IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND DECOLORING JUTE, CHINA-GRASS, AND OTHER VEGETABLE FIBRES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Julius Sachs, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND
DECOLORING JUTE, CHINA-GRASS, AND OTHER VEGETABLE FIBRES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Julius Sachs at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th June 1880.
"IMPROVE-
JOSEPH JULIUS SACHS, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
MENTS IN PREPARING AND DECOLORING JUTE, CHINA-GRASS, AND OTHER VEGETABLE
FIBRES."
This Invention relates to the treatment of vegetable fibres, such, for example, as
jute, China-grass, and other like fibres, in order to render them more pliable and
less coloured, and therefore more suitable for spinning, weaving, the manufacture of
paper, and other purposes.
In carrying out my said Invention in order to effect this object I treat the fibres
with acids and alkalies, with or without the addition of other suitable chemical
substances; two modifications in the process of treatment being adopted according
to the qualities which the fibres possess, and the qualities which it is required to
impart to them.
According to one modification I steep the fibres well, in order to soften them, in
water containing acids, such, for example, as oxalic-acid, phosphoric acid, or similar
acids, or in water containing alkalies or suitable salts, such, for example, as silicate
of soda, or in water containing other substances the action of which tends to soften
the fibres, the process of steeping being carried on for a period of several hours at
the usual or at an elevated temperature, with or without pressure; or I soften the
fibres by beating, or squeezing, or pressing, with or without the above named or
other liquids, until they are sufficiently soft for the purposes of treatment to
which they are subsequently to be subjected. The chemical substances are next
removed by washing, and the fibres are freed as much as possible from water by
squeezing them between elastic or other rollers, or by other suitable means.
I then introduce the fibres, such, for example, as jute, China-grass, and other like
fibres, prepared as before mentioned, into a solution of caustic alkalies in water,
such, for example, as a solution of caustic soda, caustic potash, or chemical

page_text: -
.
substances capable of exercising a similar action on the fibres, to which solutions
may be added in order to modify their action other substances, such, for example,
as ammonia, borax, silicate of soda, or the like, if the qualities of the fibres require
it. As an example, such a solution may contain, according to the qualities of the
fibres, caustic soda in the proportion of, say, from 10 to 20 per cent., and ammonia,
borax, or other like substances in the proportion of, say, from to 1 per cent.
In such a solution the fibres swell and become transparent to a certain extent.
As soon as this point is reached the fibres are taken out and then passed
through a weak solution of suitable acids, such, for example, as acetic acid,
sulphurous acid, phosphoric acid, or oxalic acid, the strength of the solution
varying according to the qualities of the fibres and the quantity of caustic alkali
remaining in the fibres, which are either washed or not before they are submitted
to the last named acidulated bath. After this the fibros are well washed, and if
required to bo more pliable they may then be treated with soap, ammonia, Turkey
red, oil, glycerine, or similarly acting agent, and if necessary the fibres may bo
afterwards treated with animal substances, such, for example, as caseine, albumen,
and the like.
According to another modification of my process of decoloring vegetable fibres,
and rendering them at the same time soft and pliable, which modification is
especially adapted to jute, China-grass, esparto, straw, hemp, flax, and similar
materials, I treat such fibres with a solution of nitric acid at an elevated
temperature (which solution may contain small quantities of other acids) in order
to form nitro compounds with the coloring and other matters contained in the raw
fibres, which nitro compounds being soluble in alkaline solutions, or solutions of
alkaline earths, are extracted by such solutions.
In carrying out this process I, for example, steep the fibres in a cold or warm
solution of nitric acid, the strength of such solution varying with the degree of
inflexibility and coloration of the fibres; and to this solution may be added, in
order to modify the action of the nitric acid, small quantities of other acids, such,
for example, as oxalic acid, acetic acid, phosphoric acid, or other similarly acting
chemical substances.
"
⚫lf cold, or not sufficiently hot, the solution is raised to an elevated temperature,
at which it is maintained until the fibres discharge coloring substances, change
their color, and become soft. When these results are accomplished the fibres are
introduced (either directly or after having been washed) into a bath containing caustic
alkalies, or alkali-salts, or alkaline carths, or other like chemical substances,
which will combino with the coloring matters formed by the action of the chemical
agent which has been used to soften the fibre.
This bath is raised to an elevated temperature, and maintained thereat until the
coloring matters are extracted from the fibres and dissolved in the bath, and the
process of troatment in the bath is in some cases repeated. The fibres are
afterwards well washed until the color is discharged.
The coloring matters contained in the alkaline solution may be separated and
converted into coloring matters capable of being utilized.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Julius Sachs in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
December 1880.
IMPROVE-
JOSEPH JULIUS SACHS, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
MENTS IN PREPARING AND DECOLORING JUTE, CHINA-GRASS, AND OTHER VEGETABLE
FIBRES."
My said Invention relates to the treatment of vegetable fibres, such, for example
as jute, China grass, hemp, flax, and other like fibres, in order to render them curly
and elastic, more pliable and less colored, and therefore more suitable for spinning,
weaving, dyeing, the manufacture of paper, felt, and other purposes, either alone or
mixed with other fibres of vegetable or animal origin.
The Invention embraces two modifications, as hereinafter described.
According to the first modification of my said Invention I cut the fibres in
lengths varying according to the purpose for which they are intended to be used,
from, say, about 1 inches to 2 or 3 inches in one case, and from about 6 inches to
12 or 18 inches in other cases. After, or previously to this operation, I separate
the adhering fibres by pressure applied by elastic or other rollers, or by any other
Buitable means.
The fibres thus prepared are then treated with a bleaching agent in solution,
such, for example, as bleaching powder, chlorozone, or similarly acting agents, or
potassium, permanganate, the latter being followed by a suitable acid, such, for
example, as hydrochloric acid, oxalic acid, sulphurous acid, and the like.
After the bleaching solution has been drained off, or otherwise removed, the
fibre is brought into a curly and more elastic state by introducing it into a solution
of caustic soda or potash, or of any other material which will cause the fibre to
contract and to curl, such, for example, as zinc chloride, dilute sulphuric acid, and
the like.
In order to modify the contracting and curling action of these substances I
sometimes add to the caustic solution small quantities of other substances, such, for
example, as borax, sodium, silicate, ammonia, and the like, in the proportion of
Bay, from about one quarter to one and a half per cont. of the weight of the
solution, according to the qualities of the fibres and the kind of modification
intended.
The solutions should be of sufficient strength to act on the fibre in the manner
3 hereinbefore described; for example, the solution of caustic soda should contain,
Bay, from about 10 to 30 per cent. of sodium hydrate (Na OH), according to the
quality of the fibres.
The fibres remain in the solution until they appear to be sufficiently curly, which
result will usually bo accomplished in, say, from about 2 to 10 minutes. The
fibres are then freed from the solution by any suitable means, as, for example, by
squeezing between rollers, or by the use of an hydro extractor, or otherwise,
and are next treated with suitable neutralizing agents, as, for example, in case of
caustic alkalies having been used with acids, such as muriatic or sulphuric acid, or
the like, and in case of acids having been used in order to contract and cure the
5 fibres with alkalies, alkaline salts, ammonia, and the like, which neutralizing
agents are afterwards removed by washing, the fibre being subsequently dried
either at the usual or at an elevated temperature.
The fibres treated in the manner herein before described offer great facilities for
dyeing and printing, either used alone or mixed with other fibres, especially thoso
of animal origin, which qualities, combined with their curly wool like appearance,
render them very valuable in the production of imitations of textile fabrics,
especially as they can be combed and spun together with other (and in particular,
animal) fibres, such, for example, as wool and the liko.

