Improvements in the Manufacture of Seed Cake or Cattle Food from Cotton Seed.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 4th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted. 4th May, 1889
Improvements in the Manufacture of Seed Cake or Cattle Food from
Cotton Seed.
We, ROBERT SIMPSON BAXTER, Merchant, and GEORGE DUNCAN MACDOUGALD,
Chemist both of Horse Wynd, Dundee, in the County of Forfar, North Britain, do
hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
Our said Invention has for its object to manufacture seed cake or cattle food from
cotton seed in an improved and economical manner.
The cotton fibres with which many varieties of cotton seeds are ordinarily covered
render cake made from such seeds unsuitable for cattle food if the fibres are present
therein in their natural condition; but in carrying out our Invention we convert or
alter the fibres so as to render them innocuous when present in the seed cake or
cattle food.
We may apply our process for rendering the fibres innocuous either to the unbroken
cotton seeds or to the husks separated from the kernels. The improved process
consists firstly in moistening the cotton fibre with dilute sulphuric acid or other
suitable acid or agent secondly in applying a heating and drying process, and thirdly
in removing soluble matters by washing.
In operating on 100 pounds unbroken cotton seeds we mix from 1 to 2 pounds
sulphuric acid of a strength of 110 degrees, Twaddell (or an equivalent quantity of
another strength) with sufficient water to allow of the fibres on the seeds being
slightly but uniformly moistened. In order to secure uniformity and completeness of
the moistening process we may subject the cotton seed to mechanical stirring or
agitation in any suitable apparatus. The heating and drying process, which may be
effected in any convenient way causes the acid or agent to act on the fibre in a manner
to alter or convert it into an innocuous substance. The proportion of acid may be
varied in different cases but we prefer to employ not more than what is sufficient to..
effect the desired alteration or conversion of the fibre.

page_text: The mechanical operations for manufacturing seed cake or cattle food are to be
effected in the ordinary way, excepting that instead of employing cotton seeds or
cotton-seed husks on which the fibre is in its natural condition, or from which it has
been removed, we employ cotton seeds or cotton-seed husks having on them fibre
altered or converted in the manner hereinbefore described.
Dated this First day of November 1888.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent,
Per pro David Ferguson.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Seed Cake or Cattle Food from
Cotton Seed.
We, ROBERT SIMPSON BAXTER, Merchant, and GEORGE DUNCAN MACDOUGALD,
Chemist, both of Horse Wynd, Dundee, in the County of Forfar, North Britain, 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, that is to say :-
Our said Invention has for its object to manufacture seed cake or cattle food from
cotton seed in an improved and economical manner.
The cotton fibres with which many varieties of cotton seeds are ordinarily covered
render cake made from such seeds unsuitable for cattle food if the fibres are present
therein in their natural condition, and numerous attempts have been made to remove
the fibres from the seeds before making the seeds into cake or cattle food, the various
processes and apparatus proposed for that purpose involving more or less expense and
inconvenience. By our Invention we convert or alter the fibres in a manner to render
them innocuous when present in the seed cake or cattle food. We do not do any-
thing specially to remove the fibres but may mention that a portion of them becomes
detached in applying our process.
We may apply our process for rendering the fibres innocuous either to the
unbroken cotton seeds, or to the husks separated from the kernels.
Our improvements in the manufacture of seed cake or cattle food from cotton seeds
consist in employing in that manufacture cotton seeds or cotton-seed husks the fibre
on which has been subjected to a process in which the fibre is, first, moistened with
dilute sulphuric acid, or other suitable acid or agent; secondly, is heated and dried;
and thirdly, is washed to remove soluble matters.

page_text: The precise proportions of the acid or agent employed will vary in different cases
and be dependent on the quantity of fibre on the seeds; but by way of example it
may be stated that in operating on 100-pounds of unbroken cotton seeds of an
average character, such for example as may have about 3 per centum by weight of
adherent fibres, we mix from to 2 pounds sulphuric acid of a strength of 110 degrees
Twaddell (or an equivalent quantity of another strength) with sufficient water to
allow of the fibres on the seeds being uniformly moistened. In order to secure
uniformity and completeness of the moistening process we may subject the cotton
seed to mechanical stirring or agitation in any suitable apparatus. The heating and
drying process may be effected in any convenient way, the time required being in-
versely in proportion to the strength of the acid. A temperature of 212 degrees
Fahrenheit is sufficient if maintained long enough to well dry the fibres; we have
however found that higher temperature may be employed if care is taken not to
expose the seed long enough to carbonise the fibre or injure the seed. By this beating
and drying process the acid or agent is made to act on the fibre in a manner to alter
or convert it into a substance which is innocuous when used as an ingredient in
cattle food. Whilst the proportion of acid or agent may be varied in different cases,
we prefer to employ not more than what is sufficient to effect the desired alteration
or conversion of the fibre. Any little superfluity of acid or agent is however re-
moved by the washing to which the seeds or husks are subjected before being used
in making cattle food.
Amongst other acids or agents which may be employed we may mention nitric acid
and hydrochloric acid but we prefer to use sulphuric acid, larger quantities of the
others being required and increased cost being occasioned by their use.
The mechanical operations for manufacturing seed cake or cattle food are to be
effected in the ordinary way, excepting that instead of employing cotton seeds or
cotton-seed husks on which the fibre is in its natural condition, or from which it has
been removed, we employ cotton seeds or cotton-seed husks having on them fibro
altered or converted in the manner herein before described. If desired the material
made from cotton seed as herein before described may be mixed with other suitable
ingredients to form cattle food.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
In the manufacture of seed cake or cattle food from cotton seeds, the employmen
of seeds or busks having on them fibre which has been altered or converted so as to
be innocuous by treatment with a suitable acid or agent substantially in the manner
hereinbefore described.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.