US1510855A - Method of making fibrous pulp from low-cost vegetable matter - Google Patents

Description

' following is a specification.

Patented Oct. :7, 19241.

MARK W. MARSDEN, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD or MAKING masons Pour-snore LOW-COST armaments an N'o Drawing. Application filed July 10,

To all whom it may concern: a

Be it known that I, MARK W. MAREDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the vcounty of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making Fibrous Pulp from Low-Cost Vegetable Matter, of which the The objects of my invention are to provide a, method of producing fibrous pulp from waste or near waste vegetable growths such as corn stalks, cotton stalks, straw, etc., which may be used in making paper, ensv plosives, artificial silk, and other products requiring pulp for their manufacture; to

provide a method of producing such pulp by which the fibres will retain their natural strength and elasticity, and which the saccharine and 0th r useful elements are separated from the bras and recovered.

For convenience I -drill describe my invention as applied to the manufacture of pulp from corn stalks. l

The first step is xemdval of dust and dirt and the second is removal of the pith. Both of these steps'are old and may be effected by known means. The residue is subjected to a steam bath, ate. temperature Preferably not far above, or below 170 F., to reduce the material to a soft'and moist state in which the fibres are easil separable, and is then passed through a s redding machine which may be of a known type. The shredded material is then passed to a fermentation vat Where it should be kept at a temperature suflicient to produce fermentation but not sufficiently high to caramelize the saccharine contents. 1 The fermentation may be hastened by use of any ordinary ferment such as yeast. The fermented mass is then distilled. The distillation carries over the sugars and carbo-hydrates and converts them into alcohol. The residue is placed in a closed digester and heated-under pressure, an acid or alkali'being added to aid in dissolving the encrusting matter. and pressureshould be only suliicient to effect the complete dissolution of the encrusting matter. The fibrous residue is then washed to eliminate all acid or alkali thereby leaving the pulp absolutely free from'any foreign matter. The pulp is then ready for use and may be bleached, or colored as desired.

Obviously removal of the pith is not re The heat 1923. semi n@.','1as.

articles will produce a fibrous pulp in which the fibres retain their natural strength and elasticity and which, when used in paper making, .producespaper'of a uality far. superior to'that made from wood pulp and at far less cost. The pulp produced by my process is adapted for use for many purposes for which wood pul is not adapted;

Having thus describe my invention, what I claim as new and desire tzi secure by Letters Patent is 1. The herein described method of mak ing fibrous pulp consisting in freeing the material from dust and other foreign mat-- ter: subjecting the material to a steam bath; shredding the softened material; fermenting the material, and distilling the fermented mass. m. 2.- The herein described method of makingv fibrous pulp consisting in freeing the material fromdust and other foreign matter; removi'ng'the pith; subjecting the material to a steam bath; shredding the soft-- ened material; fermenting the material, and distilling the fermented mass. fl;

3. The herein described method of making fibrous pulp consisting in freeing the material from dust and other foreign mat- -ter; subjecting-the material to a steam "mented' mass adding an acid or alkali to the fibrous residue; subjecting the product to heat under pressure, and washing the res due toremove the acid or alkali.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

r MARK W. MARSDEN. Witzgasses: LIZABETH Amp,

Cms. E. Paras.