, 1875-08-18
THE ROBERT DIFFUSION PROCESS
APPLIED TO SUGAR.OANE
IN LOUISIANA.
From The. Sugar Cane.)

0uluS ASoOeTC DIFFUSION Process Company"
by their superintendent, DR.. Otto Kratz =
The German chemist Marggraf 1747), was
the first who tried to extract the sacoharine
matter from the beetroot by means of diffusion,
after having been also the first, who showed
Inc presence of crystallizable sugar in this
plant. The next to be mentioned is Dombasle
in the year 1912. He, however, did not sepa-
rate the two entirely different principles OF
diffusion and maoeration, and did not succeed
in bringing his IDEA to a practical working.
Florentine Robert tried it after him in 1S4S,
but failed to obtain satisfactory results for
the same reason. In 1852 Gail in Paris tried
hot maceration and diffusion again but princi-
pally for the purpose Of distiiing. He did
not make much progress in the development
of diffusion, but his efforts created a sensation
in scientific circles, and produced the famous
work of Dubrunfaut, on the osmosis of the
vegetable cell and its industrial value.
In this second stage of development, Julius
Robert took the process up again, and succeed
ed n864-l865) in establishing a practical
apparatus based upon thoroughly scientific
principles. Since this time, under the proteo-
ton Of patents, this method has been introduc.
ed in most European countries but it was
only in 1866 that the Diffusion Process was
applied to sugar.cane in Aska, Presidency of
Madras, East Indies.
WI <'AluCHlI1 LhoHoSCt VI II Aoh6 sugar
works, went to Europe and had the necessary
machinery constructed. The outing machines
had to be newly invented, as those In use for
the beet were useless for cane. Mr.. Minchin
engaged, as chemical and technical director,
Mr.. i. Kollmann, and, as first engineer, Mr..
L. Rebicek, a real mechanical genius (since
dead). No one can form an idea of the diff
cul,ies Mr.. Minchin encountered. The vessels
had to be constructed of teakwood from want
of transportation for iron ones for theesame
reason ever the disks for the cutting knives
were Of wood, covered with sheet iron.
Besides he had to combat the hot climate.
The average temperatures are $50, with
variations up to 1860 in the shade. Notwith.
standing all this he was able at the Exposition
in Paris, the next year 1867, to establish q
perfect success, and he was the only on6 who
obtained the great Golden Medal In this
branch of industry. Since that time he has
succeeded so well with this new process, that
he and his brother have been able to buy tbs
Aska works. Mr.. Minchin does not cultivate
cane at all, but buys all he works up in his
factory. The chips (~bagasse) are used as
fuel, and are found sufficient for that purpose.
II is the annual report of the Aska works by
Mr.. Minchin and his employees, which has
Introduced the Diffusion Process in Louisiana.
The Diffusion Process is based upon the
physical principle of Exos and Endosmosis
or OSmosis. It is also known under the name
of Dialysis or Diffusion, 1t is in so far the
exact counterpart of Maceration as the former,
Diffusion" is applied and based upon the
closed cell the latter, "Maceration," upon
the opened or crushed and lacerated cell. It.
Is entirely different also from Infusion or
Displacement in the ordinary sense Of the
druggist. 1t is necessary to make this distino-
ton very clear, or it will be impossible ever
to attain a full understanding of the invention
ia all its details and in all its bearings. Sup
pose you take a cylinder closed on each end
and divided 10 the middle air tight by a men,
brane, say a piece Of bladder. The lower
compartment contains one pound Of sugar dis
solved in, say, three pounds of water. The
upper compartment contains three pounds of
pure water. Then, according to the principle
of oSmosis or diffusion, the following process
will take place. The sugar ia the lower com.
partment will continually ascend through the
membrane into the upper compartment and
the same quantity of pure water will descend
into the lower compartment Notwithstanding
the specific GRANTEES of the two liquids being
against it. This process will continue until
the upper compartment contains one. half
a pound of sugar, and the lower, of course the
same quantity. This simple experiment is
the whole basis of the Diffusion Process as
applied to the extraction of the sugar from
the cane.
Take one thousand pounds of cane cut into
thin cliooq ond pIooo than in a VnsaAf In