US1358163A - Process for removing fat prom raw wool or analogous materials by the - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

FRANZ KOCH, F GfiRIJITZ, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'TO THE CHEMICAL FOUNDATION, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

v PROCESS FOR REMOVING FAT FROM RAW W'OOL OB ANALOGOUS MATERIAIiS BY THE AID or FAT SOLVENTS.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may comm Be it known that I, Dr. FRANZ Koorr, engmeer, a subject of the German Emperor, and a resident of Gorlitz, in the Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, have invented an Improvement 1n Processes for Removing Fat from Raw lVool or Analogous Materials by the Aid of Fat Solvents, of which i the following description is a specification.

This invention relates to anovel process for eliminating or removing fat from raw wool or analogous materials. The inventlon Wlll best be understood from the following description of one manner of carrying 'it into effect, the scope of the invention being more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The organic fat solvents heretofore used for the removal of fat from raw wool or analogous materials all had this disadvantage that, owing to the removal of fat from the individual fibers being carried too far, the treatment was liable to render the ma.-

terial brittle whereby its value was apprecip abl impaired.

11 the case of raw wool, for example,

I from which after the removal of the yolk or wool fat the sweat excreta must also be eliminated or removed, the fibers in addition to the liability of becoming brittle also tend to turn yellow as a result of the penetration of the sweat lye or liquor into the cavities existing or thus produced in the individual fibers.

The resent invention is based upon the knowle go that some chlorinated hydrocarbons of the fatty series and more particularly ethylene dichlorid and trichlorid, possess the wholly unexpected and useful propert of dissolving to a very small extent on y the fatty and waxlike substances which are present in the interior of the fibers either as a natural result of growth or from having subsequently penetrated therein. For example, wool can be treated for a long time with hot ethylene trichlorid Without impairing the pliability of the fibers by reason of the drying up of the fat. It will of course be understood that in order to obtain the best results, the temperature and the duration of the treatment must be regulated in accordance with the nature of the solvent and the nature ofthe fibrous material treated. The ready solubility and miscibility of the fatty substances in question enable the fat to be Specification of Letters Patent, Patented Nov. 9, 1920. .Applieation filed February 3, 1914. Serial No. 816,391.

speedily removed or eliminated at low'tem peratures. Extremes of time and of temperature,"therefore, play no part in the tech nical or practical execution of this improved to the fact that while these solvents dissolve the fat or oil that is upon the outer surface of the fibers, they, owing to their high specific gravity and molecular weight, do not penetrate into the microscopical interstices and the interior of the fibers.

The use of these substances substantially in accordance with any one of the usual; fat removing and washing processes by the aid of chemical solvents in which the recovery of the means employed is aimed at, furnishes a really effective method for freeing fibrous materials from fat. By means of the present invention, the yolk or wool oil can be removed from the surface of the raw wool fibers without previously lixiviating'the sweat excreta and in such manner that the removal of suchimpurities as are soluble in water and others can be effected without the use of soap or soda. That is to say the present invention contemplates more particularly the use of ethylene dichlorid or trichlorid as solvents without the addition of soap, soda or other agents for emulsifying the solvent or rendering it soluble in water. as has been commonly done heretofore. The use of the solvent in this manner renders its recovery after use a comparatively easy matter. Where the present invention is used there is no tendency whatever of the wool to .turn yellow and the wool retains to the fullest extent its natural fat or oil and its original pliability.

It will be apparent that the chlorinated bodies referred to can be used not only for all kinds of wool but also for all fibrous and analogous materials such as cotton waste, hair, feathers, bristles and the like from the outer surface of which it is desired to remove waxy or fatty substances while allowing substances of the same kind that may be present in their interior to remain there.

flow of ethylene dior trichlorid is then conducted through the wool, whereby the soluble constituents are dissolved. \Vhen all soluble constituents have been removed the chlorinated hydrocarbon is drawn oif. Preferably the wool is then rinsed with fresh dior trichlorid of ethylene, and then by the introduction of steam or hot air the solvent adhering to the wool may be evaporated and, if desired, reclaimed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present process possesses many advantages over those heretofore used. By mixing these chlorinated bodies with other tat solvents of lower specific gravity, the specific gravity and the cost per unit of Volume may be reduced. The properties of such a mixture will represent approximately a mean of the properties of the different constituents according to the proportions in which they are used.

Claims:

1. A process for removing fat or oil from raw wool or similar fibrous material, characterized by treating said fibrous material with a chlorinated hydrocarbon of the fatty series as the solvent, in the absence of soap, soda or other agent for emulsifying the solvent or rendering it soluble in water.

2. A process for removing fat or oil from raw wool or similar fibrous material, char acterized by treating said fibrous material with ethylene dichlorid, in the absence of soap, soda or other agent for emulsifying the solvent or rendering it soluble in water.

In testimony whereof I have signed my :iame to this specification in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

. .%R. ING. FRANZ KOCH. lVitnesses ALBERT PAUL, IDA PAUL GEB. KOCH.