A New and Improved Process for the Treatment of Textile Vegetable Fibres, more especially those of the Urtica Family
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 23rd May, 1894-Accepted, 23rd Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New and Improved Process for the Treatment of Textile
Vegetable Fibres, more especially those of the Urtica
Family.
I ALFRED FRANCIS BILDERBECK GOMESS, of 24 Alfred Place West,
South Kensington in the County of Middlesex, Chemist, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
According to this invention I first loosen the epidermis by boiling the ribbons in
alkalies either with or without deoxidizing soluble salt by which the cementitious
matter is either wholly or partially removed I next render the epidermis brittle
or easily pulverisable by drying it or impregnating it by boiling in a solution of an
efflorescent (preferably neutral or alkaline) salt or otherwise impregnating it and
then drying, then pulverizing the epidermis previously rendered brittle, this may
be effected by rotating same in a suitable drum or otherwise.
In order to get rid of the pulverized epidermis I propose to rotate the ribbons
treated as above in a perforated drum or this may be effected by any other suitable
means.
I next wash in water preferably warm and then soak in a solution of a hypo-
chlorite or hypochlorous acid or other suitable oxidizing agent I next deoxidize by
suitable deoxidizing agents, boil in soap, wash, and then dry.
Dated this 23rd day of August 1893.
BROWNE & Co.,
9, Warwick Court, W.C., Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New and Improved Process for the Treatment of Textile
Vegetable Fibres, more especially those of the Urtica
Family.
I ALFRED FRANCIS BILDERBECK GOMESS of 24 Alfred Place West South
Kensington in the County of Middlesex 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:-
According to this invention I first loosen the epidermis by boiling the ribbons in
alkalies either with or without deoxidizing soluble salt by which the cementitious
matter is either wholly or partially removed. I next render the epidermis brittle
or easily pulverisable by boiling it in a solution of an efflorescent salt or otherwise
impregnating it and then drying, then pulverising the epidermis previously
rendered brittle; this may be done by rotating same in a suitable drum or
otherwise.
In order that my said invention may be better understood I will describe the
same more fully.
In order to loosen the epidermis, I boil the ribbons in a to 1% solution of
sodium carbonate for 3 or 4 hours so as to remove the greater part of coloring
matter and also a portion of the cementitious matter, the ribbons are removed from
this bath and boiled in a bath containing a strong solution of neutral sulphate of
soda until thoroughly impregnated, which will take about one hour, after which
they are dried; this causes the salt to effloresce, the epidermis and cementitious

page_text: matter may then be easily removed by beating. The fibre may then be bleached
by any known means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In the process for the treatment of textile vegetable fibres the employment of
an efflorescent salt for the purpose set forth.
2. The treatment of textile vegetable fibres substantially as set forth.
BROWNE & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.