Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Applications 4th Feb., 1895-
Complete Specification: Left; "4th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1895
I, Dr. PAUL SCHOTTLÄNDER, of Tauentzienplatz, 2, Breslau, in the German.
Empire, Doctor of Philosophy, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to 'be
as follows:-
.
This invention relates to.a. process. for drying waste vegetable substances by
osmotic action.
In all large industries in which. substances of vegetable origin are employed
great disadvantages have been caused from the fact that the waste products of
the raw materials, which are generally employed for fodder, contain on: account of
their nature a high percentage, of water so that their storage or preservation
is impossible or only possible by separating, the water from the .dry matter, by
evaporation, which entails a great expenditure. of heat, as the resistance of the
cell walls prevents, this separation... being, effected_by, simple pressure. however
great.
According to this invention these disadvantages are obviated by my new method
of drying these waste products.in a wet and approximately cold way by substituting
a solid substance for the water.in. the cell.. by: osmosis as hereinafter more
particularly described. .
The walls of all cells are composed of a dialytic membrane; it is possible, in the
same way that the solid matter is exchanged through these cells for water, by the
action-known as "diffusion," to bring about the opposite .action which may be
named "infusion," that is to say exchange the water for any suitable dissolved solid
matter by endosmose.
By suitably proceeding it is possible by endosmose to.exchange the water in
the cells of the waste matter for soluble solid matter of any kind partially or
'entirely according to the concentration of the infusion solution used, whilst the
infusion solution according to the number of times it is employed, becomes more
and more exhausted, of solid. matter until finally only a liquid remains which
consists of the fluid ordinarily contained in the cells..of the waste substance
increased by the water from, the cells, which has been exchanged for the solid
matter.
It must be borne in mind that not only the substance peculiar to the raw product
from which the waste substance is derived can be again supplied to the waste
substances by endosmose, but that any desired matter in solution may be introduced
into any, vegetable waste product in the described manner. in order to increase the
amount of dry substance to any desired extent. It possible to use not only
one material, for the endosmotic action but also mixtures of the most varied
soluble substances, preferably such substances as. are. produced as by-products in
the respective industries, in order to obtain the desired degree of the so called
correct proportion of nourishment in the finished product.
The different substances may be used not only, as mixtures but also separately,
being employed one after the other in the course of the process.
According to my invention I bring the vegetable waste products to be treated
in contact with the infusion. solution. to be used on the counter-current principle
and I replace the waste substances, when. sufficiently- prepared. by fresh waste
substances.
The waste products from the various industries which make use of substances of
vegetable origin are the lixiviated diffusion.products in. the manufacture of sugar,

page_text: malt residues in brewing, wash from the distillation of spirits, potato pulp in the
manufacture of starch, and the like.
In order to clearly explain, my process I will by way of example describe it as
applied to the treatment of waste products from the manufacture of sugar, that is
to say, the lixiviated products in a condition in which they are saturated with
water, or in the condition in which they leave the apparatus for the treatment of
the raw product, in this case, the diffusion apparatus.
The waste products are introduced into a row of vessels similar to the
diffusion apparatus communicating with one another and the number of these
, vessels is regulated according to the degree of dryness to be given to the waste
products. This row of vessels, is hereinafter referred to as the infusion apparatus
and the process itself I call the infusion process.
Into one of these vessels, filled with waste products, the substance, which is to be
'employed, in the process, say for example a solution of inferior sugar, is introduced
at the bottom and flows upwards. The concentration of this solution is regulated
according to the desired degree of dryness of the waste product. The infusion
solution, which has parted with a portion of its solid constituents by endosmose to
the cells of the waste products and has obtained from the same by exosmose, rises
you account of the constant flow of the infusion solution into the first vessel, >
upwards into and through the second vessel.
The same process is gone through with the second and the third vessels and so
on up to the last by means of the pressure of the original infusion solution
until the said solution for the above stated reasons is exhausted of solid con-
stituents, in the last vessel, whilst the cells of the waste products in the first
vessel are completely filled with dry substances by endosmose."
