GB510158A - Improvements in cleansing fibrous materials - Google Patents

Abstract

510,158. Cleansing fibrous materials. GROVES, W. W. (I.G. Farbenindustrie Akt.- Ges.). Jan. 24, 1938, No. 2274. [Classes 2 (iii) and 15 (ii)] Fibrous materials are cleaned by spraying them, while being carried on a permeable conveying device, at a raised temperature with an aqueous solution of a washing agent which is stable to the salts causing the hardness of water and which comprises (1) sulphonation products of high-molecular alcohols ; (2) condensation products from fatty acids or derivatives thereof, with hydrony- or amino-compounds containing acid sulphuric ester groups or sulphonic or carboxylic acid groups ; (3) condensation products of ethylene oxide and organic compounds containing a reactive hydrogen atom, e.g alcohols, phenols, substituted phenols, amines, carboxylic acids and acid amides, or (4) sulphonation products of (3). Alkaline, neutral or feebly acid solutions of the washing agents may be used, and the spraying operation may be repeated several times. The process is particularly applicable to wool, and when so applied, inorganic salts, e.g. phosphates, pyrophosphates, metaphosphates, pelviates, sulphates or sodium chloride may be added to the solution of the washing agent. In examples (1) greasy cap wool is sprayed on a conveyer with a solution containing the reaction product of ethylene oxide with octadecyl alcohol, to which acetic acid may be added ; (2) wool dipped in milk of lime and a sulphur bath is sprayed with a solution containing the reaction product of ethylene oxide with p-isooctylphenyl ; (3) wool is sprayed first with a solution of the reaction product of oleic acid chloride and methyltaurine, and then with a solution obtained by condensing ethylene oxide with isododecylphenol and sulphonating the product, and (4) shoddy from wool waste and cotton waste or staple fibre containing fat or mineral oils is sprayed with a solution containing the reaction product of ethylene oxide and isododecylphenol. Isododecylphenol is made by condensing phenol with an olefine mixture prepared by splitting off water from the mixture of isomeric hexyl alcohols formed in the reduction of carbon monoxide and subsequently dimerizing the product.