A PROCESS OF EXTRACTING SUGAR FROM MOLASSES SYRUPS AND THE JUICE OF PLANTS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carl Steffen of the City of Vienna in the Empire of
Austria, for an Invention of A PROCESS OF EXTRACTING SUGAR FROM
MOLASSES SYRUPS AND THE JUICE OF PLANTS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Carl Steffen at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd February 1883.
CARL STEFFEN of the City of Vienna in the Empire of Austria. A PROCESS OF
EXTRACTING SUGAR FROM MOLASSES, SYRUPS AND THE JUICE OF PLANTS
My Invention relates to a process of extracting sugar from molasses, syrups and
the juices of plants, and consists in treating an aqueous solution of calcareous
saccharate so that calcareous saccharate, insoluable at a temperature varying from
0 to 35 Centigrade (32° to 95° Fah :) is won without employing artificial warmth
or alcobol.
The said aqueous solution of calcareous saccharate is previously filtered or
decantered so as to free the same from the superfluous lime and is then mixed with a
certain new quantity of lime more than equal to 30 and not more than 100 parts
by weight to 100 parts of sugar in the solution. The separation of the calcareous
saccharine takes place and contains no excess of lime. This process also produces
a separation of the sugar from the impure duid or lye containing non saccharine
matter by washing in clear pure water.
My said process is carried out in the following manner an aqueous saccharine
solution saturated with lime but freed from all excess of insoluable lime is first
produced at a temperature varying from 0° to 35° Centigrade or 32° to 95° Fah :.
The aforementioned calcareous saccharate is separated or precipitated out of the
aqueous calcareous saccharine solution without the employment of artificial heat or
alcohol by the addition of a fresh quantity of lime.
The calcareous saccharine so separated from the solution is not easily soluable in
water and can therefor be readily washed.

page_text: The proportions of lime added to the solution and the temperature mentioned
above must be carefully observed.
If any considerable quantity of sugar should still be found in the remaining
fluid liquor or lye decanted or let off from the calcareous saccharine, this said
quantity of sugar is attained by introducing a fresh quantity of lime in the
proportions given above and at the temperature as aforenamed-32° to 95°
Fahrenheit.
The smallest quantity of lime, that is 30 parts by weight is employed when the
temperature approaches the freezing point, the largest quantity, that is 100 parts
by weight, when the temperature reaches the maximum temperature of 35° Centi-
grade or 95° Fahrenheit.
The lime can be employed in any desired form either as quick lime Ca O or in
aqueous solution I prefer however to employ powdered quicklime.
The concentration of the molasses, syrup or plant juice employed can be varied
at will. The process of separating out the sugar by introducing fresh quantities
of lime is absolutely certain and never fails even when the solution of molasses or
syrup be very aqueous.
•
It is advisable to avoid too great a concentration as the filtration of very
thick masses is difficult and the insoluable bodies are not readily separated from
the same.
_In_order_to_carry my said process into operation I proceed as follows:-
The molasses is diluted with cold-water-in-a-reservoir provided with stirring
apparatus, the temperature of the solution must not exceed 35° Centigrade-or-
95° Fahrenheit and it is preferable to keep the temperature as low as possible
within the limits given. It is advisable in practice to employ solutions which
are not considerably concentrated, for instance solutions containing 8 to 12 per cent
sugar.
This
The concentration is ascertained by measuring the specific gravity of the
solution in the stirring vat or vessel, which said vessel I call the "molasses wash."
From this said stirring vessel the molasses solution is led into a cylindrical and
preferably closed vessel which is also provided with stirring mechanisın.
vessel I term the mixing vessel or vat. A certain volume of diluted molasses, the
amount of sugar in the same being known is led into the said mixing vat or vessel
which said vessel is in connection with a tourniquet or apparatus for measuring
powdered lime which said powdered lime is produced in a suitable mill provided
with sifting arrangements.
The mixing vessel or vat, tourniquet, or measuring apparatus, grinding and
sifting arrangements can be constructed and connected with each other similar to
the method at present carried out in extracting sugar from molasses.
The diluted cold solution of molasses or syrup is introduced into the mixing
vessel and for every 100 parts by weight of sugar in the said solution is added
according to the quality of the lime, at least 50 parts but less than 100 parts by
weight of powdered lime in order to form a calcareous saccharine solution.
