AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING MOLASSES, SYRUPS, SACCHARINE JUICES, AND OTHER PRODUCTS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Archibald Brooman, of 166, Fleet Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING MOLASSES, SYRUPS,
SACCHARINE JUICES, AND OTHER PRODUCTS."-A Communication from abroad
by Auguste Pierre Dubrunfaut, of Bercy, France.
Sealed the 12th February 1864, and dated the 18th August 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Archibald
Brooman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 18th August 1863.
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING MOLASSES, SYRUPS,
SACCHARINE JUICES, AND OTHER PRODUCTS," to be as follows:-
The method of and apparatus for treating molasses, syrups, and saccharine
juices are based upon the phenomenon of endosmose, that is to say, the
double current which exists between two liquids of different density separated
by a membranous partition.
In the following description of the apparatus styled osmogene, I use the
expression "osmose" and the verb "to osmose" to express the action
produced in the liquids under treatment, I mean by the expressions "osmosed"
or "to be osmosed," the liquid placed in the inner reservoir or vessel, and by
the expression "osmosing" the liquid in the outer reservoir or vessel.

page_text: By placing in the apparatus impure molasses, syrups, or saccharine juices in
opposition with water they undergo an analysis such as organic and inorganic
salts pass in exosmose waters to the almost complete exclusion of the sugar
and coloring matter. This effect is at its maximum. When the molasses
and syrups, highly saline, such as those from beetroot, are at their normal
density, 40 to 45 degrees Beaumé, in presence of pure water, the analytical
effect which eliminates the salts diminishes as the density of the molasses
decreases and that of the water increases.
The apparatus shewn by way of example in the accompanying Drawing,
possesses the novel arrangement of the employment of vertical membranes,
whereby the surfaces may be indefinitely multiplied in a small space.
The apparatus consists (see Figures 1 and 2), of ten frames of wood No. 1.
to No. 10, similar to that shewn in front view at Figure 4. These frames are
separated from one another by caoutchouc fittings forming joints, one of which
is shewn upon its frame at Figure 6, and by sheets of paper of about the
same size as the outside size of the frames. These sheets have round holes
made in them corresponding with those in the frames and fittings. To close
exteriorly the two frames of the ends No. 1 and No. 10. two sheets of zinc
a, a, b, b, are substituted for the sheets of paper. All the frames are held
together by iron stays c, c, d, d, and bolts e, e, e, e. By tightening the bolts
by nuts the caoutchouc fittings support the sheets of paper and form hermetic
joints between all the frames, the frames being thus united, the four holes
A, B, C, D, Figure 4, communicate from one frame to another, and form four
horizontal conduits A, A', B, B, C, C, D, D', Figures 3 and 5, throughout
the length of the apparatus. The iron stay c, c, is furnished with two pipes E
and F, corresponding with the two upper conduits A, A', B, B, and the stay
d, d, carries two similar pipes G, H, corresponding with the two lower
conduits C, C, D, D', and a smaller pipe h, corresponding with the conduit
A, A'. The interior of the odd numbers of the frames is in communication
at the upper part with the conduit A, A', and at bottom with the conduit
D, D', through holes i, i, i, i, bored in the thickness of the wood, these
frames do not communicate with the conduits B, B', or C, C'. The interior
of the even numbers of the frames communicates in a similar manner through
holes o, o, o, with the conduits B, B, and C, C', and do not communicate
with A, A, or D, D'. If then water or the less dense of two liquids is
almitted through the tap I into the conduit A, A', it will fill all the frames
odd in number, while the displaced air will escape through the pipes h and 9,
the frames full, the liquid will flow out through the syphon J, passing along
the conduit D, D', which communicates with those frames. Figure 8 is a

