IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING FIBROUS MATERIALS AND PAPER PULP; IN TREATING, CLEANSING, AND SCOURING FIBROUS MATERIALS AND FABRICS MANUFACTURED THEREOF; IN PRODUCING SOAP FOR THE SAID OPERATIONS; AND IN OBTAINING PRODUCTS PROM LIQUORS USED THEREIN
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Henry, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING
FIBROUS MATERIALS AND PAPER PULP; IN TREATING, CLEANSING, AND SCOURING
FIBROUS MATERIALS AND FABRICS MANUFACTURED THEREOF; IN PRODUCING SOAP
FOR THE SAID OPERATIONS; AND IN OBTAINING PRODUCTS PROM LIQUORS USED
THEREIN."-A communication from abroad by Jean Baptiste Vasseur and
Victorien. Joseph Janssens, both of 88, Boulevard Saint Martin, Paris,
France.
Sealed the 6th January 1863, and dated the 29th July 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Jenry at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th
July 1862.
I, MICHAEL HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS
IN OBTAINING FIBROUS MATERIALS AND PAPER PULP; IN TREATING, CLEANSING, AND
SCOURING FIBROUS MATERIALS AND FABRICS MANUFACTURED THEREOF; IN PRODUCING
SOAP FOR THE SAID OPERATIONS; AND IN OBTAINING PRODUCTS FROM LIQUORS USED
THEREIN," communicated to me from abroad by Jean Baptiste Vasseur and
Victorien Joseph Janssens, both of 38, Boulevart Saint Martin, Paris, France,
to be as follows:-
This Invention has for one object the manufacture and application of an

page_text: improved soap suitable for employment in obtaining fibrous materials and
paper pulp from plants, and in scouring, bleaching, improving the quality
and appearance of, and treating fibrous materials and fabrics manufactured
thereof.
The improved soap, herein called caustic soap, is produced by combining
caustic alkalies in considerable proportions with materials capable of saponi-
fying, and is preferably manufactured by mixing'a concentrated solution of
caustic alkali with a material capable of saponifying, such material being in a
fluid state, and then stirring or agitating the mixture, and allowing it to stand
or leaving it in a state of rest. Resinous bodies and essences may be used in
the manufacture by dissolving 'them in the alkali beforo adding the other or
saponifiable ingredient.
In manufacturing the soap for treating any particular plant, an oil or fat
obtainable from that plant may be combined with the alkali; as for example, in
preparing the soap for treating flax linseed oil may be used. The degree of
causticity of the alkali may be varied according to the matter to be treated
with the soap. Flax, hemp, plants, of the nettle tribe, and other plants having
a boon, straw, woody part, chaff, husk, awn, or like formation may bo taken
just as they are gathered, without previous preparation, that is to say, without
removing their boon, straw, husk, or like portion, and treated in that state
with the caustic soap, whereby they will be disintegrated, and fibrous
materials and paper pulp simultaneously obtained therefrom. By using small
quantities of the soap, plants may be retted and prepared for spinning, and a
manure also may be obtained. Matters treated with the soap in a suitable
vessel may be washed without removing them therefrom by merely replacing
disintegrating liquor by pure or clean water, and heating the soapy compound
formed by the grit and grease combining with the caustic soap, whereby tho
guinmy, resinous, and incrusting portions are separated from the fibres. For
this purpose a close boiler may sometimes be used, in which the materials
may be disposed in thin layers, over each of which an openwork, perforated,
or reticulated diaphragm may bo so laid as to press'gently on the materials and
keep them down. To prevent the fibres from entangling they may be
washed in pure water without pressure, or they may be steamed. This
improved apparatus may be used for washing matters after dyeing especially;
also for washing generally and for scouring. Paper pulp may be manu-
factured from tow refuse and waste of spinning factories. Useful products
may be obtained from the liquor used in scouring fibres and fabrics; thus by
adding acids (preferring sulphuric and sulphurous acids) to these liquors a

