Patent GB-361343-A (GB)
Title: Improved process for extracting vitamines and improved extraction apparatus
Filed: 1930-07-19
Abstract: <PICT:0361343/III/1> Apparatus for separating emulsified, suspended, or dissolved matter from liquids, for example, for extracting vitamins from fats or oils after saponification, comprises one or more lixiviation vessels 1 . . 4, means for introducing fine streams of vaporized solvent into the liquid contained therein consisting of a perforated partition 13 in vessels 1, 2, and of spray roses 14 in vessels 3, 4, independently operating cooling means arranged at different places on or below the level of the treated liquid, consisting of cooling jackets 5 . . 8, and means for withdrawing condensed solvent from the vessels, consisting of pipes 15, 16 through which the condensed solvent with dissolved matter flows back to a container 9 surrounded by a water-bath 10.  A reflux condenser 20 which can be connected to the top of the vessels 1 . . 4, pipes 11, 12 for conveying the solvent vapours to these vessels, and a funnel 22 for charging the vessels with liquid to be extracted are also provided.  The vessels 1, 2 are for use when the solvent is lighter than the extracted liquid, and vessels 3, 4 are for use in the converse case.  Instead of introducing the vaporized solvent into the liquid through perforated partitions or spray roses, a porous wall may be employed.  Instead of cooling jackets, other known cooling means such as coils, channels, or vessels may be used. Different degrees of cooling may be produced at different points in the vessels, and the cooling may be sufficient to cause the walls of the vessel to attain approximately the freezing point of the liquid contained therein.ALSO:Vitamins contained in liquids in emulsified, suspended, or dissolved form are separated therefrom by means of a volatile solvent introduced into the liquid in the state of vapour. The initial material containing the vitamins is subjected to a suitable preparatory treatment to convert it into a solution, emulsion, or suspension, for example, a fat or oil such as a fish liver oil may be converted by saponification into a dissolved or suspended soap before the extraction.  It is preferable to introduce the solvent vapour at or near the bottom of the extraction vessel, if the condensed solvent is lighter than the liquid to be treated, and to introduce the vapours higher up, for example, just below the surface of the liquid, in the converse case.  The solution can be made to flow continuously or intermittently from the extraction vessel for further treatment, and the extraction solvent freed from dissolved material, for example, by distillation or absorbtion, may be reintroduced as vapour into the extraction vessel.  The vapours of the extraction agent are introduced into the liquid in finely <PICT:0361343/IV/1> divided form, for example, by being passed through a wall made of porous material, or provided with fine holes. The liquid is cooled below the boiling point of the solvent by known cooling means, for example, by means of a cooling fluid passing through inserted coils, or other cooling channels through inserted coils, or other cooling channels or vessels, or through jackets surrounding the extraction vessel.  The cooling means are disposed below the level of the liquid and are preferably arranged to produce different degrees of cooling at different points.  The cooling may be sufficient to cause the walls of the vessel to attain a temperature approximating to the freezing point of the liquid contained therein. The invention also comprises an apparatus which may be used not only for extracting vitamins in the manner described above, but also for the separation of any other emulsified, suspended, or dissolved substances from liquids. This apparatus comprises one or more lixiviation vessels 1 . . 4, means for introducing fine streams of vaporized solvent consisting of a perforated partition 13 in vessels 1, 2, and of spray roses 14 in vessels 3, 4, independently operating cooling means arranged at different places on or below the level of the treated liquid, consisting of cooling jackets 5 . . 8, and means for withdrawing condensed solvent from the vessels, comprising pipes 15, 16 through which the condensed solvent with dissolved matter flows back to a container 9 surrounded by a water-bath 10.  A reflux condenser 20 which can be connected to the tops of the vessels 1 . . 4, pipes 11, 12 for conveying the solvent vapours to these vessels, a funnel 22 for introducing the solvent into the vessel 9, and a funnel 22 for charging the lixiviation vessels with liquid to be extracted are provided.  The vessels 1, 2 are for use when the solvent is lighter than the extracted liquid, and vessels 3, 4 are for use in the converse case.  An example is given describing the extraction of vitamins from a soda soap, obtained from cod-liver oil, in which the solvent used in benzol.