page_text: section of the apparatus through the broken lines M, N, O, P. Figure 1
indicating the circulation of the liquid by a blue tint. The denser liquid on
the contrary enters at bottom by the conduit C, C', through thetap K, and
fills all the frames even in number, and when full the liquid flows out through
the pipe L, passing along the conduit B, B', which communicates with all
these frames. The circulation of the denser liquid represented by a pink tint
is shewn at Figure 5, a section of the apparatus through the line Q, R, S, T.
The sheets of paper are all placed between two cloths pierced with cor-
responding holes, by the tightening these cloths are all held as well as the
paper by the joints, and as they stretch on becoming wet, they keep the sheets
of paper in a vertical plane, and at the same time prevent their bursting by
the pressure, instead of cloth perforated metal plates may be used. The
frames though described as made of wood inny be of metal, they may also be
made of caoutchouc, and then the caoutchouc fittings may be dispensed with,
and other material may be used for the fittings, provided that upon being
tightened up it forms a close joint. I have herein-before explained the
analytical effect which takes place in placing in the osmogene apparatus
impure molasses, syrups, or saccharine juices, in opposition with water. The
molasses which refuses to crystallize is rendered partially crystallizable by
being passed once or twice through the osmogene, each time of being so
passed the density may be reduced to 20 or 25 degrees Beaumé. The
exosmose waters which hold the salts being concentrated are capable of
furnishing crystallizations of salts in which nitre and chloride of patassium
generally predominate. When molasses thus treated has furnished a crystal-
lization of sugar, the molasses which runs off may be again osmosed, clarified,
and rendered crystallizable and so on. When molosses purified by several
osmotic treatments is placed in the osmogene, sugar in its turn may be eliminated
and separated by exosmose, then the osmotic analysis first indicated is reversed,
the exosmose waters coming out at 7 or 8 degrees density are capablo being
concentrated, of yielding abundant crystallization of sugar, and finally there
remains in the osmogene a product non-crystallizable and richer in extractive
matter. Osmosed molas-es boiled with lime in excess, and treated wih
carbonic acid are highly decolorized and purified, this a simple means of
removing from osniosed molasses the coloring principle, but this process does
not exclude the employment of animal charcoal.
The o-mogene apparatus described consists of simple frames carrying on
each face strong canvas sheets well stretched, then united in one apparatus
with the interposition between each of them of a vertical membrane, the
apparatus is charged by placing alternately in the contiguous frames the

page_text: osmosing liquid and the liquid to be osmosed. Circulation is effected by
running in the two liquids in a continuous stream and in opposite directions.
Large porous vases or simple cylindrical frames covered with a membrane and
united in a reservoir will work in the same manner. In its most simple
form the apparatus may be constructed thus:-Take a frame of a cubical
form closed at bottom, and provided at its four sides with paper, parchment, or
other membrane, place it in a reservoir so that its top shall rise just above
the level of the liquid therein, and that it shall be raised at bottom from
off the bottom of the reservoir, form in the cubical frame an overflow orifice
and apply a pipe thereto, and to the lower part of the reservoir apply a syphon
tube through which to draw the denser liquid and let it run off. This is a
simple form of osmogene apparatus composed of two parts, one the osmosing
reservoir and the other the osmosed reservoir. 1 employ in some cases as the
membrane paper, artificial parchment, paper covered with leaf or powdered
metal, or with varnish, collodion, or other coating, close cloths of linen, hemp,
or cotton, transformed into membrane by sulphuric acid or collodion, plates or
vessels of porous earths, skins, bladder, and all tissues or membranes of
vegetable or animal origin.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Archibald Brooman in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th February 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, IIer heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Richard Archibald Brooman, Her special licence that I, the said
Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING MOLASSES,

page_text: SYRUPS, SACCHARINE JUICES, AND OTHER PRODUCTS," (communicated to ine from
abroad by Auguste Pierre Dubrunfaut, of Bercy, France,) upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors,
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their bands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:―
This method of and apparatus for treating molasses, syrup, saccharino
juices, and other products are based upon the phenomenon of endosmose, that is
to say, the double current which exists between two liquids of different density
separated by a membranous partition.
In the following description of the apparatus styled osmogeno, I use the
expression "osmose" and the verb "to osmose" to express the action pro-
duced in the liquids under treatment. I mean by the expressions " osmosed"
or "to be osmosed" the liquid placed in the inner reservoir or vessel, and by
the expression "osmosing" the liquid in the outer reservoir or vessel.
By placing in the apparatus impure molasses, syrups, or saccharine juices
in opposition with water, they undergo an analysis such as organic and inorganic
salts pass in exosmose waters to the almost complete exclusion of the sugar
and coloring matter. This effect is at its maximum when the molasses and
syrups, bigbly saline, such as those from beetroot, are at their normal density,
40 to 45 degrees Beaumé in presence of pure water. The analytical effect
which eliminates the salts diminishes as the density of the molasses decreases,
and that of the water increases.
The apparatus shown by way of example in the accompanying Drawings
possesses the novel arrangement of the employment of vertical membranes,
whereby the surfaces may be indefinitely multiplied in a small space.
Before describing the arrangement shewn in the Drawings, I will explain
the chief features of the osmogene. The following is the simplest arrange-
ment: Take, for example, a frame of cubical form, closed at bottom, provided
at its four sides with paper, parchment, or other suitable membrane, and
leave the top open; place this apparatus in a reservoir a little larger than it,
in such manner that its top shall rise above the reservoir about 3 or 4

