IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING SPIRITS OF TURPENTINE, ROBIN, PITCH, TAB, PYROLIGNEOUS ACID, AND OTHER PRODUCTS FROM WOOD
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office - for
Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING SPIRITS OF
TURPENTINE, ROBIN, PITCH, TAB, PYROLIGNEOUS ACID, AND OTHER PRODUCTS
FROM WOOD."-A communication from abroad by Albert Hamilton
Emery, of the City of New York, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 6th February 1866, and dated the 31st August 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 31st August 1865.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING SPIRITS OF
TURPENTINE, ROSIN, PITCH, TAR, PYROLIGNEOUS ACID AND OTHER PRODUCTS FROM
WOOD," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in obtaining spirits of turpentine, rosin, tar,
pitch, pyroligneous acid, gas, charcoal, and wood naphtha; directly
from pine wood, by one operation in this way:-The wood containing
the resinous gum, (pitch pine wood) is placed in iron retorts, which
are closed up steam tight, and a stream of steam is let into the retort,
which may at the same time be heated externally to expedite the process.
71

page_text: As soon as the condensation of the steam ceases or partially ceases, the
pressure of steam in the retort rapidly forces the heat through the mass
of wood until the heat reaches from 300° to 320° Fahrenheit, when the
valve which connects the retort with a condenser is opened, and the
vapours containing water and spirits of turpentine pass over into the
condenser and are condensed, the spirits rising on top of the water.
This process continues several hours, the heat being gradually raised
until the wood begins to char and forms acid, gas, and other products,
at which time a large portion of the turpentine spirits have passed
through the condenser. This process is hastened, and the yield of
spirits in this part of the operation much increased by reducing the
pressure of the vapours in the retort to 2 or 3 pounds per square inch
by the aid of air pumps, and condensers, or otherwise. When the
pressure is thus mainly removed, the evaporation is so rapid that with-
out the use of superheated steam it is difficult to keep up sufficient heat
without charring the wood in some parts, which must be avoided as
long as possible, as the quality of the spirits is very poor after charring
commences until they have passed through difficult processes of refining.
While this process is going on, rosin is formed, and runs down to the
bottom of the retort, and is drawn out before the charring commences.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 28th February 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special
licence that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Edward
Newton, my executors, administrators, 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 Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention

page_text: for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING SPIRITS OF
TURPENTINE, ROSIN, PITCH
TAR, PYROLIGNEOUS ACID, AND OTHER PRODUCTS FROM WOOD," being a
communication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said William Edward Newton, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, 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 the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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);-
This Invention consists in obtaining spirits of turpentine, rosin, tar,
pitch, pyroligneous acid, gas, charcoal and wood, naphtha, directly
from pine wood by one operation.
The wood containing the resinous gum (pitch pine wood) is placed
in iron retorts, which are closed up steam tight, and a stream of steam
is let into the retort, which may at the same time be heated externally
to expedite the process. As soon as the condensation of the steam
ceases or partially ceases, the pressure of steam in the retort rapidly
forces the heat through the mass of wood until the heat reaches from
300° to 320° Fahrenheit, when the valve which connects the retort with
a condenser is opened and the vapors containing water and spirits of
turpentine pass over into the condenser and are condensed, the spirits
rising on to the top of the water. This process continues several hours,
the heat being gradually raised until the wood begins to char and
forms acid, gas, and other products, at which time a large portion of
the turpentine spirits have passed through the condenser. This process
is hastened, and the yield of spirits in this part of the operation much
increased, by reducing the pressure of the vapors in the retort to two
or three pounds per square inch by the aid of air pumps and condensers,
or otherwise. When the pressure is thus mainly removed, the evapora-
tion is so rapid that without the use of superheated steam is is difficult
to keep up sufficient heat without charring the wood in some parts,
which must be avoided as long as possible, as the quality of the spirits
is very poor after charring commences until they have passed through
difficult processes of refining. While this process is going on rosin is
formed and runs down to the bottom of the retort, and is drawn out
before the charring commences.
In using the vacuum or partial vacuum in the distillation, it will be
found advantageous to shut off the connections of pump and condensers

page_text: with the retort occasionally, to allow pressure of steam in the retort,
which rapidly forces the heat through the wood again without charring
it, unless the temperature of the steam is too high. The pressure of
steam in the retort is not generally allowed to reach more than three
or four atmospheres before it is again reduced. As soon as the yield of
the spirits of turpentine becomes inconsiderable, the heat is raised and
the charring commences, and as soon as this progresses rapidly, the
steam may be nearly or quite shut off and the acid formed will be much
stronger than if the supply of steam be kept up during the entire dis-
tillation. The use of the vacuum or partial vacuum may be resorted
to frequently throughout the entire distillation, the products coming
over purer and at a much lower heat than they otherwise would.
While the charring of the wood takes place the vapors passing off
consist of acid, wood, naphtha, spirits, oil, tar, incondensible vapors,
&c. A very advantageous way of separating the tar from the other
vapors is to surround the condenser with a bath, heated to such a
degree as to enable the vapors of the naphtha, acid, and spirits, together
with the light oils, to pass through it without condensation, but cool
enough to condense the tar, and so placed that the tar will run back
into the retort while the vapors of the acid, naphtha, spirits, &c.. pass
on through another condenser, which may be cold, and separate the
gas from the other products, or it may be heated sufficiently to carry
the wood naphtha over with the gas into another condenser, where it
is finally separated from the gas. The distillation is continued until
the wood is thoroughly charred and the tar converted into a beautiful
black lustrous pitch, the oils being nearly driven therefrom. Should
the rosin be left in the retort it will also be converted into pitch. Care
should be used not to heat the retort too highly on the bottom, as the
pitch will be destroyed, if heated too much, by turning it into coke.
It should be watched and drawn out as soon as sufficiently hard, what-
ever be the heat of the retort bottom. Should neither steam nor super-
heated steam be used in the distillation the retort should be closed
tightly at first, and the steam formed from the water of the wood, and
the other vapors aid in increasing the pressure of vapors in the retort,
and thus more equally distribute the heat through the wood. When
the pressure in the retort reaches two or three atmospheres the valve
to the condenser may be opened.
Much more caution will have to be used to heat gradually and drive
off most of the spirits before charring commences; if steam or super-
heated steam be not used to aid in heating the wood, these will be
necessary if they are used.
Having now described the Invention that has been communicated to

page_text: me as aforesaid, and having explained the manner of carrying the same
into effect, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent,-
1st, distilling spirits of turpentine directly from wood, and obtaining
rosin and pitch directly from wood by distillation, as herein set forth.
2nd, the use of steam, or hot water, or superheated steam in distilling
spirits of turpentine from wood.
3rd, shutting off or nearly shutting off the supply of steam or super-
heated steam from the retort in which pyroligneous acid is being distilled
from wood during a portion of the time that the acid is being distilled
off, the steam or superheated steam being used first to thoroughly dry
and heat the wood.
4th, distilling resinous woods under a temperature such that most of
the oils, or a large portion thereof, are driven off before the wood begins
to char.
5th, passing a stream of steam or superheated steam through a retort
in which wood is being distilled under a pressure greater than one
atmosphere.
6th, distilling wood under a pressure greater than one atmosphere
without the aid of applied steam or superheated steam.
7th, distilling oils from resinous woods under a pressure of vapors of
less than one atmosphere.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six:
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)