Improved Process of and Apparatus for Bleaching Cotton, Linen,
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1886.
Complete Left, 27th May, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 28th June, 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by FEDOR VLADIMIROVITOH SERIKOFF and WILLIAM
EDWARD SMITH, both of Moscow, in the Empire of Russia.]
Improved Process of and Apparatus for Bleaching Cotton, Linen,
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of the firm of Harris and Mills of
23 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of the present invention is the bleaching of cotton linen and other
textures and fabrics by means of electrolysis, without the employment of chloride
of lime.
The textures fabrics or
The process is carried out in the following manner.
materials are put in a solution containing chloride of sodium, chlorato of potassium
(or sodium), and hypo-sulphite of sodium, tho proportion of the various chemical
substances varying with the nature of the materials to be bleached and the use to
which they are hereafter to be put.
The solution is then electrolysed. The gases evolved at the positive electrode such
as ozonised oxygen, oxides of chlorine, chlorine and sulphurous anhydrite react on
each other, and as a result of this re-action strongly ozonised oxygen and peroxide of
hydrogen are produced the surplus of chlorine being neutralized by the sulphurous
anhydrite. The solution is used in such a quantity as to fit it to absorb such an
amount of gases only as are necessary for the bleaching of the materials and so
calculated as not to impair their durability and at the same time to render the texture
closer. As the gases act in their nascent stage, the bleaching process is very rapid.
The apparatus used for this process as explained in the accompanying figures
consists of the following parts :-
At Figure 1 a represents a vessel which may be either of glass, stone, enamelled
metal or wood or other acid proof and non conducting material and which may be
of oblong, circular or other form. b is a partition which divides the vessel in two

page_text: •
parts, the smaller part which is from to of the whole space being used for the
negative electrode c; This partition does not reach to the bottom of the vessel a thus
allowing an intermixture of the fluids in the two parts; in circular vessels as
represented at Figure 2 the partition b may be placed in the middle thus giving the
central part for the negative electrode. is a positive electrode placed horizontally
thus allowing the gases to penetrate equably into the whole bulk of the materials to
be bleached. This can be made either solid or perforated, it should occupy almost the
whole of the bottom of the vessel and may be used in any shape to suit that of the
vessel. The carbon electrodes are made of dense coke. Figures 3. 4. 5. 6 and 7
represent various shapes of electrodes, d' is a conducting wire to the positive pole; it
passes through a glass tube d² the lower end of which is secured and sealed to the
carbon, thus protecting the wire against the action of the fluid.
When the bleaching is done the substances being bleached are washed out in water,
then in a solution of hyposulphite of sodium, and then again in water. In the same
apparatus on the negative side, wool can be washed, and should sulphite of sodium be
electrolysed, the part containing the positive polo can be used for bleaching silk and
wool, and the part containing the negative pole for washing wool, the electrodes being
transposed from one part of the vessel to the other by connecting them with the
positive or negative pole as circumstances may require.
The invention offers the following advantages namely 1. Rapidity and uniformity
of action owing to the horizontal position of tho positive electrode; 2. Durability
in the bleached materials. 3. Cheapness as the loss of chemical substances that form
the composition of the solution is very small considering the regeneration of the
same, when the electrolysis is over, and that the secondary substances such as the
soap used for the washing of wool and other material can be extracted and re-utilised.
Dated August 28th 1886.
B. J. B. MILLS.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings,
Agents.

page_text: and other Textures and Materials.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of the firm of Harris and Mills of
23 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex Patent Agent (a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Fedor Vladimirovitch Serikoff and William Edward
Smith both of Moscow in the Empire of Russia) 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 object of the present invention is the bleaching of cotton, linen and other
textures and fabrics by means of electrolysis without the employment of chloride
of lime.
The process is carried out in the following manner.
The textures fabrics or materials are put in a solution containing chloride of
sodium, chlorate of potash (or soda) carbonate of soda and glycerine, the proportion
of the various chemical substances varying with the nature of the materials to be
bleached and the use to which they are hereafter to be put.
The following formule give proportions of ingredients that have found to answer
well in the preparation of the bleaching solutions.
0
The concentration of the solutions may be varied according to the nature and
intended use of the materials to be bleached.
The solutions are treated as electrolytes and are subjected to the action of a current
of electricity; the materials to be bleached being immersed in the solution and
brought well into contact with a carbon electrode of large surface, so disposed as to

