IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STEARINE
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Eugène de Bassano, Gentleman, and Adolphe
Brudenne, Civil Engineer, both of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STEARINE."
Sealed the 29th April 1862, and dated the 30th October 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Eugène de Bassano and
Adolphe Brudenne at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 30th October 1861.
We, EUGÈNE DE BASSANO, Gentleman, and ADOLPHE BRUDENNE, Civil
Engineer, both of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
STEARINE," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of an improved method or process whereby the whole or
a certain part of the oleic acid contained in the fatty matters employed in the
manufacture of stearine is converted into elaidic acid in the concrete state by
the use of sulphurous acid gas in the nascent state during the process of
acidification, by which a larger quantity of stearine can be obtained from a
given quantity of fatty matters than by the means heretofore employed of
manufacturing stearine.
We would here remark that according to the mode of treatment hitherto

page_text: adopted in the ordinary processes of manufacturing stearine, the yield has
been stearic and margaric acid combined; if the mode of treatment be
calcareous saponification, and if the treatment be acidification and distillation,
then margaric acid and oleic acid, and possibly oil in small quantity acci-
dentally transformed into elaidic acid in a concrete state. We would further
observe that there are only two known chemical agents capable of transforming
oleic acid into solid elaidic acid; these agents are nitrous and sulphurous acids.
The latter of these we prefer to employ for the purposes of this Invention,
namely, to convert a large portion of oleic acid into elaidic acid, which may be
effected in the following manner and by the following means:-In order to
obtain a successful result it is indispensable that the sulphurous acid in its nascent
state should come into immediate contact with the matters which are to be
operated upon thereby. There are several ways of effecting this contact; in any
case the sulphuric acid must be deprived of a portion of its oxygen so as to
produce sulphurous acid in a nascent state, the effect of which is to solidify
and transform the oleic acid arising from the decomposition of the fatty matters
by means of sulphuric acid previous to distillation. This result may also be
obtained by means of various salts more or less costly, but their bases are liable
to be injurious to the fatty matter; we prefer, therefore, to use substances
capable of producing carbon, which, for this purpose, we have found the most
active absorbent of oxygen; and the substance best adapted and least injurious
to the fatty matters is common powdered wood charcoal; of this we add one or
more 1000th parts (according to the fatty matters treated) to the melted fatty
matters either before or during the process of acidification; by these means a
part of the oxygen of the sulphuric acid is eliminated, sulphurous acid in a
gaseous state is formed and impregnates the mass, thereby transforming the
oleic acid into elaidic acid.
Another important feature in our said Invention consists in adding oleic acid
(reserved from a previous operation) to the fatty matters under process of acidifi-
cation. The purpose of this addition is to facilitate the distillation and to
absorb the yellow colouring matters which fly to the most liquid portions of
the máss, and are carried off during the operation of pressing or process of
distillation. The fluid matter should be in sufficient abundance to separate
easily the coloring matter from the solid portions. The oleic acid used for
this purpose is worked up afterwards.
:
Another advantage arising from the addition of oleic acid is, that it
facilitates the action of the sulphurous acid produced. This acid is so volatile
that it requires to be immediately brought into contact with the oleic acid

page_text: ready to be converted into elaidic acid, and by its presence in the compound
less sulphurous acid is required to be used than if the oleic acid were omitted,
and the operation of pressing is rendered easier.
. We would here remark that the quantity of oleic acid employed will depend
on the quality of the fatty matters operated upon; the richer these are in
stearine the more requisite it is to add a larger quantity of oleic acid. To the
rich tallows of Russia we add from 30 to 40 per cent. of oleic acid, with certain
other fatty matters such as bone grease, horn grease, or palm oils; in some cases
we reduce the quantity of oleic acid to 20 per cent. and even less. It is the result
of the analysis of the different fatty matters which governs the precise quantity
of oleic acid necessary in all cases. The manufacturer should so arrange as to
have as much oleic acid disengaged as may profitably be brought into contact
with the nascent sulphurous gas besides a sufficient excess to carry off in the
pressing operation the coloring matter. An excess of oleic acid is in no way
injurious to the process but is useless, and the second distillation of this.oil
causes it to lose two per cent. It occupies the stills, and other vessels, and
increases the consumption of fuel and amount of manual labour.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Eugène de Bassano and Adolphe Brudenne in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 30th April 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, EUGÈNE.
DE BASSANO, Gentleman, and ADOLPHE BRUDENNE, Civil Engineer, both of
Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said Eugène de Bassano and Adolphe Brudenne, Her, special licence
that we, the said Eugène de Bassano and Adolphe Brudenne, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Eugène de Bassano
and Adolphe Brudenne, our executors, administrators, 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 Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention

