An Improved Process for Washing and Scouring Wool and Fibrous Materials containing Grease.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 11th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 15th Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process for Washing and Scouring Wool and Fibrous
Materials containing Grease.
We GEORGE WASHINGTON ARNOTT, Manufacturing Chemist, PIERRE ALCIDE
OLIVIER, Technical Chemist, and GEORGE SEAGRAVE, Engineer, all of 21 Lime Street,
City of London, do hereby declare the nature of our invention to be as follows
The process first consists of the thorough extraction of the potash or other mineral
salts by jets or sprays of water in a suitable tank or vessel containing the material to
be so treated, and secondly the further extraction of the oily and fatty matters from
the material by means of any liquid having special affinity for them such as
bisulphide of carbon, benzine, or ether, under similar pressure and in spray or jet, in
such a manner as to obtain resultant solutions in the most concentrated form, and
also the regaining of the solvent in the usual way with the smallest amount of loss,
thus obtaining the bye products resulting from the cleansing of wool, textile and
fibrous materials at the minimum of cost.
By the improvement of first treating such materials with water to remove the
earthy and other matters, a lesser quantity of grease solvent is required than other-
wise. The texture of the material is also rendered softer and the colour brighter.
The apparatus in which this first or washing process is carried out may be a
hydro-extractor into which water can be admitted through perforated pipes or nozzles
to dissolve and remove the potash and other salts and the earthy matters.
This process is continued until the salts and earthy matters are, as far as practicable,
at this stage removed, then the further admission of water is checked and the speed
of the machine is increased so as to drive out as far as practicable all moisture from
the material under operation. The impregnated water is caused to flow into a specially
constructed separator" attached to the apparatus, where the earthy matters are
deposited and the water with potash in solution passes away to suitably constructed
tanks, either to be re-used or run into evaporating pans for recovery of the salts in
the usual way.
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Provision is made for the rapid emptying of the earthy and other matters deposited
in the separators.
The apparatus used for the purpose is an ordinary centrifugal machine or hydro-
extractor encased in such a manner as to prevent the escape of any vapours emanating
from the volatile solvents except through suitable pipes connected to condensers and
exhausters. The apparatus is also fitted with perforated pipes or a nozzle or nozzles
raised or lowered and in connection with the solvent supply in such a manner as
effectually to distribute the solvent over the surface of the material under operation
after its insertion into the apparatus. The material is placed in the revolving cage
of the apparatus, the cover closed and the cage of the apparatus set in motion.
The material which will remain in the cage of the apparatus is to be then treated in
a similar manner with a requisite quantity of grease solvent, preferably bisulphide of
carbon, which will dissolve the fatty matters. This grease solvent is also passed into
a "separator" in which any earthy matters not removed by the water process and
held in suspension by the grease solvent will be deposited. The resulting grease
solvent is then allowed to pass to a store tank either for re-use or passed direct
to a distilling vessel by means of which the solvent is recovered from the oily or fatty
matters.
After the oily matters have been removed by the grease solvent, any adhering
solvent is driven out by increased speed of the revolving cage. Water is then again
admitted as at first, so as to thoroughly rinse the material and as the first waters may
contain some of the grease solvent which has not been driven off by the last operation

page_text: they may be caused to flow through the first separator where any grease solvent will
be retained after which these rinse waters may be run off.
Dated this 10th day of April 1890.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said G. W. Arnott, P. A. Olivier, and G. Seagrave:··
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
An Improved Process for Washing and Scouring Wool and Fibrous
Materials containing Grease.
We, GEORGE WASHINGTON ARNOTT, Manufacturing Chemist, PIERRE ALCIDE
OLIVIER, Technical Chemist, and GEORGE SEAGRAVE, Engineer, all of 21 Lime Street,
City of London 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 :-
The process consists, first, of the thorough extraction of the potash, or other
mineral salts from the material and also sand and other earthy matter by jets or sprays
of water in a hydro-extractor containing the material to be treated, secondly, the
extraction of the oily and fatty matters from the material by means of any solvent
liquid having special affinity for them, such as bisulphide of carbon, benzine, or ether
in spray or jet, and thirdly, rinsing the material with clean water to wash out any
solvent that may have remained in the material from the second treatment in order to
leave the material in a perfectly clean state.
