AN IMPROVED SOLID LYE FOR WASHING AND BLEACHING LINEN
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Charles Henderson, of G, Southampton Buildings,
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED SOLID LYE FOR WASHING AND BLEACHING LINEN." A com-
munication from abroad by Cerf Mayor Lévy and Gustave Alexandre,
Chemical Manufacturers, of the City of Paris, in the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Charles Henderson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th May 1878.
ARTHUR CHARLES HENDERSON, of 6, Southampton Buildings, Hollorn, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED SOLID LYE FOR WASHING
AND BLEACHING LINEN." A communication from abroad by Cerf Mayer Lévy and
Gustave Alexandre, Chemical Manufacturers, of the City of Paris, in the Republic
of France.
The subject of the present Invention is a combination of special substances,
forming a solid product, which is economical and eminently fit for washing linen,
bleaching stuffs, and in analogous uses.
In making this solid lye the proportions of the ingredients are as follow:-
40 kilogrammes of soda salt.
10
do.
of resin.
50
do.
12
do.
of silicate of soda or potash according to circumstances.
of fucus jelly (more or less).
It should be here mentioned that 1 kilogramme is equivalent to 2.205 lbs.
avoirdupois.
By fucus jelly is meant the residue of a solution of fucus made into jelly.
It should be remarked that these quantities may vary a little, and the salts may
be changed; for instance, in place of the salts of soda or potash, pure carbonate of
soda may be used.
With the four above-named substances is made (by preference hot) a perfectly
homogeneous mixture, whether by use of a churn or a mill of some kind, or some,
D137

page_text: equivalent. A solid paste is thus obtained which it suffices to allow to harden to
fit it for commerce.
If desired this paste may be moulded into cakes of various forms and dimensions.
This solid lye is easily rendered soluble in hot water.
One of the great advantages of this solid lye is that it is neither caustic or violent 5
like the soda salt or potash lyes, and saves soap, is quicker in washing and better
for bleaching, and is considerably cheaper than the lyes in present use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Arthur Charles Henderson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th November 1878.
ARTHUR CHARLES HENDERSON, of 6, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED SOLID LYE FOR WASHING
AND BLEACHING LINEN." A communication from abroad by Cerf Mayer Lévy and
Gustave Alexandre, Chemical Manufacturers, of the City of Paris, in the Republic
of France.
Formerly lyes for washing linen were usually made with wood ash, as is the case
at present where the country abounds in wood, but since coal has come into general
use for heating in industrial and domestic purposes it has been superseded by
salt crystal, strong soda, salt, or potash, or more rarely by previously prepared
liquid lye.
As yet the use of a solid lye is unknown, which considered commercially presonts
considerable advantages over the other species, and in an industrial sense is calcu
Inted to be of the greatest importance in the services it renders. The inventors
have therefore manufactured a combination of special matters forming a solid pro-
duct, which is economical and eminently fit for washing linen, clothing, or for
bleaching stuffs or tissues, and other analogous purposes.
This composition forming the subject of their Invention consists of-
100 kilogrammes of salt crystal (1 kilogramme = about 2 lbs.).
10 kilogrammes of colophony or resin.
50 kilogrammes of silicate of soda or potash, as the case may be.
And 12 kilogrammes of fucus jelly, more or less.
By fucus jelly is meant the result of a solution of fucus brought to the consistency
of jelly.
It should here be observed that the proportions of the above named ingredients
forming the solid lye may be varied and the salts changed; for example, in place of
the crystal salts and soda salts or potash, carbonated soda salts or pure soda salts
may be substituted, whatever their strength.
When large stuffs or difficult materials are to be cleaned or bleached, the detersive
properties of the composition are increased by rendering it more caustic by the
addition of milk of lime in suitable doses.

page_text: For delicate tissues and articles, such as lace, fine linen, and so forth, a sapon-
aceous extract may be added thereto.
With the four above-named substances a perfectly homogeneous mixture is made;
preferably hot, by aid either of a churn, pug mill, or some equivalent apparatus,
and a solid paste is made which is merely left to harden to render it fit for
commerce.
The paste may be made into blocks or cakes of any form or dimensions; thus
composed and manufactured this solid lye is readily soluble in hot water, and is a
veritable advance in the art of washing and bleaching which is highly approved of
in this particular industry, especially as this lye is neither corrosive nor violent in
its action, like the ordinary liquid lyes, or those composed of soda, salt, or potash.
By its use there is a great saving of soap, it is much quicker in washing, and it
cleans and bleaches much better than other known compositions, and gives a
dressing to the linen equal to new, and is far cheaper than the soda, salt, or potash
lyes in use.
What is claimed as the Invention is the composition formed of soda crystal,
colophony or resin, silicates of soda or silicates of potash, and of fucus jelly, in
suitable proportions to constitute (after the preparation herein alluded to) a solid
lye intended either with or without the addition of a saponaceous matter, or of
milk of lime, for washing or bleaching linen clothes, and indeed all bleaching
purposes. The said composition, forming a solid lye, to which the inventors give the
name of the "Phoenix," is made in blocks or cakes of any desired form or dimensions,
the inventors considering as counterfeit any analogous product rendered soluble
by inert matters, such as mineral white, and so forth, which would merely increase
the weight without modifying the detersive properties.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Charles Henderson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.