IMPROVEMENTS IN BLEACHING COMPOUNDS
Year: 1886

page_text: I, CHARLES TOPPAN, of the City of Salem, and State of Massachusetts, United
States of America, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN BLEACHING COMPOUNDS, 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 my invention is to produce a compound for bleaching cotton, linen,
and other fabrics composed of vegetable fibers or fiberous substances, such as raw-
cotton, flax, hemp, jute, wood-pulp &c., containing vegetable coloring matter, in a
convenient and very expeditious manner without reducing the strength of the
finest fibers.
I find by experiment, that the detergent properties of my improved composition
of matter is such, that the fabrics, goods, and fibers bleached thereby, are rendered
very soft and pliable, and also more susceptible to receive and retain colors, or
dyes, particularly such as belong to the class of aniline colors.
In carrying out my invention, I produce the new composition of matter about
as follows: Take three parts by measure of expressed oil of mustard-seed, three
parts by measure of melted paraffine, three parts by measure of caustic soda,
20° Baume, and thoroughly mix the same, so as to form a saponaceous compound.
Then take one part by weight of this compound, and two parts by weight of
pure tallow-soap, and thoroughly mix the same together.
To prepare the bleaching solution, add one ounce of the above compound to each
gallon of water contained in any suitable vessel, boiler, or keer, then add the same
quantity, or one ounce of sulphate of soda, to each gallon of water, then add one
fluid ounce of caustic soda, 20° Baume, to each gallon of water, then heat the
solution so as to dissolve the compound contained in the boiler, then immerse the
fabrics, goods, or fibers in the hot solution and close the vessel, then boil the same
sufficiently to bleach. The time required, will vary according to the kind and
quality of fabrics, or fibers being treated, and as the compound will not injure the
finest fibers, over-boiling will not detrimentally affect the same.
I find by experiment that the above compound has an affinity for the coloring
matter contained in cotton fabric, or raw-cotton, and similar vegetable fibers, and
that it assimilates therewith and dissolves the same, so that it is very quickly and
effectually freed and removed from the fiber of the cotton fabric or other goods
being bleached.

page_text: With this compound the process of bleaching cotton or linen fabrics, or similar
vegetable fibers in a superior manner, only requires from eight to ten hours,
whereas the common process requires about twenty-four hours to produce an
inferior result.
The tar-like coloring matter contained in raw-cotton, or cotton fabrics, and
similar textiles, and the pyro-ligneous acid contained in wood-pulp, are so very
fully and effectually dissolved and freed from the fibers and removed, by boiling
the goods in this solution, that they will remain perfectly white for a long time,
and will not turn yellow when carried in stock, or when exposed to the rays of
the sun an indefinite period, the bleaching is so thorough and permanent.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
The above described bleaching compound, consisting of expressed oil of mustard-
seed, paraffine, caustic soda, tallow-soap, sulphate of soda, and water, as set forth.
T
A 1 1000