IMPROVEMENTS IN THE EXTRACTION OF MUCUS OR MUCIL- LAGE FROM SEA-WEED AND OTHER MARINE PLANTS, AND IN THE PREPARATION AND EMPLOYMENT OF THE SAME
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas James Smith, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman,
and Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE EXTRACTION OF MUCUS OR MUCIL-
LAGE FROM SEA-WEED AND OTHER MARINE PLANTS, AND IN THE PREPARATION
AND EMPLOYMENT OF THE SAME." A. communication from abroad by Alexandre
Saint-Yves of Paris France. Gentleman.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas James Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th February 1879.
THOMAS JAMES SMITH, of the Firin of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents.
EXTRACTION OF MUCUS OR MUCILLAGE FROM SEA-WEED AND OTHER MARINE
PLANTS, AND IN THE PREPARATION AND EMPLOYMENT OF THE SAME." (A communi-
cation from abroad by Alexandre Saint-Yves, of Paris, France, Gentleman.)
The object of this Invention is the extraction of the mucillage contained in
marine plants, specially in sea weeds, and its employment for the preparation of
certain compounds suitable for various purposes.
According to this Invention this mucillage is extracted from marine plants
obtained on the European and other sea coasts. These plants are particularly
comprised in the "
Chondru" and "Gymnocondru" tribes of the "Gigartine
species, and in the "Lomentarie" and "Bonnemaisonnies" tribes of the "Chondrie "
species (J. G. Agardh's system of classification).
For the purpose of extracting this mucillage the marine plants above mentioned
are macerated in cold water; or a decoction is made with hot water or steam. It
is then filtered and the liquid is subjected to evaporation to concentrate it. The
product may be left in a state of mucillage, or it may be dried so as to form a
powder.
This marine vegetable powder may be used for the preparation of several
compounds, the most important of which will now be described.
Waters for toilet purposes may be made with this vegetable powder in a liquid
state; syrups may be made from it when in a viscuous state. It may be used in

page_text: the manufacture of alimentary products, for "sizing" fabrics, or in paper pulp when
in the form of jelly or paste. Finally, the powder may be employed in its natural
state for the destruction of the phylloxera, or may be introduced into soap tablets.
For its employment in a state of solution for toilet or bathing purposes 5 to 10
grammes of the marine vegetable powder of the above mentioned species are boiled
for 20 to 30 minutes in a litre of water. Two grammes of sulphate of zinc and half
a gramme of salicetic acid are put in; it is then decanted, a few drops of perfumed
essence are added, the whole well agitated or shaken, and then put up in bottles.
When employed in the form of jelly or in a gelatinous state for culinary and
alimentary purposes the powder is boiled in water or in milk in the proportion of
10 to 20 grammes per litre for a sufficient time for concentration. It may then be
sweetened and flavoured if required.
This jelly may be transformed into syrups by destroying its viscuousness by the
aid of a little tartaric acid. The syrup thus formed may be coloured if required,
cochineal being used for red, alum for violet, alkana for green, and for blue turn-
sol or litmus dye.
By increasing the quantity of powder the jelly is rendered more compact, and
pastilles or tablets are obtained by the addition in a mortar of sugar and vanilla or
other perfume, colouring it, rolling it on a marble slab, cutting it up, and then
drying.
For employing the powder as a "sizing" for fabrics it is boiled for 20 to 30
minutes, and refined by passing through a sieve or through bolting cloth; and, if
required, it is twisted to separate the mucillage from the cellular tissue; it is then
left to cool and decanted.
Moreover, the cellular tissue may be disaggregated if necessary by chemical
process, that is to say, by treating with acid, sulphuric acid for example.
For use in paper making the powder in solution is poured into the pulp, or the
paper when in sheet is dipped or immersed in the said mucus-powder in solution.
For the destruction of the phylloxera the powder is employed in a dry state on
the roots of the vine, which are exposed for that purpose. Thus in its various
applications this marine-vegetable powder serves as a base to products and for
preparing purposes. The mucus or mucillage is employed as a powder or as a
liquid. The sea-weed is dried and pulverized.
The mucillage may be also obtained by direct boiling of the plant in its intact
or non-macerated state, that is, in decoction.
Various substances may be added to the mucillage, such as starch and gums,
according to requirements.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas James Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
August 1879.
THOMAS JAMES SMITH, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of
166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
EXTRACTION OF MUCUS OR MUCILLAGE FROM SEA WEED AND OTHER -MARINE-
PLANTS,-AND-IN-THE-PREPARATION AND EMPLOYMENT OF THE SAME." (A communi-
cation from abroad by Alexandre Saint-Yves, of Paris, France, Gentleman.)
This Invention is based on the fact that nearly all sea-weeds may be profitably
utilized by reason of the amylaceous or emulsive and semi-guminy matters which
they contain in greater or less quantity, and the analogy existing in the chemical
composition of the jelly or gelatinous matter obtainable from most of them with
sugar and with fecula.
From this base a series of useful products have been manufactured with the
mucus or mucillage of sea-weeds, and which are intended to form advantageous
and economical substitutes for existing bodies, amongst which may be cited artificial
leather, transparent fabrics, and other products not hitherto attempted.
The method of carrying this Invention into practice will be fully understood by
the following description of the improved process employed for extracting the
mucillage or raw material of this new manufacture, and by a description of the
principal products obtainable from it.
The varieties of sea-weeds and marine plants containing the mucillaginous
matter before referred to would be too numerous to mention, but it will be sufficient
to indicate the sea-weeds belonging to the "Fucoidée," the "Floridée," and the
Zoosporée" classes, the "Carragahen," "Curled Chandrus," and other analogous
species, the "Iridea edulis," "Alaria Esculenta," and the "Rodijuanea Palmata,"
these being marine plants of "European seas."
"
Amongst the exotic plants may be cited the "Nosi," "Nouri," and the "Hai
Thao of the China and Japanese seas, the "Gigartina Speciosa," "Gracilaria
Spinosa," Australian lichens, the "Durvillea Utilis," or "Edulis," of Chili and the
Cape of Good Hope.
Whatever be the nature of these plants the method of extracting the mucillage
is the same for all, and is as follows:-
The plants or sea weeds are first subjected to a washing in cold or in hot water, or
in both; or to the water may be added either alcohol, lime wash, carbonate of
soda, or other agent, according to whether the plant chosen is more or less rich in
cellulose or in salts to be separated.
This operation should be preceded however by preliminary washings for the
purpose of purifying the algae or marine plants, and removing their brackish or
briny taste. These washings may be made in water to which carbonate of soda,
alcohol, vinegar, or lime wash has been added according to requirements.
The plant may, before extracting the mucillage, be dried and reduced to a powder,
according to the nature of the plant and the object in view.
In extracting the mucillage hot water is preferable to cold water, and steam
preferable to hot water.
The operation is preferably made in a boiler of conical shape in such a manner
that the plants or sea-weeds, either washed or in the powdered forin, are carried on
a diaphragm at a certain distance from the bottom, from which the steam or heat
is caused to arrive and mix with the mass of water. The quantity of water or of
steam should be in proportion to the acidity of the plant for the liquid, that is,
from ten to fifteen times the weight of the plant.