page_text: inches, and shall be raised at bottom about the same distance from off the
bottom of the reservoir; form in the cubical frame an overflow orifice and
apply a pipe thereto, and to the lower part of the reservoir apply a syphon
tube through which to draw the denser liquid, and let it run off. This is a
simple form of osmogene formed of two parts, one the osmosing reservoir or
vessel and the other the osmosed reservoir or vessel. If the two parts of this
apparatus are charged with the osmosing liquid and the liquid to be osmosed
there will be a large surface of membrane, and the action will take place
without difficulty; in proportion as the osmosed liquid absorbs water through-
out the length of the vertical membranes the mixture rises to the surface on
account of its less density, while the external water flows in an opposite
direction. These two currents flow without any sensible mixing with the
surrounding liquid masses; fresh quantities of normal liquid are incessantly
submitted to the action of the membranes, the analysis proceeds, and the
drawing-off of the liquids between which the greatest effect has been produced
is easily effected. The osmosed liquid issues continuously by the overflow
orifice, while the osmosing liquid which is supplied at the upper part by a
continuous stream renews that which has passed through the membranes and
that which having accumulated at the bottom of the reservoir has acquired the
required density, and is drawn off by the syphon tube.
The membranes may be applied in different ways. The most simple
method consists in applying them by means of large stays, and filling the
joints with mastic, varnish, or caoutchouc; they may be attached to the frames
by materials which, like oil varnish, are insoluble in water, and then be con-
solidated by rods and screws. The membranes may be interposed between
two sheets of canvas or metallic sieves or gauze, which would preserve them
from being injured or lengthened by the changes of pressure. This operation
is supposed to be carried on intermittently; it is, however, better to work
continuously, which may be done by drawing off the osmosed and osmosing
liquids. It is sufficient to lead the liquid to be osmosed in a continuous
stream by a tube to the bottom of the reservoir in which it is to be osmosed.
By easily-regulated cocks the densities required for the effects which it is
wished to produco may be imparted to the liquids to be drawn off, and these
densities may vary very considerably always under the condition of maintaining
between the osmosing and osmosed liquids the inequality of density or com-
position useful for the phenomenon of exosmose.
This apparatus forms the basis of all the modifications about to be described.
Thus, for example, by dividing the cubical frame into two compartments of
equal capacity, the active surface of the membranes will be increased without

page_text: altering the reservoir. By dispensing with two of the four lateral membranes
of tho cubical frame, it may be transformed into a series of 10, 20, 100, or
even 500 frames of variable thicknesses adapted to the liquids and the effects
it is desired to obtain. As each frame may be provided at its two sides with
membranes, the number of membranes will by this means be multiplied
according to the number of frames into which the cubical frame is divided,
and all will work in a reservoir of comparatively small size. This arrange-
ment would only require the formation in any suitable manner in the reservoir
and between all the frames of spaces or intervals sufficient to allow the
osmosing liquid to flow between the membranes; metal sheets or plates
would answer the purpose. The supply to the reservoir is effected in the
same manner as when the apparatus has only one compartment, but the
supply to the frames must be modified. It is sufficient that all the tubes
which supply the liquid to be osmosed to the frames be made to communicate
with a principal pipe furnished with a cock by which the flow may be
regulated; the discharge from the frames may take place through a series of
overflow pipes which empty themselves into a common channel or receiver.
The supply arrangements, shown in the accompanying Drawings, and here-
after described, may be fitted to an apparatus constructed as just described.
The positions occupied by the two liquids may be reversed, that is to say, the
liquid to be osmosed may be placed in the reservoir, and the osmosing liquid
may be made to circulate in the frames.
The arrangements just described cause the liquid to be osmosed to take the
form of thin layers circulating between two membranes in the presence of two
opposite currents of osmosing liquid. These arrangements are admirably
adapted to the system of continuous working, and realize in great perfection,
and with every desirable economy the analytical or other effects attainable
from the osmose. By these means a very large acting surface may be
formed in a comparatively small space, as a thousand square yards of surfaco
may, if desired, be contained in a cubic yard.
In the preceding description, I have supposed the employment of an
osmosing reservoir; this reservoir may, however, be entirely suppressed, and
the apparatus may be reduced to the simple employment of frames, as about
to bo described. Take 100 or 200 frames each about one-third of an inch
thick, cover both sides with strong canvas previously washed and well
stretched, then bring all the frames together in one pile, interposing between
every two an active membrane. All the joints must be carefully made, and
the whole is firmly secured by stays at the two ends connected by bolts. If
this apparatus be placed so that the membranes are in a vertical position, and

