IMPROVED METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING LINSEED AND OTHER OILS AND FATS
Year: 1862

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Christopher Binks at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th May
1862.
I, CHRISTOPHER BINKS, of Parliament Street, Westminster, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED METHODS OF AND
APPARATUS FOR TREATING LINSEED AND OTHER OILS AND FATS," to be as
follows:
The objects of my Invention are, firstly, to improve the drying properties
of linseed oil and other drying oils, but more especially of linseed oil.
Secondly, to obtain such drying oils in certain cases free or comparatively
free from colour, and especially from the deep or dark colour usually per-
taining to linseed oil, which, in order to quicken its drying properties, has
been boiled or treated by the methods hitherto commonly resorted to; (such
colorless, or comparatively colorless or light-colored oils, are herein-after
designated "refined drying oils").
Thirdly, to provide improved methods of obtaining dark-colored drying
oils, or drying oils similar in appearance and uses to those known as boiled
oils.
Fourthly, to impart to such drying oils at pleasure, and by improved methods
of operating, different degrees of thickness or of "body."
And, fifthly, to provide improved methods of operating, and improved kinds
of apparatus by which to carry on certain operations requisite for obtaining

page_text: these or like effects or products, or for bleaching and refining linseed oil and
other oils and fats.
When atmospheric air, as is well known, is compressed in contact with
water, the water takes up and retains the heat given out from the air, which
can thus, by proper contrivances, be deprived of its latent heat to an extent
proportionate to the amount of pressure and to the completeness of the
arrangements used for separating the warmed water from the compressed air.
Air so treated I call "decaloricised air." On removal of the pressure from
air in this condition it seeks to recover its lost latent heat from substances
brought in contact with it, and thus properly can be (and has been in some
cases, as is well known,) applied as a means of producing cold, or as a refri-
gerating agent.
Now, the first part of my Invention consists in applying to oils or fats this
"decaloricised air," (obtained by any convenient means) by passing it into or
through, or otherwise bringing it in contact with them, in order in some cases
to reduce their .temperature, and thereby effect certain changes in their com-
position and qualities, which the application of cold to oils has long been
known to produce, and in other cases I so apply it in order to regulate,
controul, or check the temperature of oils in operations with them wherein
heat is applied, or wherein they become hot through the re-actions with the
materials or with the atmospheric air used in such operations, or in such as
are herein-after described.
My method of applying the decaloricised air for effects on the oil following
a reduction of its temperature will be understood by the practical details when
operating on (by way of example) linseed oil, namely, the raw oil to be
purified and bleached is placed in an aërating vat, (preferably in one of the
kind herein-after described) having its perforated plate or pipes connected
with the reservoirs containing the supply of decaloricised air, which, on being
passed through the oil, in time congeals it, or so far reduces its temperature
as to break up certain combinations previously existing in it, and to result in
the oil again becoming fluid or of ordinary temperatures, in the separation of
some impurities, and the partial bleaching of the oil. I either leave the oil
after refrigeration to regain its ordinary temperature by exposure to air, or I
send warmed air or steam into it for this purpose. It is then finished by
steaming and washing, with or without air conjoined, in the usual manner, or
as herein-after described.
My method of applying the decaloricised air, in order to regulate, controul,
or check temperatures, will be shewn by the following example, in which
finseed oil is the material, namely, it is well known that the application to

page_text: linseed oil of a gentle and certain heat results in the bleaching of that oil, but
that if the heat be raised higher than this certain point or degree, the bleaching
action obtained is destroyed, and the oil either regains its original color or
becomes darker. Now, my method in this and in other cases is, at the
moment the bleaching action has been obtained, to throw into the oil the
decaloricised air, and so prevent the injurious continuance or increase of
heat, and I use for this purpose the kind of arrangements above or herein-
after described.
Secondly, my Invention consists in the like application of the decaloricised
air in the operations hereafter following, and in conjunction with the following
materials, namely, for the application of certain materials for improving the
drying and other properties of drying oils there was granted to me Letters
Patent, dated 11th June 1853, No. 1425, and among other materials therein
specified was the hydrated protoxide of manganese. For such hydrated
protoxides of manganese I substitute one or other of the following materials,
or compounds, it being understood that the operations in applying these
materials or compounds are the same generally as those described in reference
to other materials under my former Patent :-
The materials or compounds are, first, for the hydrated protoxide of
manganese prepared in the usual manner (when that form of manganese-
oxide is the one used to act upon the oil), I substitute and employ this oxide
dissolved in aqueous ammonia, in place of using it (as formerly) in its simple
form. I use this solution in order to effect a more ready and perfect diffusion
through, and consequent combination with or action upon the oil than follow.
its application in the solid or moistened form.
Second, that oxide of manganese which is formed by exposing moistened
hydrated protoxide of manganese to the action (under ordinary atmospheric
temperatures) of atmospheric air. This oxide is in composition an inter-
mediate one between the proto and the sesqui oxide, or is analogous to the
anhydrous (so called) red oxide of manganese in respect of its relative
proportions of metal and of oxygen, or it has (shewn in formula) the com-
position Mn, O₁.
Third, the hydrated sesqui-oxide of manganese Mn. O, HO.
And, fourth, the anhydrous sesqui-oxide of the same metal Mn, O,.
These oxides, one or other. of them, or mixtures thereof, are added to the
oil and macerated in it, that operation being carried on at ordinary atmospheric
temperatures, or at pleasure aided by heat applied to the mixture. And these
oxides of manganese used severally or conjointly are so applied to the oil
either alone or with the conjoined application of atmospheric air passed into

