IMPROVED PROCESSES FOR THE RECOVERY OF THE OLEIC ACID CONTAINED IN. THE RESIDUAL SCOURING WATERS OF WOOLLEN AND OTHER TEXTILE MATERIALS OR FABRICS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marc Antoine François Mennons, of the British
and Foreign Patent Offices, 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire
of France, for the Invention of "IMPROVED PROCESSES FOR THE RECOVERY
OF THE OLEIC ACID CONTAINED IN. THE RESIDUAL SCOURING WATERS OF WOOLLEN
AND OTHER TEXTILE MATERIALS OR FABRICS." -A communication from
Edmond Lepainteur, residing at Gallard, by Longeron, (Maine-et-Loire,.)
France.
Sealed the 11th July 1862, and dated the 1st February 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marc Antoine François
Mennons, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 1st February 1862.
I, MARC ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign Patent
Offices, 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France,. do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED PROCESSES FOR THE
RECOVERY OF THE OLEIC ACID CONTAINED IN THE RESIDUAL SCOURING WATERS OF
WOOLLEN AND OTHER TEXTILE MATERIALS OR FABRICS," to be as follows:-
The Invention communicated to me consists in a series of improved pro-
cesses by means of which the oleic acid removed in scouring operations from
woollen and other yarns or tissues may be recovered from the waters in which
these operations have been performed, and rendered applicable, as before, to
different manufacturing purposes.
The object of the first of these processes is to precipitate under the form of
an insoluble soap: the oleaginous matters contained in the water.

page_text: By the second, the soap thus formed is decomposed.
By the third, the oleic acid is separated from all the soluble salts formed in
the preceding operations, as also from the excess (if any) of the acid employed
to effect the decomposition.
By the fourth, the impure oleic acid is separated from the watery residues.
By the fifth and last, this acid is freed from the insoluble salts and foreign
matters which it may hold in suspension.
One of the most important applications of this Invention will be found in
the utilisation of the scourings of woollen yarns and fabrics, in the preparation
of which large quantities of oil are .consumed. I will, therefore, confine
myself to a description of the improved processes as applied to the residues
obtained in this branch of manufacture.

page_text: pension collects at the surface with the insoluble salts and animal substances
which may have escaped the action of the acid, while the sulphate of iron
remains in solution, and is recovered by evaporation in the ordinary way. In
this. process the sulphuric acid may be replaced by equivalents of other
mineral or even vegetable acids; but no practical advantage is gained by the
substitution
suitable bags, into which is poured the product of the preceding operation.
These bags, charged with the impure oleic acid, are suspended in chambers or
cases heated to from 25° to 30° (centigrade), and the filtered matter running
off is collected and preserved for use in suitable capacities. When the product
is intended for oiling wool to be spun, it may be taken at the completion of
the fourth operation; and, even if required, without driving off the water,
which it may hold in suspension.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th July 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARC
ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices, 39,
Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of February, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Marc Antoine François Mennons, Her special licence that I, the said
Marc Antoine François Mennons, my executors, administrators, and assigns,.
or such others as I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, 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 Invention for "IMPROVED PROCESSES FOR THE RECOVERY OF
THE OLEIC ACID CONTAINED IN THE RESIDUAL SCOURING WATERS OF WOOLLEN AND
OTHER TEXTILE MATERIAIS OR FABRICS," a communication from Edmond.
Lepainteur, a person resident at Gallard, by Longeron, (Maine-et-Loire,)
France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Marc Antoine
François Mennons, my executors or administrators, by an instrument. in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons,
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, that is to say:-..
The Invention communicated to me consists in a series of improved processes,
by means of which the oleic acid removed in scouring operations from woollen
and other yarns or tissues, may be recovered from the waters in which these
operations have been performed, and ren lered applicable as before, to different
manufacturing purposes.
The object of the first of these processes is to precipitate under the form
of an insoluble soap, the oleaginous matters contained in the water.
By the second, the soap thus formed is decomposed.
By the third, the oleic acid is separated from all the soluble salts formed in
the preceding operations, as also from the excess (if any) of the acid employed
to effect the decomposition.
By the fourth, the impure oleic acid is freed from the watery residues.
By the fifth and last, this acid is separated from the insoluble salts, and
foreign matters which it may hold in suspension..
One of the most, important applications of this Invention will be found in

page_text: In adopting as standard the scourings of wool oiled to seventeen per cent.
of its weight, one hundred and eighty-five gallons of the residual waters will
contain about forty-five pounds weight of oil, representing the amount con-
sumed in the treatment of two hundred and sixty-five pounds of the textile:
matter. To this quantity (185 galls.) of the scouring water in a suitable reservoir,
is added about twenty-two pounds of sulphate of iron, either in crystals or in
aqueous solution of any required density. On the addition of this reagent, a
double decomposition takes place. On the one hand, the oleate of potash or
soda held in solution by the scouring water is converted into oleic acid, and
potash or soda, while on the other the acid of the sulphate of iron takes up
the potash or soda thus liberated, forming a sulphate of one of these bases,
and the free oleic acid combines with the metallic oxide, forming an insoluble
oleate of iron. The decomposition being completed, the liquid is left to
repose. The insoluble soap comes to the surface, and when it has acquired a
certain consistency is removed and placed on a strainer of any suitable
description, to facilitate the desiccation. (If so desired, the sulphate of iron
in this process may be replaced by an equivalent of other metallic salts, such as
sulphates of zinc, copper, or alumina (alum), but the first-named substance
will be found to answer every purpose.)
2D OPERATION..
The impure oleate of iron obtained as above being mixed up with a small
quantity of water, is decomposed by the addition of about one-sixth part by
weight of dilute sulphuric acid, gauging, say fifteen degrees (Beaumé), and
the mass is heated until all the oxide of iron has combined with the acid,
forming a sulphate of that base. The liquid being then left to repose, the
oleaginous matter in suspension collects at the surface, with the insoluble
salts and animal substances which may have escaped the action of the acid,
while the sulphate of iron remains in solution, and is recovered by evaporation
in the ordinary way. In this process the sulphuric acid may be replaced by
equivalents of other mineral or even vegetable acids, but no practical advantage
is gained by the substitution.

page_text: This final process consists of a simple filtering through cotton or other
suitable bags, into which is poured the product of the preceding operation.
These bags, charged with the impure oleic acid, are suspended in chambers
or cases heated to from twenty-five to thirty degrees centigrade, (77° to 86°
Fahrenheit,) and the filtered matter running off is collected and preserved
for use in suitable capacities. When the product is intended for oiling wool
to be spun, it may be taken at the completion of the fourth operation,
and even if required, without driving off the water, which it may hold in
suspension.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and the manner in
which it may be carried into effect, I declare that I claim and desire to
protect by Letters Patent, the improved processes, substantially as herein set
forth, by aid of which, the oleic acid contained in the residual scouring waters
of woollen and other textile matters, may be completely extracted therefrom,
and rendered applicable as before to different manufacturing purposes.
In witness whereof, I, the said. Marc Antoine François Mennons,
have hereto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of July,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
two.