THE PRODUCTION OF A NEW OR IMPROVED COLOURING MATTER FROM ANILINE
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Denton Abel, of No. 20, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, for the Invention of "THE PRODUCTION OF A NEW OR IMPROVED
COLOURING MATTER FROM ANILINE."-A communication from abroad
by Benoit Bloch, of New York, in the United States of America,
Manufacturing Chemist.
Sealed the 17th October 1868, and dated the 1st May 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Denton Abel
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st May 1868.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 20, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "THE PRODUCTION OF A
NEW OR IMPROVED COLOURING MATTER FROM ANILINE," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the production of a new colour from
aniline to be termed "aniline grey." For this purpose about two pounds
avoirdupoids of aniline are mixed with about ten pounds of liquid arsenic

page_text: acid, and this is heated in a suitable vessel, the compound being
maintained at boiling point until it thickens and rises, which completes
the operation. The vessel is then quickly withdrawn from the fire, as
otherwise the compound boils over, to prevent which a jet of cold water
may be introduced. The substance produced is thick and of a blackish
colour, and is insoluble in water. For purifying this substance about
eighteen quarts of water are mixed with the compound together with
about two pounds avoirdupoids of muriatic acid; this is boiled for about
half an hour and is then filtered; the substance to be employed remains
in the filter, being insoluble in water, which is allowed to flow away;
the substance is then again washed in boiling water, and for a third time
with a small quantity of carbonate of soda in solution, in order to
completely neutralize the acid, after which the substance is dried,
resulting in the production of a black powder. The solution of this
substance is effected in alcohol, about ten per cent. of sulphuric acid
being by preference mixed with the latter' for facilitating the solution;
this solution is filtered and the liquor is then used for dying, producing
beautiful greys of all shades, the bath being mixed with the requisite
mordants for that purpose. For dying wool and silk with this colouring
matter these should previously be steeped in a bath of water strongly
acidulated with sulphuric acid. A very small quantity of the grey
colouring matter is required for dying wool and silk, about five drops
being sufficient for a hank of wool.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Denton Abel in the Great Seal Patent 2
Office on the 28th October 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
DENTON ABEL, of No. 20, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 30
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Charles Denton Abel, Her special licence
that I, the said Charles Denton Abel, my exccutors, administrators, 3!

page_text: and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Denton Abel,
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
"THE PRODUCTION OF A NEW OR IMPROVED COLOURING MATTER FROM. ANILINE,"
a communication to me from abroad by Benoit Bloch, of New York,
in the United States of America, Manufacturing Chemist, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Denton Abel, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Charles Denton Abel, 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 thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object the production of a new colour from
aniline to be termed "aniline grey." For this purpose about two pounds
avoirdupoids of aniline at 190 degrees are mixed with about ten pounds
of liquid arsenic acid of 75 degrees, and this is heated in a suitable
retort or vessel, the compound being maintained at boiling point until
it thickens and riscs, which completes the operation. The vessel is then
quickly withdrawn from the fire, as otherwise the compound boils over,
to prevent which a jet of cold water may be introduced. The rising of
the compound is the best sign of the operation being completed. The
substance produced is thick and of a blackish colour, and is insoluble in
water. For purifying this substance about 18 quarts of water arc mixed
with the compound together with about two pounds avoirdupoids of
muriatic acid; this is boiled for about half an hour and is then filtered;
the substance to be employed remains in the filter, being insoluble in
the water, which passes through the filter and is allowed to flow away.
The substance is then removed from the filter and is again washed in
boiling water; and, finally, for a third time with a small quantity of
carbonate of soda in solution, in order to completely neutralize the acid,

page_text: after which the substance is dried, resulting in the production of a fine
black powder. The solution of this substance is effected in alcohol,
about ten per cent. of sulphuric acid being by preference mixed with
the latter for facilitating the solution. This solution is filtered and the
liquor is then used for dying, producing beautiful greys of all shades, the
bath being mixed with the requisite mordants for that purpose. For
dying wool and silk with this colouring matter these should previously
be steeped in a bath of water strongly acidulated with sulphuric acid.
A very small quantity of the grey colouring matter is required for
dying wool and silk, about five drops being sufficient for a-hank of
wool.
Having thus described the nature of this Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, what I claim is, the before-described new grey
colouring matter prepared from aniline and the process described for
producing the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Denton Abel, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of
October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-eight.