It is advantageous to keep the temperature as low as possible which said
temperature dare on no account exceed 35° Centigrade or 95° Fahrenheit.
The formation of the calcareous saccharine solution takes place in from 1 to 2
minutes. The entire mass is now pumped out of the mixing vessel and pressed
through the so called lyeing filters in order to free the solution from any surplus of
undissolved lime.
The calcareous saccharine solution or lye escaping from the filter flows into
suitable collecting receptacles and is cooled down to as low a temperature as
possible at least below 35° Centigrade by means of suitable cooling or refrigerating
arrangements, This cooling is in most cases necessary as the solution is liable
to become heated to a considerable degree through the addition of the powdered
lime.
The cooling is carried out either by means of cold water in well known cooling
apparatus or by means of serpentine tubes arranged in the collecting vessels."

page_text: The slammy lime remaining in the filters is well washed in cold water and
freed of any sugar remaining in the same. The very dilute saccharine solution or
lye obtained can be employed for diluting the molasses in the molasses washing
vessel.
This
The solution collected in the collecting vats or receptacles is when sufficiently
cool let off into a second vessel or receptacle similar to the mixing vessel.
second vessel or receptacle is in connection with the lime measuring apparatus or
tourniquet and also with the mixing vessel. A fixed quantity of calcareous
saccharine liquid, the contents on sugar being previously ascertained, is now
introduced into this said second vessel or receptacle
A suitable quantity of powdered lime is now introduced by means of the
measuring apparatus or tourniquet and the mass well stirred in order to separate
the calcareous saccharate out of the solution for which purpose by medium quality
of lime and at a temperature below 35° Centigrade or 95° Fahrenheit 65 parts by
weight of powdered lime to 100 parts of sugar in the solution is generally found
sufficient to produce the separation.
It is very easy to ascertain the requisite parts by weight of lime powder which
is however never less than 30 and always under 100 parts to 100 parts by weight
of sugar in the solution.
After the powdered lime has been well stirred amongst the saccharine solution
for two or three minutes the sugar at once separates itself from the said solution.
The mass is now pressed or pumped into a second group of filtering presses and
the calcareous sugar separated from the liquid solution or lye. This said liquid or
lye which contains very minute quantities of sugar passes off as waste liquid or
can be put again through the same operations as described above and 65 parts by
weight of powdered lime per 100 parts by weight of the solution added to the latter..
The solution or lye is again passed through the filter presses the calcareous
saccharine collected and the resulting fluid lye or liquid allowed to run off as waste.
In order to remove the liquid still remaining in the calcareous saccharine
the same is lixiviated in the filter presses. The last remaining thin lye can be
employed for diluting the molasses in the first operation.
The lixiviated calcareous saccharine remaining in the filtering presses is removed
and ground in a wet mill (similar in construction to those now employed for
grinding similar matter) together with the juice of beetroots a solution of sugar or
water to a slammy mass and thoroughly saturated.
In factories for beet root sugar this mass is employed as separating or precipi-
tating matter for raw beet root juice, is saturated with the same and employed for
manufacturing sugar, or the mass so obtained can be saturated alone and employed
for making sugar in the well known manner.
The separation of the calcareous saccharine so obtained from the fluid or solution
need not necessarily be carried out in filter presses but can be effected by
employing various known mechanical arrangements for converting semi fluids into
solid bodies.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Carl Steffen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd August,
1883.
CARL STEFFEN of the City of Vienna in the Empire of Austria "A PROCESS
OF EXTRACTING SUGAR FROM MOLASSES SYRUPS AND THE JUICE OF PLANTS
My Invention relates to a process of extracting sugar from molasses syrups and
the juices of plants which said process consists in treating an aqueous solution
of calcareous saccharate so that calcareous saccharate insoluable at a temperature
varying from 0° to 35° Centigrade (32° to 95° Fahrenheit) is won without
employing artificial warmth or alcohol. The said aqueous solution of calcareous
saccharate is previously filtered or decantered so as to free the same from the
superfluous lime and is then mixed with a certain new quantity of lime more than
equal to 30 and not more than 100 parts by weight to 100 parts of sugar in the
solution. The separation of the calcareous saccharine takes place and contains no
excess of line. This process also produces a separation of the sugar from the
* impure fluid or lye containing non saccharine matter by washing in clear pure water.