page_text: for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STEARINE," upon the condition,
amongst others, that we, the said Eugène de Bassano and Adolphe
Brudenne, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
our, or their, or one of their hands 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 we, the said Eugène de Bassano and Adolphe
Brudenne, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
This Invention consists of an improved method or process whereby the
whole or a certain part as may be desired of the oleic acid contained in the
fatty matters employed in the manufacture of stearine is converted into
elaidic acid in the concrete state by the use and action of sulphurous
acid gas in the nascent state during the process of acidification, by which
a larger quantity of stearine can be obtained from a given quantity of
fatty matters than by the means heretofore employed of manufacturing
stearine.
We would here remark that according to the mode of treatment hitherto
adopted in the ordinary processes of manufacturing or producing stearine, and
scientifically known up to this time, the yield has been stearic and margaric
acids combined; if the mode of treatment be by calcareous saponification, and
if the treatment be by acidification and distillation, then margaric acid and
oleic acids and possibly oil in small quantity accidentally transformed into
elaidic acid in a concrete state. We would further observe that there are
only two known chemical agents capable of transforming oleic acid into solid
elaidic acid. These agents are nitrous and sulphurous acids; the latter of
these we prefer to employ for the purposes of this Invention, namely, to
convert a large portion or the whole of the oleic acid into elaidic acid,
which may be effected in the following manner and by the following
means: In order to obtain a successful result it is indispensable that
the sulphurous acid in its nascent state should come into immediate and
intimate contact with the matters which are to be operated upon thereby.
There are several ways of effecting this production and contact; in any case
the sulphuric acid must be deprived of a portion of its oxygen so as to produce
sulphurous acid in a nascent state, the effect of which is to solidify and

page_text: transform the oleic acid arising from the decomposition of the liquid fatty
matters by means of sulphuric acid previous to distillation. For example, it
may be effected by means of substances which have the property of retrans-
forming sulphurous acid (always in excess and very volatile) into sulphuric
acid, which is thus decomposed and recomposed until the acidification and
concretion is complete. This result may also be obtained by means of various
other salts or substances more or less costly, but their bases are liable to be
injurious to the fatty matter, we prefer therefore to use substances containing
or capable of producing carbon. For this purpose we have found the most
active absorbent or mode of absorbing oxygen and the substance best adapted
and least injurious to the fatty matters is common powdered wood charcoal
or fine wood sawdust well dried; of this we add one or more 100th parts
(according to the fatty matters treated) to the melted fatty matters either
before or during the process of acidification. By these means a part of the
oxygen of the sulphuric acid is eliminated, and sulphurous acid in a gaseous and
nascent state is formed and impregnates the mass, thereby transforming the
oleic acid into elaidic acid.
Another feature in our said Invention consist in adding oleic acid (reserved
from a previous operation) to the fatty matters under process of acidification.
The purpose of this addition is to facilitate the distillation and to absorb the
yellow coloring matters which fly to the most liquid portions of the mass, and
are carried off during the operation of pressing or process of distillation.
We would here remark that although preferring to use carbon or car-
bonaceous matters for the purposes before stated we obtain the same results
by employing in lieu thereof any other matters or substances capable of
producing eliminating sulphurous acid by their reaction upon sulphuric acid,
using such substances in a powdered or porous state, or we use highly
oxygenized bodies such as the black oxide of manganese and the like bioxided
metals.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of our said
Invention of "Improvements in the Manufacture of Stearine," together with
the best means we are acquainted with for carrying the same into practical
effect, we hereby declare our Invention to consist in and we claim,―
First, converting any portion or the whole of the oleic acid contained in
fatty matters into elaidic acid in the concrete state during the process of
acidification by the use of sulphurous acid gas in the nascent state and also
carbonaceous and other substances or highly oxygenated bodies having the
property of producing sulphurous acid as above stated, the same constituting
improvements in the manufacture of stearine.

page_text: Secondly, adding oleic acid to fatty matters during the process of acidification
for the purpose of obtaining solid matters of a good white color, and easy to
press, and for facilitating the conversion of oleic acid into elaidic acid as above
stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Adolphe Brudenne, one of the parties
hereto, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth
day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-two.