Improved Method of Extracting Vegetable Fibres.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1996
Complete Specification Left, 21st Apr., 1897-Accepted, 29th May, 1897
Improved Method of Extracting Vegetable Fibres.
I WILLIAM WARBURTON of 70 Adswood Lane E. Stockport in the County of
Chester, Dyer and Bleacher do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in extracting fibres from the various
fibrous plants of the nettle family, commonly known as "Ramie "Rhea," or
China Grass, "Victoria Regia" or other similar vegetable fibrous plants.
I have found that by the use of acids as hitherto employed these fibres are
reduced in strength or caused to decay, thus rendering them practically useless for
manufacturing purposes.
I also find that some fibres require a little different treatment, or the use of a
different ingredient, according to their origin.
In carrying out my invention I provide a number of baskets made of galvanized
wire, or other suitable material to hold the fibre in place.
I then place a sufficient number of these baskets after having been filled with
the raw fibre, in a high pressure kier now in common use.
Having covered the said baskets with water and added my chemical ingredients
consisting of two or more of the following viz. "Soap," "pure alkali" "petroleum
oil" and "bicarbonate of soda," after the kier is made steam tight, I force in
live steam and allow it to work up to, and at 50 to 55 lb. per square inch, for a
suitable time usually four to five hours, when the fibre is ready to be taken out
and washed.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1896.
Extracting vegetable Fiores.
I WILLIAM WARBURTON of 70 Adswood Lane East, Stockport, in the County
of Chester, Dyer and Bleacher, 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 :-
My said invention relates to an improved process for treating the various fibrous
plants of the nettle family commonly known as Ramie Rhea China Grass or other
similar fibrous vegetable products for the purpose of extracting fibres therefrom.
Acids of various kinds have been used heretofore for such a purpose but in
practice they are found to reduce the strength and to otherwise damage the fibres.
According to my said invention I subject such fibrous material to the action of
an emulsion or solution containing carbonate of soda in combination with soap and
petroleum and bicarbonate of soda (or an equivalent quantity of carbonate of
ammonia) in a closed vessel or kier under steam pressure.

page_text: I prefer to treat the vegetable material in the form of ribbons such as are
usually found in commerce. These are for convenience of handling laid in baskets
of galvanized wire which are then placed in an ordinary high pressure kier such as
is commonly found in bleach works. Sufficient water is run into the kier to cover
the material.."
Meanwhile in a separate receptacle I prepare a liquid mixture as follows.-
For every hundred parts by weight of fibrous material to be treated I usually
take
17 parts of "pure alkali'
7 parts of soap
11 parts of petroleum
23"
10 parts of bicarbonate of soda.
These are mixed with sufficient water to form a solution emulsion or mixture
which will readily flow into the kier. (By "pure alkali" I mean the form of.
sodium carbonate Na,CO, known commercially under that name and which
contains about 58 per cent. of sodium oxide Na₂O). For the bicarbonate of
soda (NaHCO3) an equal weight of carbonate of ammonia (NH),CO, may be
substituted.
This mixture is run into the kier containing the submerged fibrous material
whereupon the kier is closed steam is admitted and the whole is kept under steam
pressure for a suitable time depending to some extent on the nature or kind of
material being treated.
For the ordinary ramie ribbons of commerce I find that if it is subjected to the
action of the above described mixture under a steam pressure of 50 to 55 pounds
per square inch for four to five hours it is sufficient. The proportions of "pure
alkali" and bicarbonate of soda are subject to variation according to the nature
and origin of the material to be treated. Some materials require more or less
pure alkali (with a corresponding diminution or augmentation of the bicarbonate
of soda).
. For example in treating ramie grown on a limestone soil I should use 10 parts
only of "pure alkali" and 17 parts of bicarbonate of soda (or of carbonate of
ammonia).
The proportions. of soap and petroleum remain practically the same in any case.
After such treatment it will be found that the gummy or resinous constituents of
the fibrous material and also the skin are dissolved decomposed or altered in such a
way that subsequent washing with pure water suffices to eliminate them from the
fibre. This subsequent washing may be accomplished by hand or with the aid of
machinery or mechanical appliances of various kinds, as will be well understood
by those conversant with the treatment of fibrous materials without further
description.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.-
The process of subjecting fibrous vegetable matter to the action of a mixture of
carbonate of soda soap petroleum and bicarbonate of soda (or carbonate of
ammonia) under steam pressure substantially as and for the purpose set forth and
described.
of April 1897.
E. T. WHITELOW, A.M. Inst. C.E.,
70 Deansgate, Manchester, Agent for the Applicant.