By the improvement of first treating such materials with water to remove the
earthy and other foreign matters, a lesser quantity of grease solvent is required than
otherwise. The texture of the material is also rendered softer and the colour brighter.
The apparatus, in which these successive operations are carried out, is a hydro-
extractor A, such as we show in the annexed drawing, into which, water during a slow
rotation can be admitted from the tanks B, B, through perforated pipes or nozzles C, C,
to dissolve and remove the potash and other salts and also to remove the earthy
matters, said nozzles having an up and down travel by the eccentric rod D for complete
saturation of the material."
This process is continued until the salts are dissolved and the earthy matters
extracted by the water. The speed of the machine is now increased to extract all
moisture, from the material under operation and leave it comparatively dry. The
impregnated water as also the sand and earthy matters flow through pipes E, E, into
a
separator," or separators F, F; where the earthy matters are deposited and the
water with the salts in solution passes away to tanks G, G, either to be re-used or
run into evaporating pans for recovery of the salts in the usual way. A valve H is
provided for the rapid emptying of the earthy and other matters deposited in the
separators F, F.
For the second operation, the same, or other perforated pipes, or a nozzle, or nozzles
capable of being raised or lowered are employed for supplying the solvent from
tanks I, I, such as bisulphide of carbon, benzine, ether, or the like not capable of
producing an emulsion over the surface of the material under operation. As before,
the apparatus is set in slow motion for saturation and then in quick rotation for
extraction of the solution. This grease solvent passes into the same or other separator
or separators and any earthy matters not removed by the water process will be
deposited.
The resulting grease solvent is passed into store tanks, either for re-use till
sufficiently saturated or passed direct to a distilling vessel, by means of which, the
solvent is recovered from the oily or fatty matters.
Water is then again admitted to the extractor as at first in order to thoroughly rinse
the material, and as the first of the rinsing waters may contain some of the grease
solvent which has not been driven off by the second operation, they may be caused to

page_text: flow through a separator where any grease solvent will be retained, after which these
rinse waters may be run off.
J, J, are air passages for cleaning the rooms of obnoxious vapours in the event of
any accidental escape.
The quantity of solvents and number of successive operations must depend on the
fibrous material under treatment but three washings with water and a similar number
with grease solvent have generally been found sufficiently effective.
The hydro-extractor is encased in such a manner as to prevent the escape of any
vapours emanating from the volatile solvents, except through suitable pipes connected
to condensers or absorbers and exhausters, or towers on any of the well known forms
of construction, through which the air in its passage meets with a spray or body of
oil passing in a contrary direction, which has the effect of condensing and absorbing
any vapours of bisulphide of carbon that may be carried off. The exit pipes from the
condenser or absorbers communicate with any well known form of exhausting engine
of sufficient power to cause an in-draught at the openings of the hydro. Oil such as
blue oil from the manufacture of paraffin or heavy anthracene oils will answer the
purpose, which having become saturated in the absorber, can be passed to a still for
recovery of the bisulphide of carbon, and the oil used over again.
We are aware that greasy or oily wool and fibrous materials have been hitherto
treated by bisulphide of carbon and like agents and an emulsion produced to remove
the grease and oily matters therefrom in a hydro-extractor apparatus, and therefore we
make no claim, or exclusive right to the use of those agents, or of any one of them,
nor to the use of a hydro-extractor for the purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in wbat manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is —
1. The above described process of washing and scouring wool and fibrous material
containing grease, consisting, first; washing in clear water for extraction of salts (in
solution) and for removing sand and foreign matter; and the subsequent removal of
the water, secondly; saturating with a grease solvent and the extraction of same, and
thirdly rinsing with water for cleansing purposes, the three operations being
successively effected in a hydro-extractor, or centrifugal machine without removal
of the fibrous material from the hydro-extractor during said operations of; 1. Washing
with water. 2. Saturation with a grease solvent. 3. Rinsing with water, as set
forth.
2. The improved method above described for washing and scouring wool and other
fibrous material by the arrangement of apparatus shown on the annexed drawing.
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Horoner
AT Urner LOWYA
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said
George Washington Arnott,
Pierre Alcide Olivier, and
George Seagrave