
reat strength and length of fiber. tenacity.
FITNESS. and fleXibility. For tissue. draw :"
e, writing. and copying papers. the ma
rial is said to be admirably adapted. as ii =
'Ovitles a fine writing surface and superior
ansparency. even without the use of any
re.
In its economical aspect. one square foot
ground gives, in the whole year, from
to 10 OF pound of green grass, max
g from 3O.492 to 65.34O pounds to the
re. One pound OF green grass makes G
Re fourth 70 one sixth Of a pound dried, =
$50 pounds Of dried grass to an acre.
nally. one pound OF dried grass gives
out one third to one fourth of a pound
fine bleached and finished paper. or 2.9ll
unds Of finished paper 10 the acre of
Ound.