page_text: if it be charged by placing the osmosing liquid and the liquid to be osmosed
alternately in the contiguous frames, the same effects will be produced as in
the reservoir before described; in this instance, however, the spaces or
intervals which were provided by the reservoir are here formed by the frames
themselves. Circulation takes place in the same manner, that is to say, that
the two liquids are made to flow in continuous streams in contrary directions
and in thin layers, so as to fulfil the conditions of working, which form the
object of this Invention.
The apparatus may also be used with the membranes in a horizontal
position. In the two cases the analytical action of the frames works by
addition, that is to say, that it is equal to the effect of each frame multiplied
by their number; this effect may be utilized by multiplication, that is to say,
the analysing effect may be increased as well as the number of frames in the
following manner :-All the compartments of the same kind may be put in
communication so as to cause the two liquids, the osmosing liquid and the liquid
to be osmosed to circulate therein in two different directions, and from frame
to frame. In this case, as the osmosed liquid is submitted successively to the
action of all the membranes, it may more easily be reduced to the minimum
density, while the osmosing liquid may reach the maximum.
The objects above mentioned may also be attained by forming, of paper or
artificial membranes, a sack or bag about a yard high, and of considerable
length. This sack folded a number of times on itself in a reservoir, with a
sieve interposed between every two folds inside or outside the sack, will form
an osmogene with large vertical surfaces; by charging the reservoir with
water, or the sack with liquid to be osmosed, or vice versa, an effect will be
produced analogous to that obtained by the frames united in a reservoir.
Large porous vases or simple cylindrical frames covered with a membrane,
and united in a reservoir, will work in the same manner as the simple
osmogenes first described.
All the operations before described may be carried on hot or cold, care
being taken to heat or cool the liquids to the required temperatures before
being placed in the apparatus. The useful effect of the membranes usually
increases with elevation in temperature. The pressure of liquid columns may
be applied to all the frames or to one part or other of the osmosing or
osmosed frames.
By this last method osmotic neutrality may be produced, that is to say,
the resultant of the currents of endosmose may be counteracted by means of
a liquid column, which would act as an equipoise to it. This manner of
working, which does not interfere with the perfection of the analysis, allows of

page_text: water and expense being economized by preventing the weakening of the
osmosed liquid.
By apparatus constructed according to this Invention osmotic analysis,
which hitherto has only been carried on in a laboratory, may be applied to
manufactures.
The apparatus represented in Figures 1, 2, and 3 consists of ten frames of
wood, No. 1 to No. 10, similar to that shown in front view at Figure 7.
These frames are separated from one another by caoutchouc fittings, forming
joints, one of which is shewn upon its frame at Figure 9, and by sheets of
paper of about the same size as the outside size of the frames. These sheets
have round holes made in them corresponding with those in the frames and.
fittings.
To close exteriorly the two frames of the ends No. 1 and No. 10, two sheets
of zinc a, a, b, b, arę substituted for the sheets of paper. All the frames aro
held together by iron stays c, c, d, d, (Figures 4 and 6,) and bolts e, e, e, e.
By tightening the bolts by nuts the caoutchouc fittings support the sheets of
paper, and form hermetic joints between all the frames. The frames being
thus, united, the four holes A, B, C, D, Figure 7 communicate from one
frame to another, and form four horizontal conduits A, A', B, B', C, C¹,
D, D', throughout the length of the apparatus. The iron stay c, c, is furnished
with two pipes E and F corresponding with the two upper conduits A, A³,
B, B', and the stay d, carries two similar pipes G, II, corresponding with
the two lower conduits C, C, D, D', and a smaller pipo h, corresponding
with the conduit A, A'. The interior of the odd numbers of the frames is in
communication at the upper part with the conduit A, A, and at bottom with
the conduit D, D', through holes i, i, i, bored in the thickness of the wood,
these frames do not communicate with the conduits B, B¹, or C, C'. The
interior of the even numbers of the frames communicates in a similar manner
through holes o, o, o, with the conduits B, B, and C, C', and do not commu-
nicate with A, A¹, or D, D'. If then water or the less dense of two liquids
is admitted through the tap I into the conduit A, A', it will fill all the frames
odd in number while the displaced air will escape through the pipes h and g,
the frames full, the liquid will flow out through the syphon J, passing along
the conduit D, D', which communicates with those frames. Figure 5 is a
section of the apparatus through the broken lines M, N, O, P, Figure 1,
indicating the circulation of the liquid by a blue tint. The denser liquid
on the contrary enters at bottom by the conduit C, C', through the tap K,
and fills all the frames even in number, and when full the liquid flows out
through the pipe L passing along the conduit B, B', which communicates.

