TREATING VEGETABLE FIBROUS MATTERS TO RENDER THEM APPLICABLE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER AND PASTEBOARD, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Théodore Coupier, of Paris, in the Empire of
France, Chemist, for the Invention of "TREATING VEGETABLE FIBROUS
MATTERS TO RENDER THEM APPLICABLE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER AND
PASTEBOARD, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 3rd September 1858, and dated the 12th March 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. left by the said Jean Théodore Coupier
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th March 1858.
I, JEAN THEODORE COUPLER, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Chemist,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "TREATING VEGETABLE
FIBROUS MATTERS TO RENDER THEM APPLICABLE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER.
AND PASTEBOARD, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to a new method of boiling, washing in lye, and
reducing fibrous vegetable matters to pulp suitable for the manufacture of
paper, pasteboard, &c. This new method relates to the use of superheated
steam.
For this manufacture of paper, pulpy pasteboard, &c., I use all kinds of
straw, cane, reed, the dwarf palm, maize straw, jute, &c., that is to say, in
general all vegetable matters of a fibrous cellular tissue.

page_text: Taking straw, for example, either of rye, oats, or barley: the straw, afte
being threshed, is thoroughly cleansed from extraneous herbs, and choppe
up by means of a chaff cutting or other suitable machine into pieces betwee
one and two inches in length, and then bolted or sifted to free it from the
earth and dust generally combined with straw. After this operation the strav
is placed in a tub, in order to be soaked therein by means of a solution o
caustic soda (at the maximum), the weight of the carbonate of soda repre
senting sixty per cent. of the straw employed, supposing this straw to be in a
dry state. The liquor intended to soak the straw represents, in liquid, about
eight quarts for every two and a half pounds of straw; this liquor should be
raised to a temperature of from one hundred and seventy-six to one hundred
and ninety-four degrees, Fahrenheit, before being introduced into the straw.
B. The soaking requires on an average twelve hours, after which the liquor
is drawn off and deposited in boilers, to be concentrated therein, and afterwards
removed thence to reverberatory furnaces to be incinerated. This operation
is intended to recover the greater part of the soda previously employed; it
may be about eighty-five per cent. after incineration. The tubs or vessels
serving for the soaking and boiling are each furnished with a false bottom
placed four inches from the bottom. This double bottom should be furnished
with one or several rows of holes of about two-fifths of an inch in diameter,
intended to allow the liquid contained in the straw to flow away and go thence
into the vessels intended to receive it.
A. At the upper part of the double bottom, and communicating with the
space left free between the bottom and false bottom, are some copper tubes,.
placed about two feet apart, and rising nearly half the whole height of the tub;
these tubes are pierced with small holes intended to admit the steam through
the mass of straw contained in the vat, and distribute it as uniformly as
possible. These vats or tubs are furnished at their lower part with cocks,
intended for the introduction of steam, as well as for the escape of the liquid.
In addition they are furnished with a lid at their upper part closing them
hermetically.
C. These tubs are connected together by copper tubes proceeding from the
upper part of one to the lower part of the other. This tube is intended to put
the tubs in communication with each other. The soaking having been
effected and the liquor drawn off, the boiling is operated by causing a current
of superheated steam to enter the vat below the false bottom; this steam is
distributed in the mass of straw by means of the tubes placed on the double
bottom, as mentioned in part A. This operation requires eight hours on an

page_text: average, during which time the liquid which runs from the straw is collected
and added to the liquor that has been drawn off arising from the soaking
process; these liquids are then treated as described in part B. The quantity
of liquor suitable to be treated for the regeneration of the soda is on an average
about nine thousand quarts for every two thousand five hundred pounds of
straw. The washing of the straw is immediately proceeded with; it is effected by
means of the waste steam resulting from the boiling of a subsequent operation
and passing from one vat to the other by means of the tube of communication
referred to in part C, and passing from the upper part of the boiling tub to the
lower part of the tub containing the straw to be washed. The washing with
steam being terminated, the washing with hot water is proceeded with until
the water flowing from the straw is clear, which indicates the end of the
operation. This washing being terminated, the straw is removed from the tub
and placed in cylinders, in order to undergo the necessary trituration therein,
and be reduced to pulp, which operation does not require more than from
twenty-five to thirty minutes. The pulp in this state is really to be bleached
by the ordinary processes, and by the aid of a quantity of liquid chloride of
lime, in the proportion of fifteen per cent. of the weight of straw used. This
pulp thus bleached and unbleached may be used for the manufacture of grey
and white paper, and mixed in any proportions with the pulp of rags.
Boiling or treating by means of superheated steam offers the following
advantages over other modes :-
First, capability of attaining a very high temperature without proportionally
augmenting the atmospheric pressure.
Secondly, boiling the straw more uniformly and more rapidly.
Thirdly, extracting the colouring matters with greater facility and more
perfectly.
Fourthly, collecting with greater facility and in greater quantity the soda
which has been used for the soaking of the straw.
It also results in the following further advantages :-
First, important economy in the chlorine necessary for the bleaching.
Secondly, economy in the fuel employed for the regeneration of the soda.
By using superheated steam for boiling the straw I obtain a sufficient
quantity of steam for effecting the washing of the boiled straw, and also for
procuring the hot water necessary for the last washings, and this without
increase of expense.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jean Théodore Coupier in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th September 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JEAN
THEODORE COUPIER, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Chemist, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Jean Théodore Coupier, Her special licence that I, the said
Jean Théodore Coupier, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Jean Théodore Coupier, 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 Isle of Man, an In-
vention for "TREATING VEGETABLE FIBROUS MATTERS TO RENDER THEM APPLICABLE
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER AND PASTEBOARD, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jean
Théodore Coupier, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particu-
larly 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 Jean Théodore Coupier, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement (that is to say) :-
My Invention relates to a new method of boiling, washing in lye, & reducing
Abrous vegetable matters to pulp, suitable for the manufacture of paper,
pasteboard, &c., which new method consists in the use of superheated steam
for that purpose. For this manufacture of paper pulp, pasteboard, &c., I use
all kinds of straw, cane, reed, the dwarf palm, maize straw, jute, &c., that is
to say, in general all vegetable matters of a fibrous cellular tissue.
Taking straw, for example, either of rye, oats, or barley: the straw, after

