Electrolytic Treatment of Vegetable Matters and Cereals for the Production of Starch.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 9th May, 1890-Accepted, 14th June, 1890
Electrolytic Treatment of Vegetable Matters and Cereals for the
Production of Starch.
We, EUGENE HERMITE, EDWARD JAMES PATERSON, and CHARLES FRIEND COOPER,
all of Pownall Road, Dalston in the County of Middlesex, Electrical Engineers do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the manufacture of starch from potatoes rice and other vegetable substances it is
found that, after disintegration of the raw material and washing, the resulting liquor
coutains not only the starch but a considerable amount of organic matter as well as
certain essential oils, which impurities cause considerable trouble producing a bad smell
and impure colour, reducing the value of the manufactured article.
Our invention consists in treating the liquors resulting from the washing of the
raw material by electrolysis in a suitable apparatus preferably such as are described
in Patent 1993 of 1887, with the addition of a chloride, preferably magnesium
chloride, which effects the decomposition of the organic matters and the essential oils
producing a much purer and white starch.
The whole liquor mixed with the chloride may be passed through electrolysers or the
liquor may be mixed with an electrolysed solution previously prepared.
Dated this 15th day of August 1889.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.
Electrolytic Treatment of Vegetable Matters and Cereals for the
Production of Starch.
We, EUGENE HERMITE, EDWARD JAMES PATERSON, and CHARLES FRIEND COOPER,
all of Pownall Road, Dalston in the County of Middlesex, Electrical Engineers 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:-
In the manufacture of starch from potatoes rice and other vegetable substances it is
found that, after disintegration of the raw material and washing, the resulting pulpy
liquor contains not only the starch but a considerable amount of organic matter as
well as certain essential oils, which impurities cause considerable trouble, producing a
bad smell and impure colour, reducing the value of the manufactured article.
Our invention consists in treating the liquor resulting from the washing of the raw
material by electrolysis in a suitable apparatus preferably such as are described in
Specification No. 1993 of 1887 with the addition of a chloride, preferably magnesium
chloride, which effects the decomposition of the organic matters and the essential oils
producing a much purer and white starch.
The whole pulpy liquor mixed with the chloride may be subjected to electrolysis,
or the starch pulp may be mixed with previously electrolysed solution of the chloride.
In addition to the magnesium chloride other chlorides may be used, such as sodium
or calcium chlorides.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
The herein described treatment of starch pulp by electrolysing it in admixture
with a chloride, or by mixing it with a previously electrolysed chloride, for the
purpose set forth.