page_text: and through the oil or the mixture is otherwise exposed to the action of
atmospheric air, either as described in the Specification of my said Patent or
as herein-after described.
Fifth, a mixture composed of one or other or of mixtures of the above-
named oxides of manganese and the hydrated or the anhydrous protoxide of
dead PbO HO or PbO, the latter being used most conveniently in the form
of litharge.
Sixth, a mixed precipitate of 'the bydrated protoxides of lead and of man-
ganese, obtained most conveniently by precipitating such oxides by means of
well known agents from a mixed solution of some soluble salt of lead and
salt of manganese, or by forming each oxide separately, and then intimately.
mixing one with the other mechanically..
Seventh, a mixture of one or other of the higher oxides of manganese, the
sesqui and the per-oxides, one or both, and either hydrated or anbydrous, with
some acid capable of forming a proto-salt with the base thereof, and at the same,
time of liberating oxygen from the oxide when in contact with the oil as the
And such treatment of the oil may
oxalic, tartaric, boracic, and other acids.
at pleasure be varied by (subsequently to this application or operation)
decomposing the salt of manganese thus formed in the oil, and whilst it is still
in contact with it, by means of the addition to the resulting mixture of some
other reagent capable of decomposing the salt of manganese and of throwing
out from it whilst in contact with the oil its hydrated protoxides.
Eighth, a mixture of the higher oxides of lead (as the red lead the sesqui
and the per-oxides, the latter being used either anhydrous or hydrated) and of
some acid capable of forming a proto-salt of the lead, and of liberating oxygen
in contact with the oil, such operations to be used alone or combined with
the analogous operations in which the higher oxides of manganese are
employed, as just described.
Ninth, a mixture of the following kind, namely, along with subacetate of
lead (2PbO A HO,) is mixed a large excess of protoxide of lead, and this
mixture diffused through the oil. There is then added to the oil a solution of
some salt of manganese, preferably the sulphate, in quantity equivalent or
thereabouts to the quantity of subacetate of lead. The result is a series of
reactions bringing into contact with the oil drying compounds of great activity
with the ultimate production of a fine drying oil.
Tenth, a mixture of the higher oxides of lead as the red lead (Pb, O,) and
the peroxide, the latter either with or without water in combination (PbO
HO, or PbO,,) along with some proto-salt of manganese, as the sulphate using
the lead oxide in excess. The result, under the influence of reactions i

