A NEW, OR IMPROVED, PROCESS OF BLEACHING COTTON CLOTH AND OTHER FABRICS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest de Pass, of the Office for British and Foreign
Patents, 68 Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent, for an
invention of "A NEW, OR IMPROVED, PROCESS OF BLEACHING COTTON CLOTH
AND OTHER FABRICS, Communicated to him from abroad by George D, Davis,
of Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest de Pass at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th June 1882.
ERNEST DE PASS, of the Office for British and Foreign Patents, 68 Fleet Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agent, A NEW, OR IMPROVED, PROCESS OF
BLEACHING COTTON CLOTH AND OTHER FABRICS, Communicated to me from
abroad by George D. Davis, of Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States of
America,
This new or improved process consists in boiling cotton cloth or other fabrics,
a reasonable time in a kier, in a solution made by dissolving a compound com-
posed of certain proportions of any of the products of petroleum, (by preference
paraffine), the expressed oil of mustard seed, and an alkali, forming a kind of soap,
or saponaceous matter.
It is immaterial whether the fabric remains in the boiling mixture 3 or 13 hours,
the object being to destroy the vegetable colouring matter. It is also immaterial
whether 1000 lbs, or 3000 lbs, of the mixture or compound, per ton of fabric, bo
used, the only thing being that the stronger the solution, the less will be the time
required to complete the work.
After the fabrio has been boiled, say 3 or 4 hours, the solution is withdrawn
from the kier, and pure hot water is forced through the fabric. The fabric is then
taken out, and run through cold water, after which it is put through a chlorine
solution of almost any reasonable degree of strength, but preferably of 2 or 3 degrees.
The fabric is then passed through rollers, which press out most of the chlorine
solution, and it is then allowed to remain in a pile through the night. The
following morning the fabric is thoroughly rinsed, and the bleaching is completed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Ernest de Pass in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th December
1882.
ERNEST DE PASS, of the Office for British and Foreign Patents, 68 Fleet Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agent, A NEW, OR IMPROVED, PROCESS OF
BLEACHING COTTON CLOTH, AND OTHER FABRICS. Communicated to me from
abroad by George D, Davis, of Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States of
America
This Invention relates to a new or improved process of bleaching cotton cloths,
and other fabrics, in which is employed a saponaceous solution, or composition,
made and applied, as hereinafter described, whereby the said process of bleaching
can be more rapidly and efficaciously performed, than heretofore. In the ordinary
processes of bleaching, by means of chlorine, and its compounds, the process is
comparatively long, and when shortened, by intensifying the action of the
chlorine, the material operated upon is injured, whereas by my improved
process, and the use of the improved agents employed by me the process is very
much shortened, without doing injury to the material from which the colour is
discharged.
For the purpose of this Invention, a composition, or soap, or saponaceous
mixture, is first prepared, by mixing the requisite proportions of the products of
petroleum (such as paraffine), together with the expressed oil of mustard seed,
(genus sinapis nigra), and an alkali, this last named ingredient being employed for
the purpose of forming a saponaceous material, as will be readily understood by
persons experienced in the manufacture or preparation of such materials.
The composition, or soap, formed as above described, is dissolved in hot water,
and in or about the proportions hereinafter mentioned, so as to form a solution ;
and the material to be bleached is placed in a kier, or other like vessel, containing
this solution, and is boiled therein for a suitable time, say from 2 to 5 hours, or
even longer, the time being dependent upon the thickness and texture of the material
undergoing treatment. The object of boiling the material in this solution is to
remove such substances as tar, resin, wax, or other similar substance surrounding
the fibres, and with them such colouring matters as aro combined therewith, and
thereby to partially bleach or remove colour, and preparo the said material for
what is technically termed "chemicking."
After the material intended to be bleached has been boiled, as above stated in a
solution, such as is above described, the solution is withdrawn from the kier, or
other like vessel, and pure hot water is forced through the material, which
material is then taken out and run through cold water, after which it is put
through a solution of chloride of lime, of any reasonable density or strength, but
preferably of about 2° or 3° Baumé.
The material is next passed through rollers, which press out most of the chlorine
solution, and it is then allowed to remain in a pile from 6 to 12 hours. The
material should then be rinsed in cold water, after which it is immersed in a bath
consisting of weak sulphuric acid and water, and technically known in the ordinary
process of bleaching as "sour," the object being to remove all remaining traces of
chlorine. The material is then again thoroughly rinsed, and the bleaching operation
is completed.
The proportions of the ingredients forming the composition, or soap, or sapona-
ceous mixture, which I have found to answer satisfactorily, in bleaching cotton
goods, are as follows:-
Equal parts, by measure, of good quality Paraffine wax liquefied by heat, the

page_text: expressed oil of mustard seed; and an alkali, at a density of 20° Beaumé, to give
consistency to the mass, and allow of its being handled conveniently. The alkali
I find beneficial is white rock potash, but if it be preferred, caustic soda, of a good
quality, may be used, and of this caustic soda / as much, by measure, compared
with the potash at same density should be used."
Instead of paraffine wax, paraffine oil may be used, but the use is not so
advantageous, and it is not recommended. Again, instead of oil of mustard, into
the composition of which sulphur enters, other oils such as oil of garlic may be
used, but oil of mustard may be used more advantageously, as it is cheaper and
efficient for my purpose.
The amount of this soap, or saponaceous mixture, to be used varies according to
the texture and quality of the goods to be bleached. If a very coarse fabric is
being treated, a greater quantity of the soap must be used, than if a material of
fine quality or texture were treated; for instance, in treating coarse cotton cloths
I use 1 lb, of soap, to 10 lbs, of cloth, and in treating fine cotton cloth I use 1 lb, of
soap to 15 or 20 lbs, of cloth.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claila,
1. The herein described process of bleaching cotton cloths, and other fabrics,
whereby the removal of colour, required to be removed, is greatly expedited, and is
effected in a better manner than heretofore.
2. The use in the process of bleaching, or removing colour from cotton cloths,
and other fabrics, in the manner above indicated, of the composition or soap, or
saponaceous mixture, composed of products of petroleum, such as paraffine, and in
particular liquefied paraffine wax, combined with the expressed oil of mustard seed,
or equivalent oil, and an alkali, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof I the said Ernest de Pass, have hereunto set my hand-
and seal, this 21st day of November, in the year 1882.
ERNEST DE PASS (LS)