Improvements in the Treatment of Cereals for Preventing or Arresting Decomposition, and for Preserving or Improving the Condition thereof.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 24th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Cereals for Preventing or
Arresting Decomposition, and for Preserving or Improving the
Condition thereof.
We, EDWARD LUCK of 122 Stamford Street in the County of Surrey, Chemist
ROBERT POTT and NORBURY POTT both of 68 Sumner Street in the County of
Surrey Vinegar Makers do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object to so treat cereals as to preserve or improve the
condition thereof and prevent or arrest decomposition therein or destruction thereof
by moisture or by insects or animal life.
Cereals when wetted undergo a very deleterious change, becoming heated and
rapidly decomposing suffering such alteration in colour and character as to become
commercially useless. According to the present invention it has been found that
if sulphurous acid be applied before the decomposition proceeds too far the
objectionable transition is not only arrested but the original colour and quality are
restored and for many industrial purposes the cereals so treated are of the same
value as before decomposition set in. The treatment may be effected with
sulphurous acid alone or in some cases it may be effected in conjunction with a free
or combined alkali with which it combines forming primarily a sulphite of the
alkali employed which whilst securing the end desired may be retained as a
preservative agent or antiseptic or it may be got rid of by mechanical or any
suitable means. In subjecting the material to the preservative and drying action
of the gas according to this invention the procedure may be as follows. By means
of a force pump or equivalent device air is passed through a chamber containing
ignited sulphur and surrounded by water. The air thus supplied supports the
combustion of the sulphur and forms sulphurous acid which in the gaseous condition
is forced through another chamber vessel or "washer" containing water for the
purpose of washing the gas and freeing it from sulphuric acid and sublimed sulphur.
To effect the more equal distribution of the gas in its passage through the water a
perforated plate may be placed at or near the bottom of the washer, beneath which
plate the gas is forced. After passing through the washer the gas is conducted -
through another chamber or "scrubber" containing pumice stone or coke or both
or equivalent material and sulphuric acid which having a great affinity for water
absorbs the moisture with which the gas is here charged, the gas consequently
becoming anhydrous or dried. It then passes from the scrubber and is conducted
through a heated passage such as a coil made of a material capable of resisting the
action of the gas. By passing through this heated passage or coil the gas becomes
warm or hot, means being provided for regulating the temperature to the desired
degree. The gas is then forced through the mass of the cereals under treatment
which is most conveniently operated upon by being placed or spread on a perforated
floor which admits of the free passage of the dry and warm gas. The said cereals
are by this means not only antiseptically treated but are also dried. This process
can be profitably applied in drying grain which has undergone germination in the
process of malting. The apparatus herein before described may if desired be
furnished with branch pipes or passages and cocks so that the gas can if desired
be diverted before it reaches the scrubber and heating arrangement so that the said
gas can be passed through the mass of cereals directly after passing through the

page_text: washer for instance when the grain is desired for immediate or early use and when
it is not required to pack or store it.
Dated this 25th day of November 1890
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Cereals for Preventing or
Arresting Decomposition, and for Preserving or Improving the
Condition thereof.
We EDWARD LUCK late of 122 Stamford Street, in the County of Surrey, now
of 68 Sumner Street Southwark in the said County, Chemist and ROBERT POTT
and NORBURY POTT both of 68 Sumner Street aforesaid Vinegar Makers 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:
This invention has for its object to so treat cereals as to preserve or improve
the condition thereof and prevent or arrest decomposition therein or destruction
thereof by moisture or by insects or animal life.
Cereals when wetted undergo a very deleterious change becoming heated and
rapidly decomposing suffering such alteration in colour and character as to become
commercially useless. According to the present invention it has been found that
if sulphurous acid be applied before the decomposition proceeds too far the
objectionable transition is not only arrested but the original colour and quality are
restored and for many industrial purposes the cereals so treated are of the same
value as before decomposition set in. The treatment may be effected with
sulphurous acid alone or in some cases it may be effected by using the acid in
conjunction with a free or carbonated alkali (such for instance as caustic lime or
carbonate of lime) with which the acid combines forming primarily a sulphite of
the alkali employed which whilst securing the end desired may be retained as a
preservative agent or antiseptic or be oxidised by passing air through it or by
exposing it to the action of the atmosphere or it may be got rid of by mechanical
or any suitable means. In subjecting the cereals to the preservative and drying
action of sulphurous acid in the form of gas according to this invention the procedure
may be as follows reference being had to the accompanying diagram we premising
however that we do not limit ourselves to the precise details shewn and described.