page_text: contact with the oil is the development of highly active drying reagents, and
the consequent formation of a fine drying oil.
My operations or methods of treating the oil are as follows:-One important
property of the drying oils prepared according to directions given for carrying
out my Invention secured to me by the Letters Patent aforesaid and prepared
as herein described under ny present further improvements is, that on drying
or exposure to air they finally bleach or become lighter in color to a greater or
less extent according to the kind and relative proportions of reagents employed
in their preparation, that is, they whiten and become the "refined drying. oils,"
products of my Invention.
•
But it is desirable for certain special applications of these oils that they
should not so bleach but to continue to possess a dark color, and consequently
that this tendency to finally bleach should by some means be arrested.. Now
for this purpose I proceed as follows:-When a solution in the oil of the re-
agents has been made I treat this solution to convert it into a permanently.
dark colored drying oil by one or other of the following methods, namely:-
First method. I subject the solution by the application of heat to the
vessel containing it to a temperature ranging between 350° and 600° Fahren-
beit, or till certain hydrated and other compounds held in the solution have
been decomposed and other changes accomplished which terminate in imparting
the acquired deep or darker color to the oil, and which color will then be
permanent and of a depth proportionate to the strength of the solution used
and to the length of time of exposure to the heat.
Second method.-I effect the same object by using a strong solution of the
reagents and passing atmospheric air of ordinary temperatures into and through
it in profusion and till through the ensuing reactions in the mixture it has
acquired the temperature needed to effect the required changes and give
permanency to the deep color so developed in the oil.
Third method. I vary these operations with the same results by previously
warming the air employed or by warming the oil, and I do this preferably by
the external application of steam to the vessel containing the solution or
mixture and sending, the air into and through it at its ordinary temperatures
till the required changes in the oil are accomplished.
On aërating the solutions or mixtures as and for the purposes just described
or on aërating finished drying oils for the purpose of thickening them as and
for the purposes herein-after described, considerable quantities of volatile and
'gaseous matters are thrown off during the operation, and a further part of my
improved operations consists in so conducting these aërating processes that
their volatile or gaseous products shall be collected in order to obviate by

page_text: With
decomposing or destroying them, any nuisance their escape into the atmo-
sphere might give rise to, or to apply them to some useful purposes.
this view I conduct these aërating operations in closed vessels fitted with
contrivances for conveying away and treating or destroying these products, and I
prefer (though I do not confine my Invention thereto) to employ the kind of
aërating vats that are with their appendages herein-after described. When it
is a dark coloured drying oil that is intended to be thickened by aëration, then
the temperature under which the operation is carried on may be per-
mitted to rise as bigh as 500° Fahrenheit, but if it be one of the light coloured
varieties of the oils then I effect its thickening by the aëration carried on at
temperatures not exceeding 212° Fahrenheit, but it is preferable to conduct it at
temperatures of from 70° to 80°, or not exceeding 100° Fahrenheit, and I
regulate and controul these temperatures by means of the application of the
decaloricised air as herein-before described, and by means of apparatus for
supplying the same attached to or appended to the vats in which the aforesaid
operations are carried on.
In operating upon linseed oil for rendering it more drying, or for
thickening or refining it, or in operating upon any other oil or fat for bleaching
or refining it, and for which purposes it has to be mixed or kept in contact
with materials or reagents either not readily miscible with it or of different
specific gravities from itself or has to be brought in contact with atmospheric.
air or other gaseous matters, or with steam or water, it is desirable to have
some effective contrivance for agitating the mixture for keeping such materials
'suspended in it or for bringing them or the gaseous or other matters in contact
with every particle of the oil or fat successively, and my Invention. for this
purpose is as follows:-My principal agitating agents are atmospheric air or
steam, or both. A cylindrical or other shaped tube (or two or more such
tubes) is placed vertically within the vat, and left open at both ends, the lower
end either perforated or raised a little above the bottom of the vat so as to
allow of a free passage of the oil into and through this tube.
raised above the level of the surface of the oil in the vat.
'the bottom end is inserted concentrically another tube or pipe opening upwards
and extending a few inches upwards. This inner tube or jet pipe is connected
with an air-blowing apparatus, placed and working externally to the vat, and
also with a steam generator, so that at pleasure there may be sent into and
through it, and consequently into and up the larger tube, a current of either
air or steam, or both, or by other suitable connections of this inner or jet pipe
with the exterior apparatus, other kinds of gaseous or fluid matters can at
pleasure be sent into and through it, to react with or upon the oil. The
Its upper end is
Within this tube at

