Improvements in or relating to the Treatment of Sugar Molasses or Syrup by Means of Lime.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 17th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Treatment of Sugar Molasses
or Syrup by Means of Lime.
MAX BERNHARDT ZAHN, Managing Director, of Artern (Thuringia), Germany, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement;
1
This invention relates to the precipitation of sugar from a molasse or syrup
solution by distributing or applying oxide of calcium in a finely powdered form
to the solution while in motion, whereby every particle of lime dust falls
separately into the solution and at once combines with the sugar so that the forma-
tion of calcium hydrate is avoided, whereas in the case of introducing lime con-
glomerate only the surface particles enter into re-action with the sugar, while
the central portions are slacked or converted into calcium hydrate, thus not only
being useless in the reaction but also producing a degree of heat whereby the
sucrate of lime already formed is decomposed.
The new process thus possesses a great advantage as compared with the old
processes inasmuch as the quantity of lime used is greatly reduced. This means
not only a great saving in lime, but also an increased yield of the plant. Then
the great heat produced by an overdose of lime is avoided, thus effecting an
economy in the use of cooling water. Finally, this process offers the great advan-
tage that the lime sugar produced is in a granular condition, which can be
filtered and washed very easily, thus producing for further manufacturing pro-
cesses a purer juice and filling material.
The treatment according to this new process on a large scale may be carried
out, to illustrate an example in such a manner, that an ordinary sifting apparatus
or a sieve fitted with some fine texture sifting material or any other powder
distributing contrivance, for the purpose of separating the lime dust from the
coarser particles of the material is placed directly above the vessel containing
the molasses or syrup solution, provided with a stirring device. The dust par-
ticles falling from the sifting or distributing apparatus or sieve, fall on the surface
of the solution like a cloud of dust and are taken up in the most perfect manner
by_the liquid owing to the operation of the stirring device.
In the accompanying drawing an apparatus for the application of lime flour
or dust is illustrated by way of example.
Figure 1 representing a longitudinal section,
Figure 2 a transverse section, and
Figure 3 a horizontal section through H I K L, Figure 1, of the apparatus.
The lower portion A of the apparatus represents any suitable cooling device com-
municating with a wide vessel B, having a circulation screw or device C. Over this
vessel is arranged the sifting device 1 surrounded by the casing E. The lime
dour is introduced into the sifter through a hopper or chamber F provided with
a feeding worm, and, by means of the beaters or devices g of the sifter is driven
hrough the fine gauze of the sieve. The whole space around the sifter is there-

page_text: fore filled with a cloud of finely divided lime dust which falls on to the surface
of the liquid into which it is stirred.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
--
1. A process of precipitating sugar from molasses or syrup solutions by means
of caustic lime characterised by the caustic lime being introduced into the solu-
tions in a powdered and finely divided state so that each particle is applied and
taken up separately substantially as described.
2. Apparatus for applying powdered caustic lime to molasses or syrup solu-
tions comprising a sifting or distributing apparatus for supplying the lime in
the form of finely divided dust above the surface of the molasses or syrup solu-
tion kept in motion by a stirring device substantially as described.
3. The complete apparatus for the treatment of molasses or syrup solutions
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th day of April 1899.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.