AN IMPROVED METHOD OF PURIFYING AND CONCENTRATING THE COLORING MATTER OF MADDER, MUNJEET, AND SPENT MADDER
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Joseph Hughes, of Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF PURIFYING AND CONCENTRATING THE
COLORING MATTER OF MADDER, MUNJEET, AND SPENT MADDER."-A
communication.
Sealed the 28th March 1853, and dated the 8th October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Joseph
Hughes at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 8th October 1852.
I, EDWARD JOSEPII HUGHES, of Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF PURIFYING AND CONCENTRATING THE COLORING
MATTER OF MADDER, MUNJEET, AND SPENT MADDER" to be as follows:-
The putting of fine ground madder, munjeet, or spent madder, either in
their natural state, washed, or fermented, either in concentrated sulphuric
acid or in a mixture of water and concentrated sulphuric acid, in which
mixture the sulphuric acid must preponderate in different proportions,
according to the effect desired, which acid or which mixture must be
perfectly cold before adding the madder, munjeet, or spent madder, and

page_text: care must be taken that the temperature is not raised to more than about
125° Fahrenheit during the process of adding the madder, munject, or
spent madder.
When the aforesaid mixture forms a paste some water
must be added with the material, and then the whole must be thrown
into a large quantity of cold water and repeatedly washed until the acid
is completely washed out. To the last washing may be added for some
purposes some soda, chalk, or ground madder, containing chalk or other
ingredient of similar quality or nature, so as fully to neutralize the acid;
the material must then be pressed, dried, and ground. I wish it to be
distinctly understood that this is merely an outline description of this
invention or improvement, which I will more fully explain in my
Complete Specification.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Joseph Hughes in the Great Seal
Patent Office, on the 8th April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1,
EDWARD JOSEPH HUGHES, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, and in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Edward Joseph Hughes, Her special
license that I, the said Edward Joseph Hughes, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Joseph Hughes,
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, com-
municated to me from abroad, of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF PURIFYING
AND CONCENTRATING THE COLORING MATTER OF MADDER, MUNJEET, AND
SPENT MADDER," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,. the said

page_text: Edward Joseph Hughes, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same 'was to be
performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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, as reference being thereunto had will more fully and
at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Joseph Hughes, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement (that is to say):
Instead of treating munjeet, madder, or spent madder with a moderate
quantity of concentrated acid and water, turning to account the heat
generated by the acid and water, and then applying steam to produce
articles usually known in the trade as guarancine or guaranceux, I take
concentrated acid, and add twenty to twenty-five per cent. of water,
which mixture must be left to become quite cold; I then add in a slow
and careful manner, so as not to raise the temperature beyond about
one hundred and twenty-five degrees Fahrenheit, to one hundred parts
weight of the said mixture thirty-five to forty parts weight of spent
madder or of madder or munjeet, which madder or munjeet must be
previously well washed or fermented and then washed; the fermenta-
tion to be effected by any of the usual processes, but not to be continued
so as to reach the point of acid fermentation. When the aforesaid
mixture forms a paste or thickish substance I dilute it with some
water, and then throw it immediately into a large quantity of cold water,
stirring it continually, and then wash the acid out. To the last washing
it is well to add some neutralizing matter, such as chalk, soda, or other
ingredient, to effect the complete neutralization of the acid. The
material may then be pressed, dried, and ground.
Having thus described the nature and particulars of the said Invention,
I desire it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the
exact details herein described, nor to the precise proportions of water,
mixture, or material herein mentioned, as such may be varied or modified
without departing from the principle thereof; but I claim as new, and

page_text: which, to the best of my knowledge and belief, has not been used
within this realm, the method of purifying and concentrating the
coloring matter of madder, munjeet, and spent madder, as herein
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Joseph Hughes, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of April,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
EDWARD JOSEPH HUGHES. (L.8.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the within-named Edward
Joseph Hughes, in the
EDWARD JOSEPH HUGHES. (L.B.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the within-named Edward
Joseph Hughes, in the
presence of
JOHN BLOODWORTH,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.