Improvements in Treating Wool Greases and Separating their Constituents.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 1st Jan., 1804-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Treating Wool Greases and Separating their
Constituents.
I, ROBERT HUTCHISON, of Springvale Mills, Cowlairs, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Oil Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
This invention has for one of its objects, by treating wool greases in an improved
manner, to obtain therefrom more completely than heretofore the cholesteric
constituent thereof; and another object is to obtain other constituents in the form
of useful soaps.
The name "lanolin" (or lanoline) has hitherto been given to a variety of
products containing wool cholesterine combined with more or less fatty acid, water,
and impurities; and to distinguish from such products what is obtained according
to the present invention the name lanichol is given to it, the term consisting of an
abbreviation of the well known chemical term cholesterine together with a prefix
indicative of the source of the cholesterine.
In carrying out this invention the first operation has for its purpose to separate
from the wool greases impurities of an albuminous, gummy, or similar character
which tend to prevent the separation of the whole of the lanichol. To effect this
separation a solution of rosin and alkali is employed. A suitable solution is formed
with one part, by weight, of rosin to two parts of commercial soda crystals; but the
proportions and the alkali may be varied. The wool grease is placed in a large
pan and for every nine parts by weight of it there is added as much of the solution
as- contains one part of rosin, together with a large quantity of water having
common salt in solution. The salt present must be sufficient for retaining the whole
of the fatty matter in an undissolved state. The mixture is boiled and is agitated
to insure thorough mixture, such agitation being conveniently attainable by injecting
steam. The salt may be added during the boiling operation. After the boiled
mixture has been allowed to settle for about an hour, the water is run off,
containing the bulk of the impurities which impart to it a strong offensive smell.
The grease should be repeatedly washed with fresh salted waters to insure removal
of all soluble impurities.
When the grease has been sufficiently washed, any adhering salt water must be
completely removed, to insure which the grease may be ladled or pumped over into
a clean pan.
After the treatment which has been described it will be found that the grease
contains some soap which is soluble in water (free from salt). In proceeding with
the treatment, a large quantity of water is added together with as much alkali,
caustic or carbonated, as will convert any free fatty acids present into soap. The
mixture thus obtained is boiled, and as much water is added as will dissolve all the
soap present. Thereupon the lanichol rises slowly to the surface and can be easily
separated. The soapy water being drawn off and treated with salt yields good soap
stock..--
1902
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Treating Wool Greases and Separating their
Constituents.
I, ROBERT HUTCHISON, of Springvale Mills, Cowlairs in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Oil Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
My said invention has for one of its objects, by treating wool greases in an 5
improved manner, to obtain therefrom more completely than heretofore the
cholesteric constituent thereof; and another object is to obtain other constituents
in the form of useful soaps.
"
The name
lanolin" (or lanoline) has hitherto been given to a variety of
products containing wool cholesterine combined with more or less fatty acid, water, '1
and impurities; and to distinguish from such products what is obtained according
to the present invention the name lanichol is given to it, the term consisting of an
abbreviation of the well known chemical term cholesterine together with a prefix
indicative of the source of the cholesterine.
:
In carrying out this invention the first operation has for its purpose to separate 1
from the wool greases impurities of an albuminous, gummy, or similar character
which tend to prevent the separation of the whole of the lanichol. To effect this
separation a solution of rosin and alkali is employed. A suitable solution is formed
with one part, by weight, of rosin to two parts of commercial soda crystals; but
the proportions and the alkali may be varied. The wool grease is placed in a large
pan and for every nine parts by weight of it there is added as much of the solution
as contains one part of rosin, together with a large quantity of water having.
common salt in solution. The salt present must be sufficient for retaining the whole.
of the fatty matter in an undissolved state. The mixture is boiled and is agitated
to insure thorough mixture, such agitation being conveniently attainable by
injecting steam. The salt may be added during the boiling operation. After the
boiled mixture has been allowed to settle for about an hour, the water is run off,
containing the bulk of the impurities which impart to it a strong offensive smelli
The grease should be repeatedly washed with fresh salted waters to insure removal
of all soluble impurities.
When the grease has been sufficiently washed, any adhering salt water must be
completely removed, to insure which the grease may be ladled or pumped over into
a clean pan..
After the treatment which has been described it will be found that the grease
contains some soap which is soluble in water (free from salt). In proceeding with
the treatment, a large quantity of water is added together with as much alkali,
caustic or carbonated, as will convert any free fatty acids present into soap. The
mixture thus obtained is boiled; and as much water is added as will dissolve all the
soap present. Thereupon the lanichol rises slowly to the surface and can be easily
separated. The soapy water being drawn off and treated with salt yields good soap
stock.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The treating of wool grease for the purpose of separating lanichol or wool
cholesterine, by boiling in water containing common salt and a combination of rosin,
and alkali, and subsequently boiling the grease, after being freed from the dissolved
impurities and salt, with a large quantity of water containing sufficient caustic or
carbonated alkali to convert any free acids present into soap, and hold all the soap
'

page_text: present in solution to the surface of which the lanichol or wool cholesterine rises,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The treating of wool grease for the purpose of separating soap by the process
forming the subject matter of the first claim, combined with the treatment of the
5 resulting soapy water (after separation) with salt, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Dated this Thirtieth day of December 1893
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.