AN IMPROVEMENT IN BLEACHING RESINOUS SUBSTANCES (CALOPHANE) FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SOAP
Year: 1855

page_text: Chemist, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN BLEACHING RESINOUS
SUBSTANCES (CALOPHANE) FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SOAP."
Sealed the 3rd August 1855, and dated the 7th June 1855.
T. 26*
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Buncle at the
Office, of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th
June 1855..
I, JOHN BUNCLE, of Springfield, Linlithgow, N-B., Chemist, do,hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for. "AN IMPROVEMENT "IN. BLEACHING
RESINOUS SUBSTANCES (CALOPHANE) FOR THE MANUFACTURE, OF SOAP to be, as
follows:
"
This Invention has for its object an improvement in bleaching resinous
substances (calophane) for the manufacture of soap, and it consists in melting
the resinous substances by a-jet of- steam; or otherwise boiling the same with
caustic alkali, adding a little muriate of soda when boiling, and then passing
currents of air (heated or not) through the calophane, which is to be allowed
to stand for a short time, and is then to be ladled from the impurities which
descend to the bottom of the vessel: The calophane thus bleached is to be
used in the ordinary manner in making soap.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Buncle in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
December 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BUNCLE, of Springfield, Linlithgow, N. B., Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, 'in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Buncle, Her special licence that I, the said John Buncle, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Buncle, 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 "AN IMPROVEMENT IN BLEACHING RESINOUS
SUBSTANCES (CALOPHANE) FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SOAP," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Buncle, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, 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 John Buncle, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof (that is to say):
This Invention has for its object an improvement in bleaching resinous
substances (calophane) for the manufacture of soap, and it consists in melting
the resinous substances by a jet of steam, or otherwise boiling the same with
caustic-alkali, adding a little-muriate of soda when boiling, and-then passing
currents of air (heated or not) through the calophane, which is to be allowed to
stand for a short time, and is then to be ladled from the impurities which
descend to the bottom of the vessel. The calophane thus bleached is to be used
in ordinary manner in making soap..
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
The arrangement of apparatus I prefer to employ is as follows:-An open
boiler, capable of containing about 190 to 200 gallons, preferring that the

page_text: depth of such boiler should be greater than the diameter, but this is not
essential. This boiler is fitted with a perforated coil of pipe to admit of the
use of free steam to heat and boil up the contents, and also with a perforated
coil of pipe or other convenient apparatus to allow of air being brought into
contact with all parts of the fluid. Into this boiler I place about 110 gallons
of caustic alkaline ley, of a specific gravity of about 1.115.
1 I'would state that I find different qualities of rosin require different degrees
of strength of caustic alkaline ley. If the ley be too strong the rosin floats at
the top, and if too weak the rosin sinks to the bottom. It is desirable that
the rosin should neither float nor sink, but be distributed throughout the ley.
The workman will, however, with moderate attention and care soon adjust the
strength of ley to the quality of rosin he is treating; and when using free
steam as the means of heating and boiling, as above recommended, the -ley
should be, as above described, somewhat stronger than is actually required, as
the condensation of the steam weakens the ley; should external heat only be
used, the ley should be weaker.
When the bleached rosin is for hard soap, I employ a caustic soda ley; when
for soft or oil soap, I use a caustic potash 'ley. It is not essential that the
alkali should be caustic at the commencement of the process, as by using soda
ash or soda of commerce I find it becomes caustic in the process; I, however,
prefer to commence with caustic alkali. Into the quantity of ley above
mentioned as being placed in the boiler, I run melted rosin, about 2 cwt. 2 qrs.,
and in order to melt the rosin which is contained in barrels, I place a barrel
on a support over the boiler with the bung-hole downwards, and I introduce a
steam pipe of about one inch diameter through a hole at one end of the
barrel, and I pass high-pressure steam (say, of '30 lbs. on the inch,) through
such pipe, till the whole of the rosin has been melted and has been run into the
boiler below, during which time the ley and melted rosin in the boiler are to
be well stirred, by preference; by admitting free steam, which is supplied as
soon as the rosin has been allowed to run into the boiler from the barrel. The
steam is to be shut off when the rosin is dissolved in the boiler, which is generally
the case immediately after it has all been run into the boiler, and the mixture
should have the appearance of melted glue of a brownish color, of 'a depth. of
color according to the quantity of coloring matter in the rosin, the upper sur-
face. being white. About fifteen pounds of common salt is to be sprinkled over
the surface. The mixture is then in a condition to be acted on by atmospheric
air, which I believe to be most conveniently applied by being forced through
and amongst the mixed matters in the boiler-in-numerous streams by the
apparatus above described (though other arrangements may be resorted to,

page_text: subjecting, the, mixture in a divided state; to the action, of atmospheric air)
for about twenty to thirty minutes. I have, in practice employed the air at
the temperature of the atmosphere, as I have not found it more, beneficial to
heat it. By thus subjecting the mixture to the action of atmospheric air, the
mixture at first becomes white, and then begins to assume and ultimately
assumes a pinkish color and becomes flakey. The materials under process are
then allowed; to cool and settle for about 24 to 30 hours; when cold the liquid
part, is to be ladled out or run off by a syphon, and such, liquid (on being
purified in the manner in which soap-makers purify spent leys) may be, again
used; the bleached resin is to be removed from off the impurities by ladles,
and then to be well washed with clean cold water, having a small quantity of
common salt dissolved therein, say, about one pound in 10 gallons. The resin
is then in a condition to be, used by soap-makers in the ordinary manner.
I would-state that I have given the exact particulars of the combined pro-
cesses as practised, by me, but it will be evident that a larger, or less quantity
than that named might be treated at one time; and, although I prefer to use
free steam for heating, and boiling, up the alkaline ley and rosin, aafire or
external heating by steam or otherwise might be employed.
Having thus, described, the nature of my. Invention, and the manner. of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the details herein stated; but what I claim is, the bleaching of rosin by the
combined processes herein described in order to render the same. more suitable
for the manufacture of soap.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Buncle, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
F
Witness,
S. CARPMAEL.
JOHN BUNCLE
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