IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF STARCH
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Tucker, of Belfast, in the County
of Antrim, Ireland, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF STARCH."
Sealed the 20th May 1853, and dated the 6th December 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Tucker
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 6th December 1852.
I, EDWARD TUCKER, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Ireland,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF STARCH" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates:
First, to the application and use of artificial heat for facilitating
the process of fermentation of the grain, or other material, from
which the starch is to be made. By such use of artificial heat the
steeping process is materially shortened, whilst the quantity of
starch produced from a given quantity of the raw material is
increased, and the quality improved.
Second, to the application and use of a combination of earthly or
alkaline salts, as sulphate of magnesia, sulphate of soda, muriate of

page_text: soda, common salt, &c., with one or more of the mineral acids, as
sulphuric, muriatic, &c., for the purpose of more perfectly and
speedily separating the starch from the glutinous and other foreign
matters with which the pure starch is originally mixed, and at the
same time neutralizing and counteracting the injurious effect of the
vegetable acids generated in the process of starch making.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said Edward Tucker in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 6th June 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
EDWARD TUCKER, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Ireland, 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-two, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
sessors, give and grant unto me, the said Edward Tucker, Her
special license that I, the said Edward Tucker, my executors, ad-
ininistrators and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward
Tucker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF
STARCH," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward
Tucker, 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 the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Tucker, do hereby

page_text: 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 said Invention relates essentially to the application and use
of certain salts, both alone and in combination with mineral acids,
for the more speedy and effective separation of the pure starch
from the glutinous and other foreign matters with which the starch
itself is originally combined, as well as to the neutralising or
counteracting the injurious effects of the vegetable acids generated
in the process of starch making, and the increase of the produce of
gool starch from a given quantity of wheat or other grain. By
the same means I am also enabled to render any pure water suitable
for starch inaking, although in its natural state such water may be
ill adapted for this purpose. After the wheaten meal or reduced
grain has been submitted to the usual process of fermentation, and
has been washed to separate the bran from the rest of the elements of
the treated substance, the starching liquor is run into a receiver or
vat, where it is allowed to remain for about the space of thirty-six
hours, for precipitation. The supernatant liquor is then run off
or removed, and the precipitate is broken up. Then a solution of
sulphate of soda, or Glauber's salt, in boiling water, is prepared, in
the proportion of about twelve pounds weight of the salt to one ton
of the wheat or other grain under treatinent, and, after cooling
down, this solution is poured into the precipitated starch, and the
vat being filled up with water, the entire contents are thoroughly
mingled and incorporated by stirring. The mass is then allowed
to stand for twenty-four or thirty hours, perfectly quiescent.
In the subsequent process, technically known as the "fine shift,"
when the water and slimes are removed, I employ another solution
of the same salt, but in smaller proportions, about three pounds
weight being applied to the produce of one ton of wheat. At this
stage I also use, in combination with the sulphate of soda, a portion
of sulphuric acid, in the proportion of about one quart of the acid
to the produce of four tons of wheat. The acid in a diluted state
is poured gradually into the vat, and the latter is then nearly filled

page_text: up with fresh water, the whole contents being thoroughly mixed by
agitation. When the starch has been precipitated, it is finished,
and prepared for sale and use in the usual way. Although I prefer
to use the materials and the proportions which I have herein pointed
out, I wish it to be understood, that I have found sulphate of mag-
nesia, muriate of soda, and other salts and acids, available for a
similar purpose. This general process renders all pure water
suitable for manufacturing starch, however soft and unsuitable it
may be originally. The pure starch is also better separated from the
glutinous constituent of the grain, whilst the manufactured starch
is superior in purity, sweetness, strength, fineness of texture, and
whiteness, as compared with all starch made in the usual way, and
the yield is greatly increased.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of
my said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be
used or carried into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do
not confine or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements
which I have had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations
may be made therefrom without deviating from the principles or
main features of my Invention; but what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the systeins or modes of manufacturing or preparing starch
as herein-before described.
Second, the application and use of earthy or alkaline salts and
nineral acids, for the preparation or manufacture of starch.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Tucker, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Second day of June, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-three.
EDWARD TUCKER. (L.S.)