Improvements in the Treatment and Distillation of Fatty Matters or Crude Fatty Acids so as to Separate the Fatty Acids from the Glycerine and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: V
Date of Application, 27th Sept., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 27th June, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 7th Sept., 1888
Improvements in the Treatment and Distillation of Fatty Matters or
Crude Fatty Acids so as to Separate the Fatty Acids from the
Glycerine and in Apparatus therefor.
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign Patent
Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High
Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to effect the complete separation of the glycerine,
and to obtain the maximum amount of solid fatty acids. For this purpose the
following new or greatly improved process and apparatus to work the same has been
designed.
A. After having, even very imperfectly, separated through saponification, the
glycerine from the fatty acids, and decomposed the soaps formed, the products
obtained are introduced in the distilling apparatus without submitting them (as it has
hitherto been done) to a further acidification, the purpose of which is to complete the
separation of glycerine, and to facilitate the distillation.
B. The distillation is carried on at a temperature below that which would injure
the neutral portions which are remaining in consequence of the almost always
incomplete saponification of the fats. By this means the fatty acids, which are more
volatile than the neutral bodies, are carried away by distillation, leaving the latter
undecomposed in the still.
.
(Superheated steam or any other highly heated gas is introduced into the matter
to be distilled, and in a completely dry state at the required temperature, and at a
pressure of about three atmospheres, expansion only taking place at the moment of its
introduction into the matter.
D. During the distillation, a continuous feeding is effected, so that the quantities
of matter to be operated upon, present themselves successively to distillation, and are
not treated in a mass, as has been done up to this date. The old treatment required,
necessarily the employment of, high temperatures, causing the decomposition of the

page_text: matters which had remained neutral, the formation of tars, and the simultaneous
evaporation of useful and noxious products.
The continuous feeding of the apparatus is only to cease when the quantity of
matters which do not distil at the temperature kept up, have accumulated in the
apparatus, to an amount sufficient to impair the general progress of the operation.
E. The matters which have not distilled and which remain in the apparatus are
withdrawn, and after, by successive operations, a sufficient quantity has been collected,
they are submitted to a new saponification as in § A and to a new distillation as set
forth in B, C, D, observing the same rules.
This operation is applied to all the matters which do not distil at the temperature
kept up, and which still contain fatty acids..
F. Remark. If instead of proceeding to separate the glycerine through saponifi-
cation, recourse is taken to acidification the manner of proceeding is the same for the
distillation, but the fatty acids are no longer submitted after the separation of glycerine,
to the acidification to which it was customary to submit them before their introduction
into the distilling apparatus.
The result, from the point of view of distillation, in observing the method explained
in §§ B, C, D, and E is a minimum production of tars, and a maximum one of fatty
acids.
But from the point of view of glycerine, the process is less advantageous in quality
and quantity.
It is essential to remark:
That the novelty of the process, in this case, (without speaking of the method of
distillation), lies in the capital fact that the matters are not acidified again after the
separation of the glycerine through the acid, and before their introduction into the
distilling apparatus.
It is known that glycerine can be separated from the fats which contain it by
submitting the matters to be treated to a great pressure and a high temperature, and
agitating at the same time the mass in a violent and continuous manner, to facilitate
the separation of the glycerine and obtain the absorption by the water introduced in
determined quantity in the receiver.
11
In the processes that are most generally employed to-day, it is necessary to
make use of high pressure boilers, which are always constituting a cause of grave
accidents.
The required temperature is obtained by steam under pressure, which is put in
direct contact with the matters to be treated in the digester; this has besides the
disadvantage of increasing in useless proportions the quantity of water necessary for
the absorption of the glycerine. Further, it is indispensable, in the process now in
use, to adapt to the digester an opening communicating with the atmosphere, in order
to avoid the counter pressure and allow the introduction of steam; this has for result
a carrying away of fatty matters which escape through this opening.
The improved process suppresses the various disadvantages which have just been
pointed out, and the use of high pressure is avoided.
In the digester a closed serpentine pipe or worm is established, suitable to the size
of the digester, and to the quantity of matter to be treated. This worm has its
inlet and outlet outside the digester, without any aperture in the inside (of the
digester).
Into the digester is introduced the fats to be treated, to which the quantity of
water, thought necessary has been added as well as the reagents facilitating the
separation.
