A NEW METHOD OF MANUFACTURING EXTRACTS OF ORCHAL
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills of the firm of Harris and
Mills of 23 Southampton Buildings in the County of, Middlesex Patent Agent.
for an Invention of "A NEW METHOD OF MANUFACTURING EXTRACTS OF
ORCHAL communicated to me from abroad by Jean-Baptiste Peter of Rue
du Marché, St Etienne in the Republic of France.
.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard
Mi ls at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd August
1883.
23
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of the firm of Harris and Mills of
23 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex Patent Agent "A NEW
METHOD OF MANUFACTURING EXTRACTS OF ORCHAL A communication to me
from abroad [by] Jean-Baptiste Peter of Rue du Marché St Etienne in the Republic
of France
The process constituting the object of the present invention consists in the
employment of ammonia in the state of gas in lieu of liquid ammonia hitherto
employed in the preparation of extracts of orchal.
Let us suppose a Woolff's apparatus composed of an indeterminate number of
vases or flasks, through which is passed a current of atmospheric air furnished by
a blowing mahine.
The first vase contains liquid ammonia, the following vases contain the solutions
of coloring matters of tinctorial lichens intended to produce the extract of orchal;
the last vase is three parts filled with acidulated water.
The air supplied by the blower becomes charged with ammonical gas by
traversing the first vase.
Tuis gas is then transported and distributed in the series of the following vases
containing the tinctorial matters it is then transformed into sulphate or chlorhydrate
by traversing the acidulated water of the last vase without which it would be lost
uselessly in the atmosphere.
In practice the apparatus can be of any form and dimensions required by the
nature and the quantity of materials under treatment.

page_text: $
i
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Patent Office on the
21st February 1884.
"
"
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of the firm of Harris and Mills of
23 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex Patent Agent
"A NEW
METHOD OF MANUFACTURING EXTRACTS OF ORCITAL A coinmunication to me from
abroad by Jean-Baptiste Peter of Rue du Marché, St. Etienne, in the Republic of
France
The developement of the coloring matters contained in the tinctorial lichens
and their transformation into extract of orchal is generally obtained by introducing
into the solution more or less concentrated of these matters, a large proportion of
liquid ammouin, then by means of a blowing machine, there is injected into the
mass a current of air continued during one or two months, the developement of
the colour is the result of the prolonged action of the ammoniacal gas and of the
oxygen of the atmospheric air; with respect to the extraction of these matters it
is effected either cold or hot, by means of a milk of lime, of ammoniacal water, of
a soda or potash lye or by other meaus according to the quality of the lichens and
the product to be obtained.
The new process which constitutes the object of the present Invention relates
only to the developement, it consists in the employment of gaseous ammonia in
lieu of liquid ammonia
Let us suppose a Woolff's apparatus composed of an indeterminate number of
ynses or flasks, through which is passed a current of atmospheric air furnished by
a blowing machine.
The first vase contains liquid ammonia, the following vases contain the solutions
of colouring matters of tinctorial lichens intended to produce the extract of orchal,
Ehe last vaso is three parts filled with acidulated water.
The air supplied by the blower becomes charged with ammoniacal gas by
traversing the first vase, this gas is thus transported and distributed in the series
of the following vases containing the tinctorial matters, it is then transformed
into sulphate or hydrochlorate by traversing the acidulated water of the last vase
without which it would be lost uselessly in the atmosphere.
In practice the apparatus can have any form and dimensions necessitated by the
nature and quantity of the materials to be treated.
At present the liquid ammonia is placed in its totality at the outset of the
operation, and during the first days three quarters of the gas is lost uselessly; at
the end of the operation on the contrary the gas is insufficient, these inconveniences
are avoided by the employment of a current of ammoniacal air dosed at will
which permits of maintaining, of increasing, or of diminishing the degree of
alcalinity of the liquor according as its utility is recognized, and the aminonia of
which collected at the outlet can be entirely utilized.
The action of the dry gas produces also a more intense combination than
that of the liquid ammonia and the reaction can be accelerated by forcing the
current.
Finally this
process enables the intervention of heat to be employed in the
Operation without fear of the rapid evaporation of the ammonia, it is well known
that the various coloring matters of lichens are readily transformed under the
influence of heat and of an alkaline base, into orcine or into analogous matters,
there is thus obtained a richer and more regular product.
This process economizes three fourths at least of the ammonia employed, gives a
more active and easily manageable reaction and permits of the employment of heat
which judiciously applied gives excellent results,

page_text: Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and the mode in which
the same is carried into effect I would have it understood that what I claim in
the manufacture of extracts of orchal is the substitution for the liquid ammonia.
hitherto employed of a continuous current of air charged with gaseous ammonia
traversing the solutions in closed vessels, thereby preventing all waste of gas and
permitting of the employment of heat.
In witness whereof I the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills have hereunto set
my hand and seal this twelfth day of February in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty four.
B. J. B. MILLS (L.S.)