Improvements in Cleansing Wool and similar Materials.
Year: 1891

page_text: A may,
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cleansing Wool and similar Materials.
I, AIME GEORGE, of Puteaux, in the Department of the Seine, Republic of
France, Engineer and Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in cleansing raw or prepared wool, and
similar materials.
All the processes previously employed for scouring and washing raw or prepared
wool, and similar materials, by the use of solvents having an affinity for fat and
wax-like substances, and by the employment of water, have given unsatisfactory
results.
Wool taken indiscriminately without distinction as to its origin, condition or age,
cannot be practically or effectively cleaned by solvents, of which the following may
be named as examples:-Carbon disulphide, ether, chloroform, alcohol and liquid
hydrocarbons, such as benzol, rock-oil, etc.
The impurities in wool consist of, first, various fatty or waxy matters soluble in
the solvents above referred to; secondly, of a pitchy and glutinous matter insoluble
in the said solvents or in water, even if the latter be rendered slightly alkaline;
thirdly, matters soluble in water (such as salts of potash, etc.); and, fourthly, sandy
and carthy matters.
To one only of these various substances-the pitchy and glutinous matter-must
be attributed the unsatisfactory results of the processes previously employed. This
pitchy and glutinous substance, not being dissolved either by the above-mentioned
solvents or by water, adheres to aud agglutinates the wool to a considerable extent.
Even by the use of soap and hot water, a small quantity only can be removed, so
that the wool, before being carded and combed, would still contain the larger part
of this deleterious matter.
I have found that the said pitchy and glutinous substance is partially soluble in
solvents previously charged to a certain degree with fatty or waxy matter, and,
further, that it is easily decomposable in various salts and fatty or waxy matters by
acids; carbonic acid gas being the most suitable for employment, as this gas does
not injure either the wool or the fatty substances.
Treatment by solvents partially charged with fatty or waxy matter may suffice
for certain kinds of wool, but for many other kinds it is insufficient. Treatment by
carbonic acid gas and pure solvents (that is, solvents which do not contain any fatty
or waxy matter in solution) invariably gives excellent results. But to avoid
redistilling the solvents too often, there may be used, in conjunction with the
carbonic acid gas, impure solvents (that is, solvents which, through having been
previously employed, do contain a certain quantity of fatty or waxy matter in
solution).
The carbonic acid gas may be admitted to the wool through a pipe at the bottom

page_text: of the vessel in which the wool is being treated; the vessel being left open so that
the gas may freely escape after passing through the wool and solvents, or through
the wool alone before the solvents are added. If preferred, however, a closed
vessel may be used; the carbonic acid gas being forced into the same and allowed
to act, under pressure, on the wool either before or at the same time as the solvents.
The pressure may be regulated by permitting, if necessary, a portion of the carbonic
acid gas to escape through a pipe secured to the top of the vessel and furnished with
a stop-cock. This pipe may be utilized for admitting the solvents; the latter, after
having acted on the wool, flowing out through another pipe leading from the bottom
of the vessel and also provided with a stop-cock.
The pitchy and glutinous matter, owing to the combined action of the solvents
and of the carbonic acid gas, is decomposed into various fatty or waxy substances
and salts; the fatty or waxy substances being thereupon completely taken up by
the solvents. The salts of potash, etc., are subsequently removed by washing with
water; the fatty or waxy matters and the said salts being in this way separated
without any alteration. The sandy and earthy matters are subsequently got rid of
in the ordinary manner by using a large quantity of water without soap; but,
however, if the wool require reviving after being subjected to the treatment described
above, it is washed with soap and water, instead of with water only.
Wool treated in the above manner is perfectly scoured without undergoing any
injurious wear and tear or alteration in its nature, and less waste occurs than in any
other known system. It is more open, softer to the touch, can be more readily
carded, and yields a better result after combing than if prepared by any other
process, so that finer and better threads can be produced than was hitherto possible
from raw material of equal quality.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. In cleansing raw or prepared wool, and similar materials, subjecting the wool
or other material to the action of a solvent and of an acid, and subsequently washing
it with or in water, or soap and water, substantially as described.
2. In cleansing raw or prepared wool, and similar materials, with the aid of a
solvent (such as benzol) not containing fatty or waxy matter in solution, the
employment of an acid, (such as carbonic acid gas), substantially as described.
3. In cleansing raw or prepared wool, and similar materials, with the aid of a
solvent, (such as benzol) containing a certain quantity of fatty or waxy matter in
solution, the employment of an acid, (such as carbonic acid gas), substantially as
described.
4. In cleansing raw or prepared wool, and similar materials, with the aid of
solvents (such as benzol) respectively containing and not containing fatty or waxy
matter in solution, the employment of an acid (such as carbonic acid gas), substan-
tially as described.
Dated thin 17th da of 1001
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.