To raise the matters to the desired temperature and produce the needed pressure in
the digester through the worm is passed either a liquid susceptible of being heated
to a high temperature, or ordinary steam, or superheated steam or any other fluid that
has been superheated previously.
The heat of the worm pipe communicates itself to the matter which surrounds it.
To facilitate and urge the separation of the glycerine, the matters under treatment
in the digester are submitted to a powerful agitation by any means.

page_text: This agitation has besides for effect to effect the transmission of the heat of the
worm to the fats under treatment.
It will be seen that under these conditions, the water which has been added to
the matter contained in the digester is transformed into steam, and that steam
produces the required pressure insido the digester, in proportion to the rise of its
temperature.
The temperature of the matter in the digester and the pressure developed therein
can be regulated at will by the temperature of liquid or gaseous bodies passing.
through the worm.
It is evident that under these conditions, it is no longer necessary to give to the
steam circulating in the worm pipe the tension which was required when the steam
was admitted unrestrained into the digester.
Under the action of the heat developed in the worm the substances contained in the
digester, are raised to a high temperature.
Under the action of this temperature, the water contained in the digester is
transformed into steam producing pressure inside the digester.
Under the action of this pressure, of the high temperature, of the agitation produced.
and of the products added, the separation of glycerine and its absorption by the water
contained in the digester are obtained in an almost complete manner.
3rd. DESCRIPTION OF THE DISTILLING APPARATUS.
In order to easily observe the rules which are given above for distillation, the
apparatus is employed of which the following is a description:
This apparatus, is essentially composed of a boiler of variable shape and dimensions,
crossed by a certain number of tubes connected to each other on the outside at both
ends of the boiler, and destined to receive steam which gets superheated in passing in
bent pipes exposed to the hot gases from the fire-place; the boiler is provided with
domes communicating with condensers, and also with special apparatus permitting:
a rational, or "methodical" continuous feeding of the boiler with the substances to be
distilled, and lastly with discharge cocks and other apparatus for the purpose of
testing and directing the progress of the operation.
Prior to this invention, it has been attempted to cause the steam to circulate
through a worm placed in the midst of the substances to be evaporated, in order to
communicate to the steam a temperature equal to that of the liquid, before allowing it
to escape into the substances operated upon. The new arrangement of the tubes in
the improved apparatus offers over the systems of worm-pipes known and in use, the.
great advantage of giving a regulated and definite steam possessing a heat greater.
than that of the liquid, so that the superheated steam which is used to carry off the
matters, is infallibly raised to a temperature higher than the liquid itself at the.
moment when it is to operate the carrying away, this condition is indispensable for a
good distillation. This increase of temperature can be regulated at will through.
provisions made therefor in constructing the furnace, and can be watched by means of
thermometers or pyrometers. Thus the novelty of this system of construction of
apparatus and process of distillation consists in the possibility of obtaining auto-
matically at will, superheated steam having a temperature higher by two, five, ten,
twenty, or more degrees than that of the liquid under distillation, and to operate this
distillation only with steam raised infallibly to a definite degree, higher than that of
the matter itself.
In one arrangement of the improved apparatus, the boiler presents the form of a
horizontal cylinder closed at both ends by tube plates. It is provided with two domes,
communicating each with a condenser by means of copper pipes 15 to 20 centimetres
in diameter, and only 5 to 6 where they reach the condensers, where they are preferably
united to leaden pipes forming a worm.
The two pipes can be connected with a single worm dipping in a condenser. The
tube plates which form the ends of the boiler, receive a certain number of tubes
connected with each other by means of steam tight unions and pipes, the elbows

page_text: of which are placed outside the tube plates, and enclosed in the furnace to receive
the beat of the returning flame and hot gases.
Steam arrives in the apparatus. through a pipe, passes through all the tubes and
gets superheated in passing through the elbows of said tubes, which are for this
purpose, arranged in the flues; it goes out through the pipes provided with a
regulating cock, and runs along the top of the boiler. The top of the boiler is
covered with sand to avoid cooling. The pipe is turned downwards, and divided
into two or more branches to feed a sprinkling or rose-injecting apparatus, situated
at the lower part of the boiler, and composed of two or more parallel tubes, the lower
side of which present several small apertures, which are more or less apart.
