THE MANUFACTURE OF AN ARTIFICIAL TARTARIC ACID, AND THE APPLICATION OF THE SAME TO USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford, of 16,
Castle Street, Holborn (City), London, Patent Agent, for the
Invention of "THE MANUFACTURE OF AN ARTIFICIAL TARTARIC ACID,
AND THE APPLICATION OF THE SAME TO USEFUL PURPOSES."-A com-
munication.
Sealed the 6th June 1854, and dated the 6th December 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Auguste Edouard
Loradoux Bellford at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with his Petition, on the 6th December 1853.
I, AUGUSTE EDOUARD LORADOUX BELLFORD, of 16, Castle Street,
Holborn (City), London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "THE MANUFACTURE OF AN ARTIFICIAL TARTARIC
ACID, AND THE APPLICATION OF THE SAME TO USEFUL PURPOSES," to be as
follows:-
The Invention has for its object,-1", to convert oxalic acid into
artificial tartaric acid; 2, to form tartrates by means of this said artificial
tartaric acid when combined with bases; 3%, to use the said same artificial
tartaric acid with alumina instead of common tartaric acid, or bitartrate

page_text: acid of potash, in dyeing upon wool, for fixing coloring matter, & giving
vivacity & brilliancy to the colors. To obtain said artificial tartaric
acid, dissolve oxalic acid, and acetic acid in such proportion as to
obtain in numbers, carb. 115, oxys 179, & hyd 6, & keep the mixturo
warm for ten or twelve hours at a temperature of 90 or 100 deg. cent.;
or, which is much better, make vapors of acetic acid pass through a
solution of oxalic acid in such a quantity as to form with the oxalic
acid the mentioned numbers, viz., carb. 115, ox³ 179, hyd 6. When
the reaction is completed, take out the fire & leave the solution to
cool. Thus is obtained the sd artificial tartaric acid perfectly crystal-
lized & sufficiently pure for common purposes. This artificial tartaric
acid may be combined with bases, & form the same tartrates as the
tartaric acid obtained in the ordinary way.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th June 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1,
AUGUSTE EDOUARD LORADOUX BELLFORD, of 16, Castle Street, Holborn
(City), London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford,
Her special licence that I, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bell-
ford, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford, my executors, "administra-
tors, 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 Chaunel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "THE MANUFACTURE OP AN

page_text: ARTIFICAL TARTARIC ACID, AND THE APPLICATION OF THE SAME TO USEFUL
PURPOSES," being a communication from a foreigner residing abroad,
upon the condition (amongst others) that the said Auguste Edouard
Loradoux Bellford, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, 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 tho said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux
Bellford, do hereby declare the nature of my 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):-
My Invention is founded upon the great similarity of composition
which exists between the tartaric and oxalic acids, the former differing
from the latter only by containing less oxygen and more hydrogen,
since it is well known that 100 parts oxalic acid are made up of
70-689 parts oxygen, 26-566 parts of carbon, and 2-745 parts hydrogen,
whilst 100 parts tartaric acid are made up of 69-321 parts oxygen,
24.050 parts carbon, and 6-629 parts hydrogen.
my
Further, upon taking into consideration the fact that sugar contains
the exact quantity of hydrogen which is deficient in oxalic acid, it will
be easy to see the possibility of forming an artificial tartaric acid
having the same composition as that which is made from bitartrate
of potassium: Having. thus stated the general principles of In-
vention, I shall now describe the way of carrying the same into effect,
for which purpose I prefer either of the two following processes, viz.:
Firstly, I take a quantity of sugar, treaclc, molasses, or any other sub-
stance capable of forming oxalic acid with nitric acid. On this sugar or
other substance I pour a certain quantity of nitric acid, and also some
mother or residue water in which oxalic acid has been crystallized. As
soon as the nitrous, vapours cease to be evolved, I add another quantity
of nitric acid; I then reduce this solution until by cooling a crystalline
mass is obtained. This mass consists of very slender needle-like
crystals, and is. next washed for obtaining the tartaric acid... After

page_text: washing the crystals, I add sugar which has been dissolved in some of
the washing liquor, the quantity of sugar required being proportional
to the degree of acidity which it is desired to obtain. The sirupy or
treacle-like liquid thus obtained is concentrated or condensed by a
gentle heat so as to prevent it getting too dark, and is then left to
crystallize at a moderate temperature. The second process consists in
taking one part weight sugar, molasses, or treacle, or of any other
substance from which oxalic acid can be made by means of nitric acid,
and adding to this quantity, first about one third part weight of acetic
acid, and then three parts weight nitric acid of what is called thirty-six
degrees.
This produces an oxalic acid containing more hydrogen than the
ordinary oxalic acid. The solution having been crystallized, the crystals
are washed, dissolved, and crystallized again.
In order to change this oxalic acid into tartaric acid, it is only
necessary to disoxygenate it either by means of sugar or any other
substance which has an aflinity for oxygen. I prefer, however, those
kind of sugar which are apt to crystallize into candy; I dissolve this
sugar in the washing liquor and also the oxalic acid obtained as before.
The two solutions thus obtained are mixed and concentrated at a low
heat, and crystals of tartaric acid are obtained by crystallizing the
mixture at a moderate temperature. Tho tartaric acid obtained by
either of the two processes before described may be used for producing
any tartrates, such as of potassium, sodium, aluminum, and so forth.
The washing liquors resulting from these processes having been
sufficiently concentrated may also be used as a dyeing mordant for any
colour.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
in which the same may be carried into effect, I wish it to be distinctly
understood that what I consider to be secured to me by these Letters
Patent, and claim, is,―
Firstly, converting oxalic acid into tartaric acid by means of dis-
oxygenation, either by means of sugar or any other substance which
has an affinity for oxygen, as above described.
Secondly, manufacturing tartaric acid by producing at once oxalic

page_text: acid, less oxygenated and in a less complete state of crystallization
than the common one, as described under the second process.
Thirdly, using as a dyeing mordant for any colours, the liquors
remaining after washing the crystals obtained by either of the above
processes, and after having been suitably concentrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux
Bellford, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth
day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-four.
A. E. L. BELLFORD. (L.S.)