An Improvement in the Treatment of Textile Vegetable Fibres.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 15th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 5th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Treatment of Textile Vegetable
Fibres.
I ALFRED FRANCIS BILDERBECH GOMESS of 24 Alfred Place West South
Kensington in the County of London Chemist do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the treatment of textile vegetable fibres more especially
to those of the urtica or nettle family.
According to this invention I boil in a solution of caustic alkali and zinc
(preferably in the form of dust) so as to eliminate the epidermis pectose and
cementitious matter in order to render it more suitable for manufacturing purposes.
The zinc dust and alkali must be in such proportion that the oxide of zinc formed
shall remain in solution.
Dated this 13th day of January 1894.
BROWNE & Co.,
9, Warwick Court, Gray's Inn, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
An Improvement in the Treatment of Textile Vegetable
Fibres.
I ALFRED FRANCIS BILDERBECK GOMESS of 24 Alfred Place West South
Kensington in the County of London, 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 the treatment of textile vegetable fibres more especially
those of the urtica or nettle family.
According to this invention I boil the ribbons in a solution of caustic alkali and
zinc (preferably in the form of dust) so as to eliminate the epidermis, pectose, and
cementitious matter, in order to render the fibre more suitable for manufacturing
purposes.
The zinc dust and alkali must be in such proportions that the oxide of zinc
formed shall remain in solution. And in order that my invention may be better
understood I will now proceed to describe the same more fully.
In order to eliminate the lime, I first boil the ribbons for some hours in a solution
of zinc (preferably in the form of dust) and caustic alkaline base, the zinc being
in such proportion that the oxide of zinc formed shall remain in solution, after
which the said ribbons are boiled in a solution of a weak alkaline base (preferably
the hydrate) for about two hours, in order to loosen and partially dissolve the
epidermis and cementitious matter. I then wash the fibre in warm water and then
pass it through cold water before putting it into the bleaching liquor which latter
should be made as described in the Specification of my former Letters Patent
No. 18358 dated 13th October 1892, i.e. by soaking the fibre in a solution of

page_text: hypochlorite of an alkali and hydrochloric acid in such proportions that hypochlorous
acid and not chlorine is formed according to the equation 2 HCL and Na,O,CI' =
2 HOCL + 2 NaCl.
hypochlorite of an alkali and hydrochloric acid in such proportions that hypochlorous
acid and not chlorine is formed according to the equation 2 HCL and N₁₂O,CI³
2 HOCL + 2 NaCl.
=
The solution must not be too strong or the cellulose will be attacked and
damaged.
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
In the treatment of textile vegetable fibres the employment of a solution of
caustic alkali and zinc-substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this Fifteenth day of October 1894.
BROWNE & Co.
BROWNE & Co.
9, Warwick Court, Gray's Inn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.