page_text: ensure the passage of the current through the pores or meshes or between the fibres
of the material.
For this purpose we employ a trough or vessel a such as that represented at
Figure 1 constructed of square, oval, circular or any other convenient shape, made of
non-conducting material such for example as glass, earthenware gutta percha or
any suitable material either wholly or as a lining which will be water-tight and resist
the action of the solution.
The trough or vessel is divided into two compartments by a partition or diaphragm b
of glass or other non-conducting material which does not quite touch the bottom of
the vessel a, but leaves a small clear space under it to allow the fluid or solution to
circulate between the two compartments. The partition or diaphragm b may be of
porous earthenware or perforated to effect the desired object of the circulation of the
fluid.
One division or compartment is of larger capacity than the other, the larger being
occupied by the material to be bleached and also containing the anode d, or positive
electrode while the smaller compartment contains the negative electrode or cathode c.
A vessel a of circular form is represented at Figure 2, the smaller vessel or cell formed
by the partition being placed in the centre thereof. Both electrodes are formed of
carbon of the usual dense kind used for electrical purposes and may be of any suitable
shape Figures 3. 4. 5. 6 and 7 show various forms of electrodes suitable for the
purpose.
The anode d is preferably placed horizontally thus allowing the gases to penetrate
equally into the whole bulk of the materials to be bleached and both electrodes are
connected to the conducting wires d'c' which are again connected to the terminals of
a dynamo machine or to suitable primary or secondary batteries of sufficient strength
to produce the current required for the work to be done.
The connection of the carbon electrodes with the conducting wires may be effected
by means of a gutta percha covered wire enclosed in a glass tube d' or other projection
from the fluid or by vertical rods of carbon well secured and sealed to the lower end
of the electrodes without the intervention of any metal; the top ends of these rods d
which are carried above the surface of the fluid, being connected in the usual way to
the conducting wires.
The electrolytic action is as follows, namely, at the positive pole oxygen is evolved
which becomes ozonised and oxides of chlorine, chlorine and carbonic acid react on
each other and strongly ozonized oxygen and peroxide of hydrogen are produced.
For the purpose of presenting every part of the material under the process of
bleaching to the electrolytic action the material is agitated, turned over, or otherwise
moved about and this movement is effected by hand or by rotatory or other
machinery.
The solution is used in quantities so adjusted as to absorb only the proper amount
of gases necessary for the bleaching of the materials under treatment, and so as not
to impair their durability.
The texture being also rendered closer by this process obviates the usual extra
process for this purpose.
As the gases act in their nascent state the bleaching process is very rapid.
To keep up the uniformity of strength of the solutions, while in use I sometimes
apply an automatic feeding apparatus by which means a gradual and continuous
supply of fresh solution is afforded while the exhausted 'fluid is gradually drawn off'
into vessels where it may be renovated and then used again.
When the bleaching process is completed the material is washod in water and then
in a solution of hyposulphite of sodium and then again in water.
I can also by this process wash wool in the compartment containing the negative
electrode. And for bleaching silk and wool, they are placed in the positive compartment
with sulphate of soda under electrolysis while the negative compartment may at the
same time be used for washing wool and the polarity can be changed if required by
merely transposing the conducting wires.

page_text: The residual products such as fatty and other matters may be collected and
utilized.
By means of this invention silk or other fabrics can be bleached after they are
woven or manufactured, that is to say, not only can the raw material be bleached but
the fabrics may be spun, woven or made into articles, or even dyed and they can still
be bleached by this process.
I would here remark that I do not confine myself to the exact constituents of the
solutions nor to the precise forms of apparatus herein described and shown as it is
evident that such may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of the
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The process of bleaching cotton, linen and other fabrics by means of electrolysis
aided by bleaching and washing solutions substantially of the character herein before
described.
2. In the process of bleaching cotton, linen and other fabrics by electrolysis, the
employment of apparatus consisting of a vessel such as a divided by partition such
as into two chambers one furnished with a negative electrode c, and the other
furnished with a positive electrode d to which the conducting wire d' is led through a
glass or equivalent protecting tube d' all in manner substantially as herein before
shown and described and for the purpose stated.