page_text: precipitate will be formed, which, when collected, will serve for manufacturing
picric acid; the residuary acid solution having an alkaline base may be concen
trated by evaporation, and a soap manufactured therefrom. By adding sulphate
of lime to the liquors a manure may be produced.
Among the purposes to which the, soap is applicable, are discharging gum
from silk, scouring wool, and cleansing fibres and fabrics.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Michael Henry in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th January 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL
HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most. Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Michael Henry, Her special licence, that I, the said Michael Henry,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Michael Henry, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN OBTAINING FIBROUS MATERIALS AND PAPER PULP; IN TREATING,
CLEANSING, AND SCOURING FIBROUS MATERIALS AND FABRICS MANUFACTURED
THEREOF; IN PRODUCING SOAP FOR THE SAID OPERATIONS; AND IN OBTAINING PRODUCTS
FROM LIQUORS USED THEREIN," (a communication to him from abroad by Jean
Baptiste Vasseur and Victorien Joseph Janssens, both of 33, Boulevard Saint
Martin, Paris, France,) upon the condition (amongst others) that I, .the
said Michael Henry, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great"
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the dato of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Michael Henry, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, as communicated to me, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say:-
This Invention has for one object the manufacture and application of an
improved soap suitable for employment in obtaining fibrous materials and
paper pulp from plants, and in scouring, bleaching, improving (as to quality
and appearance,) and treating fibrous and textile materials and fabrics manu-
factured thereof.
The aforesaid improved soap, herein called caustic soap, is produced by
combining caustic alkalies in considerable proportions with saponifiable
materials, or materials capable of saponifying, the alkalies being used in such
large proportions that they become unable to dissolve, destroy, or injure animal
or vegetable textile fibres, while, nevertheless, retaining their disintegrating
power, that is to say, their power of setting free, cleansing or separating the
fibres from the other or extraneous matters combined therewith or adherent
thereto. This caustic soap is manufactured by combining a concentrated
solution of caustic alkali with a saponifiable material in a fluid state, and then
stirring or agitating the mixture, and leaving it to stand or at rest. Resinous
bodies and essences may be used in the manufacture of the caustic soap by
dissolving them in the alkali, before adding the other or saponifiable
ingredient.
In manufacturing the caustic soap for treating any particular plant, an oil or
fat obtainable from that plant may be combined with the alkali; for example, in
preparing the soap for treating flax, linseed oil may be used (this would impart
a silky appearance to the flax or linen manufactured thereof.) The degree of
causticity of the alkali may be varied according to the nature of the matter
to be treated with the soap. Flax, hemp, plants of the nettle tribe, and other
plants having a boon, straw, or woody part, chaff, husk, awn, or like for-
mation, may be taken as they are gathered, and without previous preparation,
that is to say, without removing their boon, straw, husk, or like portion, and
may be treated in that state with the caustic soap, whereby the said plants
will be disintegrated, and fibrous materials and paper pulp simultaneously
obtained therefrom. A like treatment, answering the purpose of retting, may
be applied to flax and similar plants, by treating them with very small
quantities of the caustic soap by either a hot or cold process, whereby the