page_text: being thrashed, is thoroughly cleansed from extraneous herbs, & chopped up by
means of a chaff cutting or other suitable machine into pieces of one or two
inches in length, & then bolted or sifted to free it from the earth & dust
generally combined with straw. After this operation the straw is placed in a
tub or vat with a double-bottom, in order to be soaked therein by means of a
solution of caustic soda (at the maximum), the weight of the carbonate of soda
representing sixty per cent. of the straw employed, supposing this straw to be
in a dry state. The liquor intended to soak the straw represents in liquid
about eight quarts for every two & a half pounds of straw. This liquor should
be raised to a temperature of from one hundred & seventy-six degrees to one
hundred and ninety-four degrees Fahrenheit, or even up to the boiling point,
before being introduced into the straw.
B. The soaking requires on an average twelve hours, after which the
liquor is drawn off & deposited in boilers to be concentrated therein, &
afterwards removed thence to reverberatory furnaces to be incinerated. This
operation is intended to recover the greater part of the soda previously em-
ployed; it may be about eighty-five per cent. after incineration. The tubs
or vessels serving for the soaking & boiling are each furnished with a false
bottom placed four inches from the bottom. This double bottom should be
furnished with one or several rows of holes of about two-fifths of an inch in
diameter, intended to allow the liquid contained in the straw to flow
away &
go thence into the vessels intended to receive it.
A. At the upper part of the double bottom, & communicating with the
space left free between the bottom & false bottom, are some copper tubes,
placed about two feet apart, & rising nearly half the whole height of the tub;
these tubes are pierced with small holes intended to admit the steam through
the mass of straw contained in the vat, and distribute it as uniformly as possible.
These vats or tubs are furnished at their lower part with cocks, intended
for the introduction of steam as well as for the escape of the liquid; in
addition, they are furnished with a lid at their upper part, closing them
hermetically.
C. These vats are connected together by copper tubes proceeding from the
upper part of one to the lower part of the other; this tube is intended to put
the vats in communication with each other. The soaking having been effected
& the liquor drawn off, the boiling is effected by causing a current of super-
heated steam to enter the vat below the false bottom; this steam is distributed
in the mass of straw by means of the tubes placed on the double bottom, as
mentioned in part A. This operation requires eight hours on an average;

page_text: during which time the liquid which runs from the straw is collected & added
to the liquor that has been drawn off resulting from the soaking process; these
liquids are then treated as described in part B. The quantity of liquor suitable
to be treated for the regeneration of the soda is, on an average, about nine
thousand quarts for every two thousand five hundred pounds of straw. The
washing of the straw is immediately proceeded with; it is effected by means of
the waste steam resulting from the boiling of a subsequent operation, &
passing from one vat to the other by means of the tubes of communication referred
to in part C, & from the upper part of the boiling tub or vat to the lower part
of the tub containing the straw to be washed. This washing is performed
usually in about forty-eight hours. The washing with steam being terminated,
the washing with hot water is proceeded with until the water flowing from the
straw is clear, which indicates the end of the operation. This washing being
terminated, the straw is removed from the tub or vat & placed in cylinders, in
order to undergo the necessary trituration therein to reduce it to pulp, which
operation does not require more than from twenty-five to thirty minutes. The
pulp in this state is ready to be bleached by the ordinary processes, & by the
aid of a quantity of liquid chloride of lime, in the proportion of fifteen per
cent. of the weight of straw used. The straw thus bleached or unbleached
may be used for the manufacture of grey or brown & white papers, & mixed
in any proportion with the pulp of rags.
Boiling or treating by means of superheated steam, offers the following
advantages over other modes:
1stly. Capability of attaining a very high temperature without proportion-
ately augmenting the atmospheric pressure.
2ndly. Boiling the straw more uniformly & more rapidly.
3rdly. Extracting the colouring matters with great facility & more perfectly.
4thly. Collecting with greater facility & in greater quantity the soda whichi
has been used for the soaking of the straw.
This mode of operating results in advantages in point of economy: 1stly,
important economy in the chlorine necessary for the bleaching; 2ndly,
economy in the fuel employed for the regeneration of the soda. By using
superheated steam for boiling the straw, I obtain a sufficient quantity of
steam for effecting the washing of the boiled straw & also for procuring
the hot water necessary for the last washings, & this without increase of
expense.
Having described the nature of my Invention, & the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention, is the boiling or

page_text: treating, the washing in lye, & the reduction by means of superheated steam
of all fibrous vegetable materials suitable for forming pulps of paper, card-
board, & other like manufactures.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Théodore Coupier, have hereunto
set my hand & seal, this Eighth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred & fifty-eight.
J. T. COUPIER. (L.S.)