The process is rendered continuous by allowing a quantity, equal to the fluid
capacity of a vessel, of the infusion solution which is now liquid in character
being composed of the original fluid of the waste matter, to flow away (for
diluting the infusion solution or to be employed otherwise) which is known as
"discharging" the infusion apparatus and then by causing it to flow from the
bottom to the top of a vessel, just filled with waste matter, with the addition
of the infusion solution from the preceding vessel of the infusion apparatus
which process is known as "mashing." The pressure in the first vessel which
contains completely impregnated waste products is replaced, in discharging or
in mashing, by air pressure, or the total contents, viz., infusion liquid and
impregnated waste product are removed and the infusion liquid allowed to flow
off freely to be used again. This vessel now contains waste products enriched
with drying material to the desired degree. The degree of infusion is regulated
according to the material obtainable, mostly inferior products of manufacture
from the same or other industries, and it may therefore frequently occur that
the waste products cannot be impregnated so as to cause thorough dryness on
account of want of drying material. In this case the impregnated waste
materials from the first vessel of the process are subjected to pressure in a
known manner by known machines and are so rendered at once fit for use as
fodder.
I have found by experiment that the cell walls of the waste products become
so permeable by my process that the said substances can be converted by pressure,
even in the case of a low infusion, into such a dry substance that a very durable
material is obtained, or a complete drying may be effected by heat according to
one of the well known methods, the cost of which is very low.
The liquids which run off when the material is compressed correspond in
constitution and concentration to the original infusion solution and during the
process are increased in quantity by fresh infusion solution (for the preparation
of which a part of the weak issuing infusion solution is employed) and used
again.
This new infusion process presents many advantages amongst which may be
mentioned that not the smallest portion of useful material is lost even in compressing

page_text: waste products, only slightly impregnated to such a degree that they contain
the highest possible quantity of dry matter, as the liquid which escapes during the
compression is afterwards conducted back to the infusion apparatus and only water
at the end of the infusion process is separate without pressure; further that the
solid matters which are first seen in the form of dissolved bye-products of manu-
facture are separated practically without cost from their solutions, as the solid
matter finds its way by endosmose into the cells of the waste product and
only its solvent with the herein before mentioned composition is conducted away...
Dated the 4th day of February 1895.
I, PAUL SCHOTTLÄNDER, of Tauentzienplatz, 2, Breslau, in the German
Empire, Doctor of Philosophy, 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 following statement :-
This invention relates to a process for drying waste vegetable substances by
osmotic action.
In all large industries in which substances of vegetable origin are employed
great disadvantages have arisen from the fact that the waste products of the
raw materials, which are generally employed for fodder, contain on account of
their nature a high percentage of water so that their storage or preservation is
impossible or only possible by separating the water from the dry matter, by
evaporation, which entails a great expenditure of heat, as the resistance of the
cell walls prevents this separation being effected by pressure alone however
great.
According to this invention these disadvantages are obviated by my new methol
of drying these waste products in a wet and approximately cold way by substituting
a. solid substance for the water in the cell by osmosis as hereinafter more
particularly described.
The walls of all cells are composed of a dialytic membrane; it is possible, in the
same way that the solid matter is exchanged through these cells for water, by the
action known as "diffusion," to bring about the opposite action which may be
termed "infusion," that is to say, exchange the water for any suitable dissolved
solid matter by endosmose.
By suitably proceeding it is possible by endosmose to exchange the water in the
cells of the waste matter for soluble solid matter of any kind partially or entirely
according to the concentration of the infusion solution used, whilst the infusion
solution according to the number of times it is employed becomes more and more
exhausted of solid matter until finally only a liquid remains which consists of the
fluid ordinarily contained in the cells of the waste substance increased by the water
from the cells, which has been exchanged for the solid matter.
It must be borne in mind that not only the substance peculiar to the raw product
from which the waste substance is derived can be again supplied to the waste
substances by endosmose, but that any desired matter in solution may be introduced
into any vegetable waste product in the described manner in order to increase the
amount of dry substance to any desired extent. It is possible to use not only one
material for the endosmotic action but also mixtures of the most varied soluble
substances, preferably, such substances as are produced as bye-products in the

page_text: the dried product.
The different substances may be used not only as mixtures but also separately,
being employed one after the other in the course of the process.
According to my invention' I' bring the vegetable waste' products to be treated in
contact with the infusion solution to be used on' the counter current principle
and I replace the waste substances' when' sufficiently prepared by fresh waste
substances.
The waste products from the various industries which make use of substances of
vegetable origin are the lixiviated diffusion-products in the manufacture of sugar,
malt residues in brewing, wash from the distillation of spirits, potato pulp in the
manufacture of starch, and the like.
