IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF CLEANSING AND BLEACHING COTTON, FLAX OR OTHER VEGETABLE FIBRE
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Imray of No 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery
"
Lane, in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE PROCESS OF CLEANSING AND BLEACHING COTTON, FLAX OR OTHER
VEGETABLE FIBRE communicated to him from abroad by Mr Horace
Koechlin, Chemist of Paris in the Republic of France
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Imray at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th May 1883.
JOHN IMRAY of N° 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF CLEANSING AND BLEACHING
COTTON, FLAX OR OTHER VEGETABLE FIBRE [communicated to him from abroad
by Mr Horace Koechlin, Chemist of Paris in the Republic of France]
According to this invention cotton, flax or other vegetable fibre is soaked in a
solution of alkaline carbonate, or alkali or soap, and subjected to the action of
steam or hot air for a time which may vary according to the concentration of the
solution and the pressure of the steam. As in the ordinary cleansing processes,
the steaming is preceded and followed by subjecting the material to acid and
hypochlorite baths. The following is an example of the process. Cotton washed'
is soaked for about an hour in hydrochloric or sulphuric acid solution at 2° Beaumè,
washed, then soaked for about an hour in hypochlorite solution, (preferably
hypochlorite of soda) again washed, and soaked in solution of caustic soda at
10° Beaumè; it is then steamed for an hour, washed, again subjected for about an
hour to hypochlorite, washed, subjected to acid, washed and dried. This treatment
may be several times repeated. Instead of caustic soda, an alkaline carbonate, or
soap inay be used, or an alkaline salt such aš silicate of soda, or an alkaline oxide
such as potassa, baryta, strontia, lime or mixtures of these. The steaming may be
effected in the ordinary apparatus or continuously.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Imray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th November
1883.
JOHN IMRAY of N° 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in the County
of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF CLEANSING AND BLEACHING
COTTON, FLAX OR OTHER VEGETABLE FIBRE A communication to me from
Abroad by M Horace Koechlin, Chemist, of Paris in the Republic of France.
According to this Invention cotton, flax or other vegetable fibre is soaked in a
solution of alkaline carbonate, or alkali or soap, and subjected to the action of
steam or hot air, for a time which may vary according to the concentration of the
solution and the pressure of the steam. As in the ordinary cleansing process, the
steaming is preceded and followed by subjecting the material to acid and hypo-
chlorite baths. The following is an example of the process. Cotton washed is
soaked for about an hour in hydrochloric or sulphuric acid solution at 2° Beaumé,
washed, then soaked for about an hour in hypochlorite solution, (preferably
hypochlorite of soda) again washed, and soaked in solution of caustic soda at
10° Beaumé; it is then steamed for an hour, washed, again subjected for about an
hour to hypochlorite, washed, subjected to acid, washed and dried. This treatment
may be several times repeated. Woven material is treated in a boiling solution of
sulphuric acid having a strength of about 1lb of acid to 200 gallons water; it is
then washed, dried, subjected to caustic soda solution at 8° or 10° Beaumé, steamed
for about half an hour, washed, treated with hypochlorite, washed, treated with
acid, washed and dried. It is preferred to add to the caustic soda a reducing agent
such as sulphite of soda. Instead of caustic soda, an alkaline carbonate or soap
may be used, or an alkaline salt, such as silicate of soda, or an alkaline oxide or
earth such as potassa, baryta, strontia, lime or mixtures of these. The steaming
may be effected in the ordinary apparatus or continuously.
Having thus described the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be perforined, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I
claim
The herein described process of cleansing and bleaching cotton, flax or other
vegetable fibre, by subjecting to steaming or hot air the material previously
impregnated with alkaline substances as hereinbefore stated, in combination with
treatment in acid and hypochlorite baths.
In Witness whereof I the said John Imray have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Sixteenth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty-three.
TAT