US102760A - Improvement in bleaching, tanning, and coloring sponges - Google Patents

Description

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FREDERICK BRAUN AND AUGUSTUS THEODORE SCHMIDT, OF PITTSBURG,

' PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 102,7 60, dated May 10, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT 1N BLEACHING, TANNING, AND COLORING SPONG-ES.

The Schedule referred to if: these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom itmmy concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERICK BRAUN and A u- GUSTUS THEODORE Sc'HMID'r, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Process for Bleaching, Tanning, and Coloring Sponges; and we do hereby declare the following to'be a, full, clear, and exact description thereof. 1

The bleaching of sponges by means of acids has been heretofore practiced, but with the resultof injuring the fiber or tissue to such an extent as greatly to impair their value. I

' By our improvement, we not only remove, in a great degree, the dark coloring matter from the sponge, but

also strengthen the tissue to such an'extent that it cannot easily be torn, and will last much longer, and this without rendering 'itharsh or unpleasant to the touch.

We are also enabled to impart a gbeautii'uland delicate permanent color to the sponge, after it has been bleached by'the removal of the naturalcoloring matter.

To enable others skilled in the art to use our improvement, we will proceed to explain the processes employed by us to accomplish the results indicated.

The sponges to be treated, which may be the American sponge, or the sponges from Mediterranean sea, or any other quality of sponge, are first cleansed of sand, coral, and other mechanical impurities or foreign matters, in, the usual well knownway of cleaning them they are then subjected successively to three distinct processes, viz:

. First, bleaching or dccolorization; second, tanning third, coloring.

These processes we will describe separately in V the order above indicated. V

For the purpose of removing the natural dark coloring matter from the sponges, we use a wash, composed of a solution in the proportions of about one ounce of permanganate of potash and one ounce of sulphate of soda, dissolved in from one and a halt to two gallons of water, the water being slightly warm, (say, about 90 Fahrenheit) so as 'to effect the solution. In place of the permanganate of potash,the permanganate of soda may be employed, and for the sulphate of soda, the sulphate of any of the alkalies may be substituted, if desired, in suitable proportions. Of such solution,.one gallon is ordinarily suificient for every pound of sponges to be treated, but some sponges will require more, and others less than the proportionate quantity of washing solution named, according to their color and quality.

The sponges, cleaned of foreign matters and impurities, as before stated, are immersed in this solution and worked therein by compression and dilation, so as to wash them thoroughly for about half an hour, or

until the liquor in which they are Washed becomes phate of soda. The result of this washing is partially to soften the sponge tissue, and to given dark brown color to the sponge. v

The sponges are then washed rapidly in a bleaching solution, composed of aboutonc ounce of hyposulphite of soda, with about one ounce of sulphuric acid, in two gallons of water; In this solution two ounces of muriatic acid may be substituted for the one ounce. of Sulphuric acid.

\Vashing the sponges, previously treatedas before described, in this solution of hyposulphite'of soda and sulphuric acid immediately discharges the coloring matter from the sponges, and leaves them nearly colorless.

They are not left in this solution, but aretaken out quickly, and then well washed in pure-water, and ii'a more perfect-decolorization is desired, the washing in the permanganate of potash solution, and the subsequent dipping in the hyposulphite of soda solution may be repeated, after which they are again rinsed in pure water.

In place of using the wash of hyposulphite of soda and sulphuric or muriatic acid, as above statetha bath of liquid snlphurous acid may be employed, or the sponges may be exposed to the fumes of sulphurous acid, produced by the combustion of sulphur.

The second process is that of tanning the sponges, which have been bleached as above stated. For this purpose, we use a solution in three gallons of water, of three ounces of muriate of soda (common salt) and nine ounces of sulphate of alumina. In this liquor the sponges are immersed for about twenty-four hours, or until they have rendered the liquor nearly neutral.

They are then removed and dried without being rinsed or washed in pure water, which would tend to remove the tanning liquor. v

In place of the tanning liquor above mentioned, may be substituted a solution in the proportion of one ounce of tannin, dissolved in three gallons of water, or a decoction in water of any herb, bark, or root containing'tannin may beemployed, using such quantities as will give an equivalent proportion of tannin.

The effect of thus tanning the sponge is to strengthen the spongue tissue to such an extent as to render it almost untearable, without rendering it harsh-and disagreeable, or injuring its property of absorbing int-ion determines the depthof color given to the sponge, and will therefore vary accordingly.

A solution of the strength of one ounce of aqua am-' inonia in from one to two gallons of water will impart a delicate yellow color, which may be deepened to oiange color by increasing the quantity of-ammonia.

After dippingthe sponges in the ammonia solution they are dried without washing, which completes the operation. v- I The advantages of our improved processes are that the bleaching operation does not injure the texture or tissue of the spongue; that the tanning process adds greatly to its strength, and the coloring process imparts a variety of delicate tints to the sponges, which may be made lighter or darker, as may be desired.

Our mode of treating sponges adds greatly, also, to their commercial value. The common qualities of Florida sponges may thus be made very beautiful and durable, and will command a high price in .the market as compared with the same sponges in their natural condition.

Either the tanning or bleaching processes may be usedalone, as unbleached sponges may betanned by our process, or sponges may be bleached by our process, without being subsequently either tanned or colored. 1

\Ve therefore do not wish to limit our claim of inventiolrto thccombination of these processes, which we have described, although when used as we have .described in succession, they produce, as we think, a

better and more saleable article.

Nor do we wish to limit ourselves to dyeing sponges with aqua ammonia, because when bleached by means of our process, they may be dyed of various colors by means of many well-known dyes or coloring matter,

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isl 1L Bleaching or decolorizing sponges by treating them in a solution inwater of permanganate of soda or potash and sulphate of soda, or of other alkalies, and subsequently washing them in a solution of hypo- 'sulphite of soda or a bath of liquid or gaseous sulphurous acid, substantially as hereinbefore described.

2. Tanning sponges, substantially in'the manner as hereinbet'ore described.

3. Coloring sponges previously bleached, by means of any desired dye or coloring matter.

4. .Ooloring sponges previously bleached, or bleached and tannethhy dipping them in a solution of aqua am- ,monia, substantially as described.