:
These dispersing pipes are extending outside the brickwork, and are closed by
removable lids or plugs, so that they may be easily cleaned and kept clean, a condition
which is deemed indispensable for a good distillation.
The outlet pipe carries also, a little below the cock, a piping receiving a cock
permitting to blow off the steam outside. A thermometer placed in this part in a
tubing, permits one to see whether the steam is sufficiently superheated to be sent in
the required conditions into the dispersing apparatus, this is effected in opening the
cock, which permits one at the same time to regulate the admission of steam according
to the requirements.
Having found out that it is preferable not to charge, at one time, the apparatus
with the matter to be distilled, an arrangement is adopted which permits one to feed
without inconvenience during the progress of the operation. For this purpose the
matter to be distilled is contained in a vat placed about two metres above the boiler
in order to produce a head of pressure.
This reservoir communicates with the boiler through a pipe, so that steam passing
through a closed worm pipe in the substance, keeps the latter at a high
temperature.
The matter descends from the vat by a tube to be introduced into the apparatus
and by a tube; for the purpose of feeding continuously, it passes first through
tubes, placed in the flue, and lastly through a worm in the inside of the boiler,
to, escape afterwards into the mass through a perforated tube, which occupies the
whole length of the boiler.
During its passage through the tube, which is prolonged for two metres above the
level of the liquid in order to form two relief stand pipes or chimneys, a complete
drying up of the matter takes place; this disposition attenuates the bad effects
resulting from the introduction of matters, which might still contain some moisture.
A drain plug placed at the bottom of the tube permits the cleaning of the
latter.
Thus dried up the matter passes into the tube which runs along the boiler in a flue
and continues to get heated.
A regulating cock on the horizontal tube, just where it penetrates into the boiler on
the front part, permits the regulating of the feed.
Thus introduced in the apparatus, and already heated in the flue, the feed passes
through a worm dipping into the matter to completely attain its temperature. It
immediately spreads through the matter by means of a tube extending the length of
the apparatus, and perforated. It will be easy to understand that a feed introduced
under these conditions cannot disturb the progress of the distillation.
A float (the rod of which passes through a stuffing box and bears metric measure-
ments) indicates always at the outside, the quantity of fluid contained in the apparatus.
Through its indications it is easy to regulate the introduction or the evacuation.
The arrangement of the furnace in which the apparatus is to be placed, plays an
important part in the regular working of the apparatus, and in the mode of
superheating the steam and the matter for the feeding of the apparatus, the following
arrangements have been adopted although in this case, the fire place is under the boiler,
but, in the case where an overheating of the plates is to be feared, it may be placed in
front of the apparatus.
In order to have an equal temperature in the whole apparatus, we give to the bed

page_text: of the furnace a slight slope, so that the space between the boiler and the bridge which
is 40 centimetres high at the beginning, becomes only 20 centimetres at the back of
the apparatus.
By means of three movable plates collecting the gases at their egress at the end
of the boiler, the temperature to be given to the steam before its introduction into the
liquid is superheated and regulated at will.
The exactness of these temperatures in the materials, is ascertained by means of two
thermometers, placed at each end of the distilling apparatus.
Two dampers, properly arranged, permit the regulating at will of the heating of the
apparatus.
Lastly, the apparatus is completed by a man-hole, which serves for cleaning the
boiler, by a cock destined to verify the nature of the substances before their
introduction into the boiler, and by an emptying cock used to draw off the residues
after the operation is over.
The distilled products come into condensers of any suitable construction, provided
with a draught chimney, some pipes collect the products that have been carried off
into the chimney, and condensed therein.
The working of this apparatus is very simple.
Among the novel advantages which result from this invention are the following.
1. In that which concerns the glycerine.
1st. The separation of the fatty acids repeated several times, permits the avoiding
of violent and exaggerated treatments, which may have for consequences partial
destruction of the glycerine. Consequently, the new process permits of collecting the
whole of the glycerine.
2nd. The absence of the acidification, effects, besides the economy, a great
simplification of the work.