page_text: subsequent crushing or breaking operation will be rendered easier of perform-
ance, and the flax will be rendered supple for spinning, and a manure may
also be obtained. Matters treated or disintegrated with the soap may be
afterwards washed without being removed from the vessel in which they had
been treated; this may be done by merely pouring off the disintegrating
liquor, 'and pouring clean water into the vessel, and then heating the soapy
compound formed by the combination of the grit and grease with the caustic
soap, whereby the incrusting gummy and resinous bodies will be completely
separated from the fibres, which will be obtained in a clean condition. For
this purpose, it is preferred to use a close boiler in which the materials to be
treated are disposed in thin layers, over each of which an openwork, perforated,
or reticulated diaphragm or surface is laid so as to press gently on the
materials and keep them down, thereby preventing the fibres from entangling;
they may be washed in pure water without steam pressure, or they may be
steamed.
The above apparatus may also be used for washing fibres, goods, and
fabrics, and especially after dyeing, also for scouring, boiling, or removing
gum and grease from fabrics and fibres. By using this soap, paper pulp may
be manufactured from tow refuse and the waste of spinning factories. Useful
products may be obtained from the liquors in which the caustic soap had been
used in disintegrating matters to extract the fibres, or in the operations of
scouring, boiling, or treating fibres and fabrics to discharge gum and grease
therefrom. Thus, by adding acids, preferring sulphuric and sulphurous acids,
to these liquors, a precipitate will be formed which may be collected and
employed for the manufacture of picric acid. The residuary acid solution
having an alkaline base may be concentrated by evaporation, and what I
herein call caustic soap may be manufactured therefrom. By adding sulpbate
of lime to the liquors, a manure may be produced.
Among the purposes to which the improved caustic soap is applicable are
discharging gum from silk, scouring wool, and cleansing fibres and fabrics.
The accompanying Drawing represents an apparatus for washing materials
in carrying out this Invention.
.
Figure 1 is an elevation, and Figure 2 is a section. A is an upright
boiler, into which is fitted 'a vessel B, containing a set of perforated metal
trays C, intended to hold the materials under treatment, and held together by
a lattice framing; the trays are of such sizes respectively, that as the materials
collapse during the process, each tray sinks into the one next below it to
about half its depth.
Figures 3 and 4 are section and plan of a modification, in which a hori-

page_text: zontal boiler. D is. used. C are the trays which are constructed and held
together in a similar manner to those in Figures 1 and 2, but are run into
the boiler on a carriage. E travelling on a tramway extending into the
boiler. Figure 5 shews a set of trays C ready for being introduced into the
boiler.
The caustic soap may be applied to the treatment of materials in an open
or close vessel. Silk, wool, cloth, and. cambric are especially improved when
washed or treated with this soap. Textile materials or fabrics washed with
this soap, after having been dyed, will, if with a gloss, have their gloss
increased, and if without gloss will get rid of their dull tone. When flax,
hemp, and such plants as China grass, rausch, jute, agave, esparto, heath,
palm, banana, and broom are treated with the soap, they retain their strength
and gloss. What I mean by saying that considerable proportions of alkali
are to be used in the caustic soap is, that the proportion of alkali used in
manufacturing the improved caustic soap very considerably exceeds the pro-
portions of alkali hitherto used. in the manufacture of ordinary soap.
.Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner. the same may be performed, I. declare that I claim,-
First, the application of the caustic soap, herein-before described, for dis-
integrating plants in order to obtain fibrous materials therefrom.
Second, the application of the caustic soap, herein-before described, for or
in cleansing, boiling, improving, and treating fibrous and textile materials and
fabrics manufactured thereof, and for discharging gum and grease from such
materials and fabrics.
Third, the production of picric acid, as described.
Fourth, the mode of producing both paper pulp and fibrous materials in
and by one and the same operation, or simultaneously in manner described,
from flax, hemp, nettles, and other plants having a boon, woody part, husk, or
liko formation.
Fifth, the production of the improved or caustic soap, hercin-before described, &
in which saponifiable matters are combined with very large proportions of
caustic alkalies (i. e. proportions considerably exceeding those hitherto used
in ordinary soap), so that in this improved soap the alkalies become unable
to dissolve, destroy, or injure the fibres, but retain their disintegrating power,
or power of separating, cleansing, or setting free the fibres from extraneous 3
matters combined therewith, or adherent thereto.
Sixth, the modes of manufacturing the improved caustic soap, herein
described.
Seventh, tho. production or recovery of the caustic soap from the liquors

page_text: used in disintegrating or in cleansing from or discharging gum and grease, as
herein described.
Eighth, the application of the caustic soap in disintegrating plants in order
to obtain paper pulp.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Henry, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of January, in the year Ono
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
S. E. A. NEWSOME,
Patent Office,
84, Fleet Street,
London.
M. HENRY. (L.S.)