My said process is carried out in the following manner an aqueous saccharine
solution saturated with lime but freed from all excess of insoluble lime is first
produced at a temperature-varying from 0° to 35° Centigrade or 32° to. 95°.
Fahrenheit..
The aforementioned calcareous saccharate is separated or precipitated out of the
aqueous calcareous saccharine solution without the employment of, artificial heat
or alcohol by the addition of a fresh quantity of lime. The calcareous saccharine
so separated from the solution is not easily soluble in water and can therefor be
readily washed.
The proportions of lime added to the solution and the temperature mentioned
above must be carefully observed. If any considerable quantity of sugar should.
still be found in the remaining fluid liquor or lye decanted or let off from the
calcareous saccharine, this said quantity of sugar is attained by introducing a fresh
quantity of lime in the proportions given above and at the temperature as afore-
named 32° to 95° Fahrenheit.
The smallest quantity of lime, that is 30 parts by weight, is employed when the
temperature approaches the freezing point, the largest quantity, that is 100 parts
by weight when the temperature reaches the maximum temperature of 35° Centi-.
grade or 95° Fahrenheit. The lime can be employed in any desired form either as
quick lime (Ca O) or in aqueous solution I prefer however to employ powdered
quicklime.
The concentration of the molasses, syrup or plant juice employed can be varied
at will. The process of separating out the sugar by introducing fresh quantities of
lime is absolutely certain and never fails even when the solution of molasses or
syrup, be very aqueous.
It is advisable to avoid too great a concentration as the filtration of very thick
masses is difficult and the insoluble bodies are not readily separated from the
same. In order to carry my said process into operation I proceed as follows
The molasses is diluted with cold water in a reservoir provided with stirring
apparatus, the temperature of the solution must not exceed 35° Centigrade or
95° Fahrenheit and it is preferable to keep the temperature as low as possible
within the limits. It is advisable in practice to employ solutions which are not
considerably concentrated for instance solutions containing 8 to 12 per cent sugar
_ The concentration is ascertained by measuring the specific gravity of the
solution in the stirring vat or vessel which said vessel I call the "inolasses wash."
From this said stirring vessel the molasses solution is led into a cylindrical and
preferably closed vessel which is also provided with stirring mechanism. This
vessel I term the mixing vessel or vat. A certain volume of diluted molasses, the

page_text: amount of sugar in the same being known is led into the said mixing vat or
vessel which said vessel is in connection with a tourniquet or apparatus for
measuring powdered lime which said powdered lime is produced in a suitable mill
provided with sifting arrangements.
The mixing vessel or vat, tourniquet or measuring apparatus grinding and
sifting arrangements can be constructed and connected with each other similar to
the method at present carried out in extracting sugar from molasses.
The diluted cold solution of molasses or syrup is introduced into the mixing
vessel and for every 100 parts by weight of sugar in the said solution is added
according to the quality of the lime, at least 50 parts but less than 100 parts by
weight of powdered lime in order to form a calcareous saccharine solution.
It is advantageous to keep the temperature as low as possible which said
temperature dare on no account exceed 35° Centigrade or 95° Fahrenheit
The formation of the calcareous saccharine solution takes place in from 1 to 2
minutes. The entire mass is now pumped out of the mixing vessel and pressed
through the so called lyeing filters in order to free the solution from any surplus of-
undissolved lime.
The calcareous saccharine solution or lye escaping from the filter flows into
suitable collecting receptacles and is cooled down to as low a temperature as
possible at least below 35° Centigrade by means of suitable cooling or refrigerating
arrangements. This cooling is in most cases necessary as the solution is liable to
become heated to a considerable degree through the addition of the powdered line.
The cooling is carried out either by means of cold water in well known cooling
apparatus or by means of serpentine tubes arranged in the collecting vessels.
The slammy lime remaining in the filters is well washed in cold water and freed
of any sugar remaining in the same. The very dilute saccharine solution or lye
so obtained can be employed for diluting the molasses in the molasses washing
vessel.
The solution collected in the collecting vats or receptacles is when sufficiently
cool let off into a second vessel or receptacle similar to the mixing vessel.