2. In that which concerns the fatty acids. The maintaining of such a temperature
of distillation, that the neutral matters can be neither decomposed nor distilled,
reduces to a minimum the production of tars, and enables one to obtain at least 94 per
cent. of solid fatty acids, a result which it is believed has never been obtained
previously. The maximum quantity of fatty acids obtained by existing processes, of
which fatty acids even part is only oil, is much below this figure.
Lastly, this process, which cannot be better defined than by saying that it consists
in retaining during the distillation, the products whose volatilization is injurious, has
especially for entirely new result, the fractional distillation of the products according
to their degree of volatilization, and consequently, according to their hardness and
height in chemical series.
In fact, during this absolutely rational distillation, where the temperature is
regulated according to the degree of volatilization of the matters to be evaporated,
the most volatile are separated the first (and not simultaneously with all others as in
the old process of distillation at a high temperature). Consequently the first products
of distillation are the lowest members of the series. The height in series rising
gradually until the distillation is completed, new result just the reverse of that
obtained up to this day, in which the last products of distillation are the softest, and
finally consist in oils.
A result no less remarkable by its novelty, is that the products obtained through
ibis distillation have through their aspect, odour, and height in series, a resemblance
much more characterised with the products termed "Saponification products," than
with those obtained hitherto through distillation.
The whole of these results can be summed up as follows:
A process having for result the getting of products equivalent to those of
saponification, with a yield both in glycerine and fatty acids superior to that of
distillation.
Dated this 96th day of Santambar 1887

page_text: Improvements in the Treatment and Distillation of Fatty Matters
or Crude Fatty Acids so as to Separate the Fatty Acids from
the Glycerine and in Apparatus therefor.
I WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster and 323 High
Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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 a patent dated November 7th 1884 granted to Messieurs Julien & Blumski and
which they have licensed to the Société Anonyme des Glycérine et Acides Gras there
is set forth,
1st, an improved apparatus for the distillation of fats and other products.
2nd, the method of working connected therewith.
Since then my correspondents have after extensive trials made with the above
apparatus been led to improve the same and completely alter the method of working
hitherto employed.
The object of this invention is to effect the complete separation of the glycerine
and to obtain the maximum amount of solid fatty acids. For this purpose the
following new or greatly improved process and apparatus to work the same has been
designed.
A. The distillation is carried on at a temperature below that which would injure
the neutral portions which are remaining in consequence of the almost always
incomplete saponification of the fats. By this means the fatty acids, which are more
volatile than the neutral bodies are carried away by distillation, leaving these latter
undecomposed in the still.
B. Superheated steam or any other highly heated gas is introduced into the
matter to be distilled, and in a completely dry state at the required temperature, and
at a pressure of about three atmospheres, expansion only taking place at the moment
of its introduction into the matter.
C. During the distillation a continuous foeding is effected so that the quantities of

page_text: matter to be operated upon, present themselves successively to distillation, and are
not treated in a mass, as has been done up to this date. The old treatment required
necessarily the employment of high temperatures, causing the decomposition of the
matters which had remained neutral, the formation of tars and the simultaneous
evaporation of useful and noxious products.
The continuous feeding of the apparatus is only to cease when the quantity of
matters which do not distil at the temperature kept up, have accumulated in the
apparatus, to an amount sufficient to impair the general progress of the operation.
D. The matters which have not distilled and which remain in the apparatus are
withdrawn, and after, by successive operations, a sufficient quantity has been collected,
they are submitted to a new saponification and to a new distillation as set forth
in §§ A B C observing the same rules.
This operation is applied to all the matters which do not distil at the temperaturo
kept up, and which still contain fatty acids.
It is known that glycerine can be separated from the fats which contain it, by
submitting the matters to be treated to a great pressure and a high temperature, and
agitating at the same time the mass in a violent and continuous manner, to facilitate
the separation of the glycerine, and obtain the absorption by the water introduced in
determined quantity in the receiver.
In the processes that are most generally employed to-day, it is necessary to make
use of high pressure boilers, which are always the cause of serious accidents.
The required temperature is obtained by steam under pressure, which is put in
direct contact with the matters to be treated in the digester; this has besides the
disadvantage of increasing in useless proportions the quantity of water necessary for
the absorption of the glycerine. Further, it is indispensable, in the process now in
use, to adapt to the digester an opening communicating with the atmosphere, in order
to avoid the counter-pressure and allow the introduction of steam; this has for result
a carrying away of fatty matters which escape through this opening.