By means of a force pump or equivalent device air is passed by means of a pipe A
(perforated at its lower end) into and through a chamber B containing ignited
sulphur this vessel or chamber B being surrounded by a jacket C through which
a circulation of cooling medium such as water is maintained. The air so supplied
to the chamber B supports the combustion of the sulphur and forms sulphurous
acid which in the gaseous condition is forced through the pipe D into a vessel or
washer E containing water for the purpose of washing the gas and freeing it from
sulphuric acid and sublimed sulphur. To effect the more equal distribution of
the gas through the water a perforated plate e may be placed at the lower part
of the vessel E beneath which plate the gas enters by the pipe D. After passing
through the washer E the gas is conducted by the pipe e into and passes through
a scrubber or drying chamber F containing pumice stone or coke or both or
equivalent material and sulphuric acid which on account of its strong affinity for
water absorbs the moisture with which the gas is charged when it enters this
chamber the said gas consequently becoming anhydrous or practically dry. is a
perforated bottom for supporting the coke or equivalent material the gas entering
by the pipe e below the said false bottom. After the gas has passed through the
scrubber Fit passes by the pipe G into and through a heated passage such as the
coil G³ which should be made of a material capable of resisting the chemical action

page_text: of the gas.
The heating of the said passage or coil may be conveniently effected
by surrounding the coil with a casing H to which a heating agent such as steam or
hot air or hot water is supplied. The gas thus becomes warmed or heated in this
passage or coil G² means being provided to enable the temperature to be observed
and to be regulated to the desired degree. The gas leaving the coil G2 in a dried
and heated state is then passed through the mass of cereals to be treated which is
most conveniently effected by spreading the mass of cereals on a perforated floor i
in a chamber I which floor admits of the free passage of the gas-or instead of a
perforated floor other arrangement such as perforated pipes or passages of perforated
bricks may be used. The said cereals are by this means not only antiseptically
treated and have a good appearance given to them but are also dried and can be
safely stored. The herein before described process can be profitably applied in
drying cereals which have undergone germination in the process of malting. The
apparatus herein before described may if desired be furnished with branch pipes or
passages and cocks so that the gas can if desired be diverted before it reaches the
scrubber F and heating arrangement G2 so that the said gas can be passed directly
from the washer E through the cereals in cases where it is not necessary to dry and
heat the gas for instance when the cereals are required for immediate or early use
and consequently have not to be packed or stored.
When the cereals have been sufficiently treated with the sulphurous acid gas the
burning sulphur may be extinguished and air be forced by the pump or any suitable
means directly into and through the scrubber and heating coil and through the
cereals which have been treated with the gas.
We have described the treatment of the cereals by means of sulphurous acid in
the gaseous form as we consider that the best way of applying this invention but
sulphurous acid in the liquid form or in solution may be used if desired in which
case the cereals may be steeped in the liquid or the liquid may be passed through
them and then when it is removed or its passage through the cereals discontinued
air may be passed therethrough and the mass may if necessary be dried
When treating the cereals by using sulphurous acid and a free or carbonated
alkali the method employed is substantially the same as that hereinbefore described
when using the gas in the liquid form or in solution.
The gas is passed through the mass of cereals until strongly impregnated or
saturated and a free or carbonated alkali is then added in equivalent or combining
proportions or any suitable proportion of alkali may be first added to the cereals
and then the gas may be passed through. The equivalent proportions of the gaseous
sulphurous acid thus combining with the alkali form a sulphite or bi-sulphite.
If the gaseous acid is added in excess it passes off in drying by heat or escapes
by storing and evaporation. The quantity of acid gas is not the same in all
instances being determined by the condition of the cereals.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The treatment of cereals by means of sulphurous acid substantially as herein-
before explained.
2. The treatment of cereals by passing therethrough dried and heated sulphurous
acid gas substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The treatment of cereals by means of sulphurous acid and a free or carbonated
alkali substantially as herein before described.
4. The treatment of cereals in the manner and by means of apparatus arranged
and operating substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the accom-
panying diagram.
Dated this 24th day of August 1891.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.