page_text: effect is (with the vat charged with oil and the reagents employed to act upon
it) the production of a current of the oil and its flowing up and through the
larger tube with a velocity proportioned to the strength of the propelling
current sent in. At some little distance from the upper orifice of this tube is
fixed a dish shaped or other form of deflector, against which the oil beats as it
is propelled through and beyond the upper end of the tube, and by which it
is thrown back into the mass of the oil outside the tube, to be again drawn in
at its bottom end, and thus a circulating current is maintained, serving to keep
agitated and to commingle together the whole contents of the vat. This
current tube, with its associated jet pipe, may be placed in the centre of the
vat, or two or more of them round its side. The circulating of the oil may
be further effected by employing a number of separate pipes conveying into
it air, either separately or in conjunction with the steam pipe or pipes. And
I employ sometimes an air distributor in addition, consisting of a perforated
plate placed or resting above the orifices of the air pipes, among which perfor-
ations the air divides and spreads itself over a greater area on its passage
through the oil. For certain of the operations this vat may be left open or
uncovered at the top, but for others it is desirable or necessary that it should
be covered; in which case it is also furnished with an outlet pipe or conduit
for carrying off or conveying away any gaseous or volatile products of the
operations to be collected and treated as may be desired. In certain cases I so
far vary these arrangements as (in place of forcing in the air) to cause it to
be drawn into and through the oil by means of any convenient exhausting
apparatus placed and acting externally to the vats, an arrangement that has for
its object (as well as to aërate and agitate the oils and its associated materials as
just described) to draw off and dispose of, if desired at any time, any gaseous
or volatile products of the operations. In operating for the general purposes
herein-before stated upon large quantities of oil, it is desirable to faciliate the
separating from the finished oil of any excess of reagents used or of extraneous
products formed during the operations, the presence of which in the oil may
prevent it from readily clearing and brightening. This separation is at present
generally accomplished by a long continued exposure of the oil to air by
leaving it at rest, so as in time to dissipate or throw down such matters to the
bottom of the mass of oil, a process both tedious and uncertain.
Now my
improved methods of treating the oil for clearing or brightening it more
rapidly, consist, first, in filtering it under conditions that have not previously
been considered as essential for procuring it permanently bright, and, secondly, in
the peculiar disposition or mechanical arrangements of apparatus for effecting
this filtering. These conditions relate to the temperature of the oil, and are

page_text: founded chiefly on the fact that such oil when warm holds in solution certain
elements, which it cannot retain when cold, and consequently its permanent
brilliancy and transparency depend upon the oil being freed from all particles
of solid or floating matter after it has become cold. And my improvements
for this purpose consist practically in passing the oil through any convenient
filtering medium, first, when it is warm (as for example, when taken direct
from the warm aërating process), and again after it has become cold or in
filtering or straining it only after it has become cold, that is, when reduced to
ordinary atmospheric temperatures, or when artificially cooled below those
points. By this system of double or successive or of cold filteration, are
removed in the first piace all excess of reagents and all products not soluble
in the warm oil, whilst by the second filtering are removed other products
thrown out of combination when the oil becomes cold, thus leaving the oil
after this second filtration, or filtration only when cold, free from further dis-
turbing actions or changes in its appearance, consequently keeping it clear and
bright permanently:
The kinds, and arrangements of apparatus I prefer to employ to carry out
these filtering, straining, or brightening operations are as follow, namely, the
filtering part of the apparatus is so constructed that the medium through
which the oil passes for clearing it from insoluble matters mixed with or floating
on it is always kept covered with or immersed in fluid oil, in order fully and
continually, whether the filter be in active use or not, to protect the exterior
surfaces of the filtering medium from all contact with the atmospheric air, and
so prevent the drying of the oil upon its surfaces, and consequent destruction
of the porosity or permeability of the material.
My apparatus or double filter for filtering the oil when warm, and again
when cold, or for effecting both purposes by a continuous operation, consists,
first, of a reservoir (capable of being warmed by steam) within which is
spread and fixed, upon a grating or false bottom, the filtering material, and
below this is fixed a pipe for carrying off the filtered oil. This pipe is
made to dip at its lower end into another reservoir of oil or receiver of the
filtered oil and its length between the two reservoirs is sufficient, by the vertical
columns of oil in it; to exert an efficient pressure upon the surface of the oil
in the upper reservoir to force it through the filtering medium, and also to
allow of the cooling of the oil as it passes through the pipe from the one
reservoir to the other, or the pipe is artificially cooled outside by being placed
within another pipe through which a current of cold water is made to flow
after the manner of refrigerating that is well known. And I regulate and
controul these temperatures by means of the application of the decaloricised

page_text: air as herein-before described, and by means of apparatus for supplying the
same, attached to or appended to the vats in which the aforesaid operations are
carried on. The second reservoir or receiver into which this once filtered and
now cooled oil falls, is also in like manner provided with its filtering medium
and outlet pipe from the bottom, in its turn dipping into oil contained in
another vessel placed some distance below, and acting there as the final receiver
of the finished or now cold and twice filtered oil. The agency through which
the pressure is exercised for forcing the cold air through the filtering material
in the second reservoir may be that of connecting its outlet pipe with a closed
reservoir, to which is attached an air exhausting contrivance, by the action of
which to draw the oil into this reservoir, and consequently through the filtering
medium in the other, or the second filtering reservoir may itself be capable
of being closed (after being partially filled from the one above) and have
attached to it an air forcing contrivance, by which to compress the air resting
upon the oil, and thus force instead of draw it through the filtering material.