The improved process, suppresses the various disadvantages which have just been
pointed out and avoids the use of high pressure.
In the digester, a closed serpentine pipe or worm is established suitable to the size
of the digester and to the quantity of matter to be treated. This worm has its inlet
and outlet outside the digester, without any aperture in the inside (of the digester).
Into the digester is introduced the fats to be treated, to which the quantity of
water thought necessary has been added, and eventually products facilitating the
separation.
To raise the matters to the desired temperature and produce the needed pressure
in the digester; through the worm is passed either a liquid susceptible of being
heated to a
high temperature, or ordinary steam, or superheated steain or any other
fluid that has been superheated previously.
The heat of the worm pipe communicates itself to the matter which surrounds it.
To facilitate and urge the separation of the glycerine, the matters under treatment
in the digester are submitted to a powerful agitation by any means.
This agitation has besides for effect to actuate the transmission of the heat of the
worm to the fats under treatment.
It will be seen that under these conditions, the water which has been added to the
matter contained in the digester is transformed into steam and that steam produces
the required pressure inside the digester, in proportion to the rise of its temperature.
The temperature of the matter in the digester and the pressure developed therein
can be regulated at will by the temperature of liquid or gaseous bodies passing
through the worm.
It is evident that under these conditions, it is no longer necessary to give to the
steam circulating in the worm pipe, the tension which was required when the steam
was admitted unrestrained into the digester.
Under the action of the heat developed in the worm, the substances contained in
the digester, are raised to a high temperature.

page_text: eventually and of the products added, the separation of glycerine and its absorption
by the water contained in the digester are obtained in an almost complete manner.
3rd. DESCRIPTION OF THE DISTILLING APPARATUS.
In order to easily observe the rules which are given above for distillation, the
apparatus is employed of which the following is a description.
This apparatus, an example of which is represented on the drawings annexed to
this specification, is essentially composed of a boiler of variable shape and dimensions,
crossed by a certain number of tubes connected to each other on the outside at both
ends of the boiler and destined to receive steam which gets superheated in passing in
bent pipes exposed to the hot gases from the fireplace; the boiler is provided with
domes communicating with condensers, and also with special apparatus permitting a
rational, continuous feeding of the boiler with the substances to be distilled, and lastly
with discharge cocks and other apparatus for the purpose of testing and directing the
progress of the operation.
Prior to this invention, it has been attempted to cause the steam to circulate
through a worm placed in the midst of the substances to be evaporated in order to
communicate to the steam a temperature equal to that of the liquid, before allowing
it to escape into the substances operated upon. The new arrangement of the tubes in
the improved apparatus offers over the systems of worm-pipes known and in use, the
great advantage of giving a regulated and definite steam possessing a heat greater
than that of the liquid, so that the superheated steam which is used to carry off the
matters, is infallibly raised to a temperature higher than the liquid itself at the
moment when it is to operate the carrying away; this condition is indispensable for
a good distillation. This increase of temperature can be regulated at will through
provisions made therefor in constructing the furnace, and can be watched by means
of thermometers or pyrometers. Thus the novelty of this system of construction of
apparatus and process of distillation consists in the possibility of obtaining auto-
matically at will, superheated steam having a temperature higher by two, five, ten,
twenty or more degrees than that of the liquid under distillation, and to operate this
distillation only with steam raised infallibly to a definite degree, higher than that of
the matter itself.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus.
Figure 2 represents an end view.
Figure 3 shows a plan of the system.
Figure 4 is a section through the axis of the boiler, and,
Figure 5 is a view of the condensers.
As seen on the drawing, boiler A presents the form of a horizontal cylinder closed
at both ends by tube plates. It is provided with two domes B B', communicating
cach with a condenser by means of copper pipes, 15 to 20 centimetres in diameter, and
only 5 to 6 where they reach the condensers, where they are preferably united to
leaden pipes forming a worm.
The two pipes can be connected with a single worm dipping in a condenser. The
tube plates which form the ends of boiler A receive a certain number of tubes D
connected with each other by means of steam tight unions and pipes, the elbows of
which are placed outside the tube plates, and enclosed in the furnace to receive the
heat of the returning flame and hot gases as shown on Figures Nos. 1, 4 and 2.
