IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREAT- MENT OF FIRROUS SUBSTANCES TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PULP FOR PAPER AND FOR CONVERSION Into Spun and TEXTILE FABRICS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Duff, of Wandsworth, Road, in the
· County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREAT-
MENT OF FIRROUS SUBSTANCES TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PULP
FOR PAPER AND FOR CONVERSION Into Spun and TEXTILE FABRICS."
Sealed the 25th October 1872, and dated the 30th April 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Duff at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th April 1872.
I, CHARLES DUFF, of Wandsworth Road, in the County of Surrey,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE TREATMENT OF FIBROUS SUBSTANCES TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
PULP FOR PAPER AND FOR CONVERSION INTO 8pUN AND TEXTILE FABRICS," to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the treatment of bamboo
Senrentable manhmant

page_text: and textile fabrics. I am aware that bamboo has been in past ages used
in the manufacture of paper, but the processes latterly adopted or
suggested for the conversion of bamboo or other analogous canes have
been found to be practically unavailable. I propose to take bamboo
by preference cut when about from twelve to fifteen months old, sub-
jecting the same to the operation of any suitable crushing machinery,
the fibres being so crushed the knots are made to form part of the fibre
or may be treated separately. To remove the silex from the bamboo I
subject the particles to the action of hydrofluoric acid in a heated state,
by preference diluted as required, or I inject among the particles a
current of hydrofluoric acid gas.
"
The crushed material is subsequently to be immersed in a caustic or
other suitable alkaline solution, which may afterwards be forced through
the material by steam pressure or otherwise, so as to produce and shade
of color between brown and white.
The method of treatment is as follows:-I place in a high-pressure
boiler 1 ton of cane, 34 pounds caustic soda diluted in boiling water,
with 3 pounds hydrofluoric acid also diluted, and afterwards wash in
hot water to neutralize the caustic. I then place the material in a
poaching engine with ten per cent. of chloride of lime, and when ready.
transfer to bleaching tanks and afterwards steep and pulp. By these
means I utilize the bamboo as grown, including knots and all waste,
which can be subjected simultaneously to the same process.
The alkaline process, the acid process, bleaching, mixing with rags or
other materials, boiling, and other manipulations incidental to the treat-
ment of fibre and pulp, may be carried on by any of the well known
means, and the bamboo or other analogous canes crushed in the first
instance and treated in the manner described will form a very superior
base or material for the manufacture of paper. By dilute sulphuric or
other acids this paper can be converted into vegetable parchment of a
superior character.
In order to convert the fibre into a textile fabric for spinning, weaving,
and other manufacturing purposes, I propose to treat the fibre as
follows: I put the same into a boiler using a small infusion of hydro-
fluoric acid or injection of hydrofluoric acid gas. In about six or eight
hours it is to be cleansed by washing, and the gelatinous, gummy, and
resiñous matters separated, and the fibre will then be left clean and

page_text: disintegrated, to be afterwards dried and passed through or subjected
to machinery suitable for reducing it into the state for carding, spinning,
or weaving.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Duff in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 29th October 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLĖS:
Durr, of Wandsworth Road, in the County of Surrey, send greeting.
:
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
0 Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Charles Duff, Her special licence,'
that I, the said Charles Duff, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
5 or such others as I, the said Charles Duff, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter 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
0 Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES TO BE USED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PULP FOR PAPER AND FOR
CONVERSION INTO SPUN AND TEXTILE FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Charles Duff, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
5 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 date of the said Letters Patent.
•
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Duff, do hereby declare
0 the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to ba
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and-by the
following statement:-
My Invention consists in converting the bamboo. (bambusae and
bambusa arundinacea) for the manufacture of pulp for paper, and for

page_text: vegetable, parchment, or for spun and textile fabrics. I propose to
take the bamboo (by preference from one to two years old), subjecting.
the same to the operation of crushing by any suitable machinery, the
fibres being so crushed destroying the knots, which consequently will
form part of the fibre; or for high class material they may be omitted. 5
To remove the silex from the bamboo (should it be of older growth) I
subject the same to the action of hydrofluoric acid in a heated state,
diluted, or I inject a current of hydrofluoric acid gas.
The crushed material is subsequently to be immersed in a caustic or
other alkaline solution, which may afterwards be forced through the 1
fibre by steam pressure or otherwise, so as to produce any shade of
color between brown and white.
.
Should the plant be of younger growth the crushed fibro is to be
placed in a high pressure boiler, the pressure varying from about 60 to
100 pounds to the inch, and supplied with caustic solution, which I 1
make as follows:-For one ton of (material the proportions are two
parts by weight of caustic soda, one part of lime, 15 parts of water,
sufficient for the quantity required to boil, say from 6 to 8 hours,
depending on the age of the material. It is then afterwards cleansed
in hot water, with or without hydrofluoric acid or other suitable acid 2
to remove or neutralize the caustic, and then the cleansing may be
repeated in cold water. The material is then conveyed to a poaching
engine, with hot water and ten per cent. of chloride of lime, and when
ready transferred to bleaching tanks and afterwards steeped and pulped
preparatory to its being manufactured into paper.
2
The alkaline process, the acid process, bleaching, mixing with rags
or other materials, boiling, and other manipulations incidental to the
treatment of fibre and pulp may be carried on by any of the well known
means, and the bamboo and other analogous canes crushed in the first
instance and treated in the manner described will form a very superior 3
base for matter for the manufacture of paper. For the vegetable parch-
ment I submit the material to the same treatment, adding to it a
solution of sulphuric or other suitable acids ordinarily used for such
purpose.
In order to convert the fibre into a textile fabric for spinning and 3
weaving and other manufacturing purposes, having prepared the fibre
according to my former treatment I place it in a hydraulic press until

page_text: divested of moisture. I then pass it through plain rollers; it is then to
be carded ready for spinning or for conversion into various textile fabrics.
Or I put the fibre into a boiler, using a moderate infusion of hydro-
fluoric acid in the water, or an injection of hydrofluoric acid gas. After
about six or eight hours' treatment by boiling the fibres are to be
cleansed by washing in water with or without the addition of alkalies
in order to remove or separate the gelatinous, gummy, and resinous
matters; the fibre will then be left clean and disintegrated, to be
afterwards bleached, dried, and subjected to any ordinary suitable
machinery and process for reducing the fibre ultimately to a condition
for carding, spinning, and weaving, as required.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the
manner in which the same is to be carried into practical effect, I would
remark that I make no claim whatever, to the mere application of
bamboo or other analogous cane to the manufacture of paper pulp or
textile material, as there is no novelty therein; but what I claim and
desire to be secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters Patent
is, the method of treatment of bamboo or other analogous cane prin-
cipally by primary crushing and by subjection to hydrofluoric acid, or
hydrofluoric acid gas, to remove the silex, and by the further treatment
described in order to effect the objects of the Invention, substantially
as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Duff, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two..