In order to clearly explain my process I will by way of example describe it as
applied to the treatment of waste products from the manufacture of sugar, that is
to say, the lixiviated products in a condition in which they are saturated with
water, or in the condition in which they leave the apparatus for the treatment of the
raw product, in this case; the diffusion apparatus:
The waste products are introduced into a row of vessels similar to the diffusion
apparatus communicating with one another and the number of these vessels is
regulated according to the degree of dryness to be given to the waste products.
This row of vessels is hereinafter referred to as the infusion apparatus and
the process itself I call the infusion process:
Into one of these vessels, filled with waste products, the substance, which is to be
employed in the process, say for example a solution of inferior sugar, is introduced
at the bottom and flows upwards. The concentration of this solution' is regulated
according to the desired degree of dryness of the waste product. The infusion
solution, which has parted with a portion of its solid constituents by endosmose to
the cells of the waste products and has obtained water from the same by exosmose,
rises (on account of the constant flow of the infusion solution into the first vessel,)
upwards into and' through the second' vessel.
The same process is gone through" with the second and the third vessels and so on
up to the last by means of the pressure of the original infusion solution until the
said solution, for the above stated' reasons; is exhausted of solid constituents in the
last vessel, whilst the cells of the waste products in the first vessel are completely
filled with dry substances by endosmose.
This process is rendered continuous by allowing a quantity, equal to the fluid
capacity of a vessel, of the infusion solution, which is now liquid in character being
composed of the original fluid of the waste matter, to flow away (for diluting, the
infusion solution or to be employed otherwise) from the last vessel' which is known
as "discharging" the infusion apparatus and then by causing the infusion solution
to flow from the bottom to the top of a vessel, just filled with wäste matter, whilst
the infusion solution from the preceding vessel of the infusion apparatus follows
(so as to form a continuous current of liquid through the series of vessels) and so on
which process is known as "mashing." The pressure in the first vessel, which
contains completely impregnated waste' products, is replaced, in discharging or in
mashing, by air pressure, or the total contents, viz., infusion liquid and impregnated
waste product, are removed and the infusion liquid allowed to flow off freely to be
used again. This vessel now contains waste products enriched with drying material
to the desired degree. The degree of infusion is regulated according to the
material obtainable, mostly inferior products of manufacture from the same or other
industries, and it may therefore frequently occur that the waste products cannot be
impregnated so as to cause thorough dryness on account of want of drying material.
In this case the imprégnated waste materials from the first vessel of the process are
subjected to pressure in a known männer by known machines' and are so rendered at
once fit for use as fodder.
I have found by experiment that the cell walls of the waste products become so
permeable by my process that the said substances can be converted by pressure,

page_text: even in the case of a low infusion, into such a dry substance that a very durable
material is obtained, or a complete drying may be effected by heat according to one
of the well known methods, the cost of which is very low.
The liquids which run off when the material is compressed correspond in
constitution and concentration to the original infusion solution and during the
process are increased in quantity by fresh infusion solution (for the preparation of
which a part of the weak infusion solution drawn off is employed) and again
used.
This new infusion process presents many advantages amongst which may be
mentioned that not the smallest portion of useful material is lost even in compressing
waste products, only slightly impregnated, to such a degree that they contain the
highest possible quantity of dry matter, as the liquid which escapes during the
compression is afterwards conducted back to the infusion apparatus and only water
at the end of the infusion process is separated without pressure; further that
the solid matters which are first seen in the form of dissolved bye-products of
manufacture are separated practically without cost from their solutions, as the solid
matter finds its way by endosmose into the cells of the waste product and only its
solvent having the herein before mentioned composition is conducted away.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A process for completely or partially drying waste vegetable substances (such
as lixiviated products obtained in the manufacture of sugar, malt residues obtained
in brewing, wash from the distillation of spirits, potato pulp in the manufacture of
starch and the like) such process consisting in partially or wholly exchanging, by
means of osmosis, the liquids in the cells of the said waste substances for soluble
solid matter substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
2. In the process described in Claim 1 rendering the same continuous by bringing
the waste vegetable substances into contact on the counter-current principle and
replacing the waste substance that is sufficiently impregnated with solid matter by
fresh unimpregnated material substantially as described.
Dated the 4th - of October 1805
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.