Steam enters the apparatus through the pipe E, passes through all the tubes D and
becomes superheated in passing through the elbows of said tubes, which are for this
purpose, arranged in the flues it goes out through the pipes E¹ provided with a
regulating cock F, and runs along the top of the boiler. The top of the boiler i

page_text: covered with sand to avoid cooling. The pipe E' is turned downwards, and divided
into two or more branches E" E to feed a sprinkling or rose injecting apparatus D",
situated at the lower part of the boiler A, and composed of two or more parallel
tubes D¹, the lower sides of which present several small apertures, which are more or
less apart.
These dispersing pipes D' extend outside the brick-work, and are closed by removable
lids or plugs so that they may be easily cleaned and kept clean, a condition which my
correspondents deem indispensable for a good distillation.
The outlet pipe E carries also, a little below the cock F, a piping receiving a
cock G permitting the steam to be blown off outside. A thermometer Y' placed in
this part in a tubing, permits one to see whether the steam is sufficiently superheated
to be sent in the required conditions into the dispersing apparatus D'; this is effected
in opening cock F, which permits one at the same time to regulate the admission of
steam according to the requirements.
Having found out that it is preferable not to charge, at one time, the apparatus with
the matter to be distilled, an arrangement is adopted which permits one to feed
without inconvenience during the progress of the operation. For this purpose the
matter to be distilled is contained in a vat W placed about two metres above the boiler
in order to produce a head of pressure.
This reservoir W communicates with the boiler through a pipe, so that steam
passing through a closed worm pipe in the substance, keeps the latter at a high
temperature.
The matter descends from the vat by a tube O to be introduced directly into the
apparatus and by tube K; for the purpose of feeding continuously, it passes first
through a U-shaped tube L, then through a horizontal tube M, both being placed in
the flue, and lastly through a worm N in the inside of the boiler A to escape after-
wards into the mass through a perforated tube P, which occupies the whole length of
the boiler.
During its passage through tube L which is prolonged for two metres above the
level of the liquid in order to form two relief stand pipes or chimneys, a complete
drying up of the matter takes place; this disposition attenuates the bad effects resulting
from the introduction of matters, which might still contain some moisture. A drain
plug placed at the bottom of tube L permits the cleaning of the latter.
Thus dried up the matter passes into tube M, which runs along the boiler in a
flue, and continues to get heated.
A regulating cock M¹ on tube M, just where it penetrates into the boiler on the front
part, permits the regulating of the feed.
Thus introduced in the apparatus and already beated in the flue, the feed passes
through a worm N dipping into the matter to completely attain its temperature. It
immediately spreads through the matter by means of a tube P extending over the
whole internal length of the apparatus and perforated. It will be easy to understand
that a feed introduced under these conditions, cannot disturb the progress of the
distillation.
A float T (the rod of which passes through a stuffing box and bears metric
measurements) indicates always at the outside, the quantity of fluid contained in the
apparatus. Through its indications it is easy to regulate the introduction or the
evacuation.
The arrangement of the furnace in which the apparatus is to be placed plays an
important part in the regular working of the apparatus and in the mode of super-
heating the steam and the matter for the feeding of the apparatus, the following
arrangements have been adopted. Although on the drawings, the fire place is under
the boiler, it may, in the case where an overheating of the plates is to be feared, be
placed in front of the apparatus.
In order to have an equal temperature in the whole apparatus, a slight slope is
given to the bed of the furnace, so that the space between the boiler and the bridge
which is 40 centimetres high at the beginning becomes only 20 centimetres at the back
of the apparatus.

page_text: By means of three movable plates collecting the gases at their egress at the end of
the boiler, the temperature to be given to the steam before its introduction into the
liquid, is superheated and regulated at will.
The exactness of these temperatures in the materials is ascertained by means of two
thermometers R, placed at each end of the distilling apparatus.
Two dampers, properly arranged, permit the regulating at will of the heating of the
apparatus.
Lastly the apparatus is completed by a man-hole, which serves for cleaning the
boiler, by a cock J, destined to verify the nature of the substances before their intro-
duction into boiler A, and by an emptying cock H used to draw off the residues
after the operation is over.
