Manufacture of Soluble Formaldehyde Compounds of the Protein Bodies.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 8th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1898
Manufacture of Soluble Formaldehyde Compounds of the Protein
Bodies.
I, DR. ALEXANDER CLASSEN, of Aix-la-Chapelle, Germany, Professor and Privy
State Councillor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Gegner, as it is known first observed in 1893 the fact that a solution of gelatine
after having been subjected to the action of formaldehyde vapours, loses the property
of being in a liquid condition and Hauser stated that gelatine so altered cannot be
rendered liquid at any temperature. Beckmann, Elsner and others, by means of their
experiments, arrived at the conclusion that, in the reaction of formaldehyde with
gelatine, it is only a question of coagulation of the gelatine and that the hardening is
to be attributed simply to the reduction of the percentage of water. In this reaction,
there cannot be a question of a combination of the imido- or amido-groups with
formaldehyde nor of the formation of a condensation product, because Elsner shewed
by means of his experiments (which I confirmed) that the quantity of formaldehyde
is so small that it generally cannot be ascertained by analysis.
In a former Specification No. 7712 of 1896 I have described a process by which
real formaldehyde compounds of the protein bodies are obtained, and which consists in
subjecting these bodies to reaction with formaldehyde under high temperature and it
may be under pressure, and in subjecting the reaction product to a farther reaction
with the formaldehyde at a temperature of from 110° to 130° C.
In applying this particular process to gelatine, the formaldehyde gelatine obtained
under these circumstances differs essentially in all its properties from the gelatine
obtained in a solid, coagulated state by the reaction of formaldehyde; it is dis-
tinguished especially by the resistance which it opposes to the action of hot water
and of steam.
I have farther found that the reaction of the formaldehyde with gelatine (and
with protein bodies in general) is quite different when the bodies are subjected to
temperatures of from 120° to 150° C. under pressure (in a closed vessel). Instead
of a hard mass, we thus obtain a liquid compound which in dilute solutions is
refracting, and which can be evaporated to dryness and heated to 120° C. without
losing the property of being soluble in water and in dilute alcohol. The compound
is insoluble in strong alcohol so that the latter may be used to precipitate it from a
very concentrated aqueous solution, and to remove the excess of formaldehyde. The
formaldehyde gelatine soluble in water forms a yellow-brown leafy mass.
soluble formaldehyde compounds are applicable for medical and technical purposes;
the formaldehyde gelatine has proved effectual, among other applications, as a remedy
for gonnorrhoea.
The

page_text: formaldehyde corresponding to from 5 to 10 per cent. of the gelatine, is stirred
together with the gelatine. By the stirring, the mass soon becomes thicker and at
last pasty, so that it may be put into the closed vessel in a solid state. The closed
vessel having its bottom covered with water, is then put into an air-bath or a boiler
and heated to from 120° to 150° C. until the contents form a liquid mass. This is
evaporated and the residue is dried at from 100° to 120° C. It is then pulverised
and treated with alcohol or other solvent of formaldehyde. Instead of pure formal-
dehyde, an equivalent quantity of substances yielding or capable of splitting off
formaldehyde or compounds analogous to formaldehyde or to methylene-glycol can
be employed.
2. For the production of the glutin and chondrin compounds the process above
described can be adopted.
Dated this 8th day of November 1897
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Manufacture of Soluble Formaldehyde Compounds of the Protein
Bodies.
I, DR. ALEXANDER CLASSEN, of Aix-la-Chapelle, Germany, Professor and Privy
State Councillor, 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 :-
Gegner, as it is known first observed in 1893 the fact that a solution of gelatine
after having been subjected to the action of formaldehyde vapours loses the property
of being in a liquid condition and Hauser stated that gelatine so altered cannot be
rendered liquid at any temperature. Beckmann, Elsner and others, by means of
their experiments, arrived at the conclusion that, in the reaction of formaldehyde
with gelatine, it is only a question of coagulation of the gelatine and that the
hardening is to be attributed simply to the reduction of the percentage of water. In
this reaction, there cannot be a question of a combination of the imido- or amido-
groups with formaldehyde nor of the formation of a condensation product, because
Elsner shewed by means of his experiments (which I confirmed) that the quantity
of formaldehyde is so small that it generally cannot be ascertained by analysis.
In a former Specification No. 7712 of 1896 I have described a process by which
real formaldehyde compounds of the protein bodies are obtained, and which consists
in subjecting these bodies to reaction with formaldehyde under high temperature
and it may be under pressure, and in subjecting the reaction product to a farther
reaction with the formaldehyde at a temperature of from 110° to 130° C.
In applying this particular process to gelatine, the formaldehyde gelatine obtained
under these circumstances differs essentially in all its properties from the gelatine
obtained in a solid, coagulated state by the reaction of formaldehyde; it is distin-
guished especially by the resistance which it opposes to the action of hot water and
of steam.
I have farther found that the reaction of the formaldehyde with gelatine (and with
protein bodies in general) is quite different when the bodies are subjected to
temperatures of from 120° to 150° C. under pressure (in a closed vessel). Instead of
a hard mass, we thus obtain a liquid compound which in dilute solutions is refracting,
and which can be evaporated to dryness and heated to 120° C. without losing the
property of being soluble in water and in dilute alcohol. The compound is insoluble
in strong alcohol so that the latter may be used to precipitate it from a very con-

page_text: centrated aqueous solution, and to remove the excess of the formaldehyde. The
formaldehyde gelatine soluble in water forms a yellow brown leafy mass. The soluble
formaldehyde compounds are applicable for medical and technical purposes;
the formaldehyde gelatine has proved effectual, among other applications, as a remedy
for gonnorrhoea.
EXAMPLES.
1. Purified gelatine is mixed with as much hot water as is necessary to form a
semi-fluid mass. A dilute solution of formaldehyde, containing a quantity of the
formaldehyde corresponding to from 5 to 10 per cent. of the gelatine, is stirred
together with the gelatine. By the stirring, the mass soon becomes thicker and at
last pasty, so that it may be put into the closed vessel in a solid state. The closed
vessel having its bottom covered with water, is then put into an air bath or a boiler
and heated to from 120° to 150° C. until the contents form a liquid mass. This is
evaporated and the residue is dried at from 100° to 120° C. It is then pulverised
and treated with alcohol or other solvent of formaldehyde. Instead of pure formal-
dehyde, an equivalent quantity of substances yielding or capable of splitting off
formaldehyde or compounds analogous to formaldehyde or to methylene-glycol can be
employed.
2. For the production of the glutin and chondrin compounds the process al
above
described can be adopted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. The manufacture of soluble formaldehyde compounds of the protein bodies by
subjecting these bodies to reaction with formaldehyde under pressure at temperatures
of from 120° to 150° C.; the solution thus obtained being then evaporated dried,
and pulverised and treated with alcohol or other solvent for the removal of the residue
of formaldehyde substantially as described.
2. The modification of the process above set forth wherein instead of formaldehyde,
substances yielding or capable of splitting off formaldehyde, or compounds analogous
to formaldehyde or methylene-glycol are employed, substantially as described.
3. Compounds soluble in water consisting of protein bodies in chemical combina-
tion with formaldehyde, manufactured as above set forth.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.