This second vessel or receptacle is in connection with the lime measuring
apparatus or tourniquet and also with the mixing vessel-A fixed quantity of
calcareous saccharine liquid, the contents on sugar being previously ascertained, is
now introduced into this said second vessel or receptacle.
A suitable quantity of powdered lime is now introduced by means of the
measuring apparatus or tourniquet and the mass well stirred in order to separate
the calcareous saccharate out of the solution for which purpose by medium quality
of lime and at a temperature below 35° Centigrade or 95° Fahrenheit 65 parts by
weight of powdered lime to 100 parts of sugar in the solution is generally found
sufficient to produce the separation.
It is very easy to ascertain the requisite parts by weight of lime powder which
is however never less than 30 and always under 100 parts to 100 parts by weight
of sugar in the solution.
After the powdered lime has been well stirred amongst the saccharine solution
for two or three minutes the sugar at once separates itself from the said solution.
The mass is now pressed or pumped into a second group of filtering presses and
the calcareous sugar separated from the liquid solution or lye. This said liquid
or lye which contains very minute quantities of sugar passes off as waste liquid or .
can be put again through the same operations as described above and 65 parts by
weight of powdered lime per 100 parts by weight of the solution added to the
latter. The solution or lye is again passed through the filter presses the calcareous
saccharine collected and the resulting fluid lye or liquid allowed to run off
as waste.
In order to remove the liquid still remaining in the calcareous saccharine the same
is lixiviated in filter presses. The last remaining thin lye can be employed for
diluting the molasses in the first operation. The lixiviated calcareous saccharine
remaining in the filtering presses is removed and ground in a wet mill (similar in

page_text: construction to those now employed for grinding similar matter) together with the
juice of beet roots a solution of sugar or water to a slammy mass and thoroughly
saturated.
In factories for beet root sugar this mass is employed as separating or
precipitating matter for raw beet root juice is saturated with the same and
employed for manufacturing sugar, or the mass so obtained can be saturated
alone and employed for making sugar in the well known manner.
The separation of the calcareous saccharine so obtained from the fluid or solution
need not necessarily be carried out in filter presses but can be effected by employing
various known mechanical arrangements for converting semi fluids into solid
bodies.
Having now described my said invention for a process of extracting sugar from
molasses syrups and the juices of plants and the manner in which the same is to
or may be carried into effect I wish it to be understood that what I claim and
desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
1. The application, employment and production of a calcareous saccharine solution
from molasses syrups or the juice of plants by means of water and an excess of
lime, the latter in any suitable form, at a temperature ranging from 0° to
35° Centigrade or 32° to 95° Fahrenheit and removing the undissolved superfluous
lime in order to be able to separate the sugar from the mass as a calcareous
saccharine by adding a fresh fixed quantity of lime at the said temperatures given
above without the employment-of-alcohol-or-artificial_heat substantially as set
forth in the foregoing specification.
2-The separation of the sugar at a temperature ranging from 0° to 35° Centigrade
or 32° to 95° Fahrenheit by the addition of a fresh quantity of lime to an aqueous
solution of calcareous saccharine matter produced from molasses, syrups or the
juice of plants, lime and water without the employment of heating arrangements
and without employing alcohol substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The introduction of lime (Oxide of Calcium Ca O hydrated oxide of calcium
Ca (OH) 2) into an aqueous solution of calcareous saccharine matter freed from
excess of lime and produced from molasses syrups or the juice of plants at a
temperature ranging from 0° to 35° Centigrade or 32° to 95° Fahrenheit in
quantities within the fixed limits of more than 30 parts by weight and less than
100 parts by weight of lime to 100 parts by weight of the sugar contained in the
solution in order to separate the calcareous saccharine from the solution
substantially as set forth in the foregoing specification.
4.--The operation of first separating out the sugar from the fluid or lye resulting
from the process as claimed above by the introduction of a fresh quantity of lime
exceeding 30 parts and less than 100 parts by weight to 100 parts of the sugar
in the lye at a temperature of from 0° to 35° Centigrade or 32° to 95° Fahrenheit
without the employment of artificial heat or alcohol substantially as set forth in
the foregoing specification.
In Witness whereof I the said Carl Steffen have hereunto set my hand and
seal this twentyfifth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
'hundred and eighty three.