The distilled products come into condensers X, X, of any suitable construction
provided with a draught chimney Y, some pipes Z, Z, collect the products that have
been carried off into chimney Y, and condensed therein.
The working of this apparatus is very simple.
Among the novel advantages which result from this invention are the following.
1. In that which concerns the glycerine.
The separation of the fatty acids repeated several times, permits the avoiding of
violent and exaggerated treatments, which may have for consequences, partial
destruction of the glycerine. Consequently the new process permits of collecting the
whole of the glycerine.
2. In that which concerns the fatty acids.
The maintaining of such a temperature of distillation that the neutral matters can
be neither decomposed nor distilled, reduces to a minimum the production of tars, and
enables one to obtain at least 94 per cent of solid fatty acids, a result which it is
believed has never been obtained previously. The maximum quantity of fatty acids
obtained by existing processes, of which fatty acids even part is only oil, is mnch
below this figure.
Lastly, this process, which cannot be better defined than by saying that it consists
in retaining during the distillation, the products whose volatilization is injurious has
especially for entirely new result, the fractional distillation of the products according
to their degree of volatilization, and consequently according to their hardness and
height in chemical series.
In fact during this absolutely rational distillation, where the temperature is
regulated according to the degree of volatilization of the matters to be evaporated,
the most volatile are separated the first (and not simultaneously with all others as in
the old process of distillation at a high temperature). Consequently the first
products of distillation are the lowest members of the series. The height in series
rising gradually until the distillation is completed, a new result, just the reverse of
that obtained up to this day, in which the lost products of distillation are the softest
and finally consist in oils.
A result no less remarkable by its novelty is that the products obtained through this
distillation have through their aspect, odour and height in series, a resemblance much
more characterised with the products termed "Saponification products" than with
those obtained hitherto through distillation.
One of the interesting points of this new process of heating and of treating under
pressure fatty matters in retorts to separate glycerine therefrom consists in the
possibility of utilising the vapours issuing from the retort to work or heat other retorts
either directly when the temperature of the effluent gases are sufficiently high or after
their passage through a superheater or reheating apparatus if the temperature be not
sufficient. One can even utilize the vapour proceeding from the last retort by
applying it either to the steam engines of the works or to evaporating pans or to
other apparatus requiring the use of steam or vapour for heating purposes.
The whole of these results can be summed up as follows:
A process having for its result the getting of products equivalent to those of
saponification, with a yield both in glycerine and fatty acids superior to that of
distillation.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
on, and in what manner the same is to he performed, as communicated to me by my
oreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
In the treatment and distillation of fatty acids so as to separate the latter from the
lycerine.
1st. The process herein described for obtaining at least 94 per cent solid fatty acids,
hich consists in the following operations :
(a) Keeping the distillation temperature below that which would injure the
neutral bodies forming the residual portion, which remain in consequence of the
nearly always incomplete saponification of the fats.
(b) Introducing superheated steam or other highly heated gas into the matter to
be distilled, and in a thoroughly dry state at the required temperature, and
under a pressure of three atmospheres, the expansion only taking place when it
is being introduced into the matter under treatment.
(c) Feeding the apparatus continuously and stopping the feed only when the
neutral portion, which does not distil, has accumulated to an extent which
would impair the progress of the.operation.
(d) Submitting the said neutral matter to the same treatment as the fats for the
purpose of separating therefrom the glycerine and fatty acids in the manner sot
forth.
2nd. The process herein described for extracting glycerine from fatty matters in a
gester, by submitting the matter under treatment to the temperature and pressure
equired for this purpose by means of superheated steam, liquid, or gas circulating
rough the agitated mass under treatment, by means of coils or otherwise but not
ming in direct contact with it; the steam leaving one digester being introduced
to another or used for any other purpose, (reheating after leaving the first digester,
eing not absolutely necessary,) substantially as described.
3rd. For the purpose of continuously feeding the apparatus herein described, the
ombination of a reservoir W heated by a worm steam pipe, and situated at a higher
vel than the boiler A with which it is connected by a tube O for introducing the
atter directly to the apparatus and by a tube K; a U-shaped tube arranged in the
ue, and provided with a regulating cock M and a worm N arranged within the
piler A and opening inside the same, substantially as described and illustrated on
e accompanying drawings.
Dated this 26th day of June ISSs
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.