page_text: According to the second modification of my said Invention for decoloring
vegetable fibres and rendoring them at the same time soft and pliablo, which
modification is especially adopted to jute, China-grass, esparto, straw, hemp, flax,
reeds, and canes, and similar materials, I treat such fibres with a solution of nitric
acid at an elevated temperature (which solution may contain small quantities of
other acids) in order to form nitro compounds with the coloring and other matters
contained in the raw fibres, which nitro compounds being soluble in alkalino
solutions, or solutions of alkaline earths, are extracted by such solutions.
In carrying out this process I, for example, steep the fibres in a cold or warm
solution of nitric acid, the strength of such solution varying with the degree of
inflexibility and coloration of the fibres, and to this solution may be added, in
order to modify the action of the nitric acid, small quantities of other acids, such,
for example, as oxalic acid, acetic acid, phosphoric acid, or other similarly acting
chemical substances.
If cold, or not sufficiently hot, the solution is, if necessary, raised to an elevated
temperature, at which it is maintained until the fibres discharge coloring substances,
change their color, and become soft. When these results are accomplished the
fibres are introduced either directly, or after having been washed, into a bath
containing caustic alkalies, or alkali salts, or alkaline earths, or other like chemical
Bubstances, which will combine with the coloring matters formed by the action of
the chemical agent which has been used to soften the fibre.
•
This bath is raised to an elevated temperature, and maintained thereat until the
coloring matters are extracted from the fibres and dissolved in the bath, and the
process of treatment in the bath is in some cases repeated. The fibres aro
afterwards wall washed until the color is discharged.
The coloring matters contained in the alkaline solution may be separated and
converted into coloring matters capable of being utilized.
The following is an example of the application in practice of the second
modification of my process:-
I
prepare a solution of, say, about 20 parts by weight of nitric acid of 1.4 specific
gravity in about 500 parts by weight of water, to which I add about one part by
weight of commercial acetic acid; in this solution I steep as much jute or other
fibre as the liquid can take up; then I raise the liquid to a boiling point, and
maintain it at that temperature for, say, from about three quarters of an hour to
ono hour. After that I remove the liquid and boil the fibre for, say, about one hour
in a solution of caustic soda containing, say, about 5 per cent. of caustic soda. Then
I remove the liquid and boil with fresh water until the fibre is nearly white; a
sample is then taken out and placed. in a solution containing, say, from 2 to 5 per
cent. of commercial hydro-chloric acid in water, and if the operation has been
sufficiently prolonged the sample will become perfectly white; if otherwise, the
fibres may be again treated as before. After that is accomplished the fibre is
washed with water several times, is passed through a solution of from 2 to 5 parts
of commercial hydro chloric acid in 100 parts of water, and then well washed with
water.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that I am aware that it has previously been
proposed to treat fibres with a solution of caustic soda, but in such cases the fibre
has been operated upon in its natural length, and has been submitted to the action
of the solution for a protracted period, and has, moreover, been subjected to n
multiplicity of preliminary and subsequent processes involving great expense; I
lay no claim therefore to the use of a solution of caustic soda except when the
fibres are prepared for such solution, and operated upon therewith as herein set forth,
but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. Rendering vegotable fibres curly, more pliable, and less colored, and
therefore more suitable for spinning, weaving, dyeing, and printing, by subjecting

page_text: them to the processes hereinbefore described according to the first modification of
my said Invention.
Secondly. The process of decolorising and softening vegetable fibres by forming
azo compounds of the coloring matters of the vegetable fibres by the agency of
nitric acid, and extracting such coloring matters, combining the said azo compounds
with bases such, for example, as the hydrates of the alkali metals, substantially in
the manner hereinbefore described according to the second modification of my
said
Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Julius Sachs, have to this my
Specification, set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of December, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
JOSEPH JULIUS SACHS. (L.S.)