page_text: Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings represents one of the forms of boilers
employed for the extraction of the mucillage. This boiler A is of conical shape,
and is provided about the middle with two diaphragms B and C of wire gauze or
perforated sheet iron.
These diaphragms are movable and may be removed, and between them are
placed the plants to be treated. The action of the water is facilitated by stirring
or agitating by means of an agitator D', the shaft & of which is carried upwards
and worked by a crank handle F.
This apparatus is only described by way of example, as it may be of any other
spherical or cylindrical shape, and may be made of cast iron or other metal; it may
also be lined or not with porcelain, china, wood, or other material.
The mucillage is kept clear and transparent by mixing with water as much as
possible; and leaving it to settle, maintaining a temperature of 50° to 60° by means
of steam, or by placing the vessel in which the mucillage is contained into hot
water.
For this purpose a cylindro-conical vessel G (see Figure 2) is used provided with
a cock for withdrawing first the impurities which have deposited, and then the
mucillage.
The mucillage is then allowed to cool, and when in a state of jelly is employed
for various purposes, amongst other are the following:-
1. Transparent sea-weed or alga leather obtained running the mucillage onto a
slab and drying after previously adding an oleaginous substance or alcohol (alcool
tri-atonomique) in proportion to the thickness and suppleness desired.
2. Opaque sea-weed or alga leather obtained by the same process but with the
incorporation of suitable substances, such as chromate of potassa, porchloride of
iron for giving the desired opacity, colour, and resistance, and for its application, if
necessary, to muslin, gauze, paper, or other backing or support. The first of these
two leathers is intended to be used as a tracing material for architects and others,
as a chirurgical appliance, as a substitute for gutta-percha, sparadrap, English
taffeta, gold beater's skin, and may be also rendered adhesive and capable of
sustaining any medicinal incorporation or application.
The second of these leathers may be used for bindings, hangings, toys, and other
purposes, and may be stamped, goffered, shagreened, or made to imitate Morocco.
3. Sea-weed or alga sizing or dressing obtained in leaves or in powder at three
degrees of power for linen, coton, silk, or woolen fabrics, or for sizing paper.
4. Sca-weed soap, a purely vegetable product having a basis of soda in which
the mucillage replaces the grease or resin.
This soap may be obtained in a moist, dry, or powdered state, according to the
amount of concentration, and may be specially used by reason of its composition
and absolute purity in the manufacture of woollen, silk, cotton, or linen fabrics.
The soap, after being rinsed several times, constitutes a first dressing of the washed
fabric.
5. Sea-weed or alga, size or glue, serving as a hygienic substitute for the size
used by painters.
6. Sea-weed or alga bath, being a mucillaginous extract for toilet purposes.
7. Granulated sea-weed or alga in four degrees of concentration, the three first
enriched by azotic matters to be used for alimentary purposes, and the fourth to be
used in the preparation of alimentary pastes and sirups, and to be mixed with other
condiments, specially chocolate.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. As a new application the improved treatment herein before described for
extracting the mucillage from sea-weeds and other marine plants or alga.
Secondly. As new productions the various products manufactured with this
mucillage, specially the artificial or alga leathers, transparent or opaque, the sea- 5

page_text: weed or alga dressings, the sea-weed or alga soap, sea-weed or alga size, sea-weed
or alga bath for toilet purposes, the granulated sea-weed or alga, the sea weed or
alga chocolate, and all other similar productions.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas James Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of August, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy nine.
T. J. SMITH. (L.S.)