page_text: with all these frames. The circulation of the denser liquid represented by
a pink tint is shewn at Figure 8 a section of the apparatus through the lino
Q, R, S, T. The sheets of paper are all placed between two cloths pierced with
corresponding holes; by the tightening these cloths are all held as well as
the paper by the joints, and as they stretch on becoming wet they keep the
sheets of paper in a vertical plane, and at the same time prevent their bursting
by the pressure. Instead of cloth, perforated metal platos may be used.
The frames though described as made of wood may be of metal, they may
also be made of caoutchouc, and then the caoutchouc fittings may be dispensed
with, and other material may be used for the fittings provided that upon being
tightened up it forms a close joint.
I have herein-before explained the analytical effect which takes place on
placing in the osmogene apparatus impure molasses, syrups, or saccharine
juices in opposition with water. The molasses which refuses to crystallize is
rendered partially crystallizable by being passed once or twice through the
ósmogene, each time of being so passed the density may be reduced to 20 or
25 degrees Beaumé. The exosmose waters, which hold the salts being con-
centrated, are capable of furnishing crystallization of salts, in which nitre and
chloride of potassium generally predominate. When molasses thus treated
has furnished a crystallization of sugar, the molasses which runs off may be
again osmosel, clarified, and rendered crystallizable, and so on. When
molasses purified by several osmotic treatments is placed in the osmogene,
sugar in its turn may be eliminated, and separated by exosmose, then tho
osmotic analysis, first indicated is reversed, the exosmose waters coming out
at 7 or 8 degrees density, are capable, being concentrated, of yielding abundant
crystallization of sugar, and, finally, there remains in the osmogene a
product non-crystallizable, and richer in extractive matter. Osmosed molasses
boiled with lime in excess, and treated with carbonic acid, are highly de-
colorized and purified, this is a simple means of removing from osmosed molasses
the coloring principle, but this process does not exclude the employment of
animal charcoal.
This osmogene apparatus may also be usefully employed for the following
purpose: The saccharification of amylaceous substances by acids, whether
for glucose matters or for the manufacture of alcobols, is carried on with more
perfection below than above the temperature of 212° Fahrenheit, and the
more the temperature is lowered the longer should the duration of the action
be prolonged, or the proportion of acid be increased, the last method is the
most simple, but is not economical if the acid is to be lost, as usually is the
case. The osmogene apparatus removes this difficulty. If a syrup of fecula,

page_text: with all its acid, whatever be the proportion, be put into osmose the acid will
pass into the exosmose water to the exclusion of the glucose matter. The
acid may thus be employed indefinitely, and as it re-enters into work, under
circumstances in which the glucose matter is not affected, no evil would result
if the eliminated acid took a certain proportion of glucose matter with it.
In some cases I employ as the membrane, paper, artificial parchment, paper
covered with leaf or powdered metal, or with varnish, collodion, or other
coating, close cloths of linen, hemp, or cotton transformed into membrane by
sulphuric acid, collodion, coagulated albumen, or other coatings, plates, or
vessels of porous earths, skins, parchment, bladder, and all tissues or mem-
branes of vegetable or animal origin.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
First, the employment or adaptation as herein-before described of the
phenomenon of endosmose for the treatment of molasses, syrups, saccharine
juices, and other products.
Second, constructing apparatus in which the said treatment takes places,
substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of February, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
RA BROOMAN