A NEW METHOD OF DEFECATING SUGAR AND OTHER SACCHARINE MATTERS, AND OF REFINING OR RECTIFYING ALCOHOL
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Archibald Brooman, of 166, Fleet Street,
in the City of London, E. C., Patent Agent, for the Invention of "A NEW
METHOD OF DEFECATING SUGAR AND OTHER SACCHARINE MATTERS, AND OF
REFINING OR RECTIFYING ALCOHOL."-A communication.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Archibald
Brooman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 20th August 1857.
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, E. C., Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "A NEW METHOD OF DEFECATING SUGAR AND OTHER SACCHARINE
MATTERS, AND OF REFINING OR RECTIFYING ALCOHOL," communicated to me by
a foreigner residing abroad,) to be as follows:-
This new method of defecating saccharine matters, whether proceeding from
the cane or other vegetable produce, consists in first treating them with lime
in excess, and then with a saponifiable matter. The same agents apply to
the refining or rectifying of alcohols, that is, the refining is accomplished by
the employment-of-an over dose of lime, and then of saponifiable matter.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Archibald Brooman in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 20th February 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, E. C.,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Richard Archibald Brooman, Her special licence that I, the said Richard
Archibald Brooman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, 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 for "A NEW METHOD OF DEFECATING SUGAR AND OTHER SACCHARINE
MATTERS, AND OF REFINING OR RECTIFYING ALCOHOL," communicated to me
by a foreigner residing abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, 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 Richard Archibald Brooman, 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 thereof, that is to say :---
This new method of defecating saccharine matters, whether proceeding from
the cane or other vegetable produce, consists in first treating them with lime
in excess, and then with a saponifiable matter. The same agents apply to the
refining or rectifying of alcohols, that is, the refining is accomplished by the
employment of an over dose of lime, and then of saponifiable matter.
The Invention is applicable to the treatment of saccharine juices, whether
produced from cane or grape sugar dissolved in water, or from substances
containing sugar, or expressed from saccharine plants, such as sugar cane,

page_text: beet root, &c., or obtained from starch, cellulose, &c. by chemical reaction, and
whether the object of the operation be the production of the sugar they contain
or the transformation of the sugar into alcohol or spirituous liquors. The
Invention also embraces the disinfection of alcohol by the same method.
The agent employed has the power of immediately neutralizing the lime, the
liquor being first clarified by the use of that alkali. The effect of this agent
therefore is to allow a much greater quantity of lime to be used in the
defecation of saccharine juices than has been heretofore used. There is not
the least danger of an excessive quantity of lime so acting upon the sugar as
to discolor it or to change its nature during the concentration of the syrup.
Having the power entirely and at any time of taking out the lime when
combined with or simply mixed up with the liquid sugar, the Inventor is
enabled, without any risk, to use such a quantity of lime as will enable him
to take away every atom of organic matter foreign to the sugar, such as
parenchyme, mucilage, cellular and ligneous fibres floating in the solution; this
result being obtained by means of the agent employed, he eliminates or takes
out the lime combined or mixed with the juice, no matter how excessive the
quantity. All foreign matters come away with the scum, which floats on the
top in a solid mass, leaving nothing but a clear solution charged only with
the soluble salts arising either from the plant itself from which the juice is
extracted, or from the alkali contained in the agent acted on by the lime by
means of a double decomposition. These alkalies, soda and potash, have a
great affinity for the carbonic acid of the air, and pass into the state of car-
bonates, which have a very feeble reaction on the sugar in a state of
dissolution. In the particular case when ammonia is employed it altogether
passes off during ebullition. The Inventor defecates the liquids twice; first,
by means of lime in excessive quantities; second, by means of the agent for
eliminating the lime. By this process there is no reason to fear that the
sugar will become deteriorated during the concentration of the liquors caused
by the reacting agents used to defecate or clarify; whereas, on the other
hand, all foreign and organic matter is entirely taken out of the saccharine
liquor and thrown off in the scum; thus the primary cause of acid or lactic
fermentation is destroyed. The theoretical consequences of these facts, which
are fully demonstrated by practice, are, first, that the quality of the article
produced is improved; secondly, the quantity of the sugar produced is
encreased to the same extent that it is diminished by the ordinary process, in
consequence of the causes named, viz., the action of the lime on the sugar
when used in excessive quantities, and the acidulous and lactic fermentation
which supervenes in saccharine liquors when lime is not used. The improved

page_text: system produces several advantages. In the first place, by eliminating or
taking out the cause which produces acid fermentation in saccharine juices,
the loss which is produced by this transformation is avoided, whereas, by the
system usually followed, a loss of part of the sugar contained in the juices
whilst undergoing vinous fermentation is inevitable. In the second place, by
eliminating the lime first employed, the coloration of the sugar or syrup is in a
great measure avoided, from which results a saving of the decolorising agents
employed. In the third place, the effect of completely eliminating or taking
out all organic matters foreign to the sugar, such as parenchyme, mucilage,
ligneous or cellular fibre, is to carry off all the little vescicles which contain
the essential oil appertaining to each plant; and the cause of the bad taste and
smell in certain sugars, alcohols, and secondary products is thus destroyed.
Thus the Inventor produces by his first operation sugar, alcohol, and secondary
products perfectly tasteless and without smell, all bad taste and smell dis-
appearing, instead of being only deadened, as they are by the processes now in
Thus by the most plain and simple manner are obtained results which
generally require several operations.
use.
The agent made use of is one of those bodies classed in chemistry as
saponifiable by the alkalies, fixed or volatile; this matter is used in the form
most suitable to the manipulation, either alone, or mixed or combined with
some alkali in the form of soap, whether with or without combination or
mixture, either with an additional soapy matter, thus producing an acid soap
or salts, or with some other reactive alkaline substance, producing on the con-
trary a combination partaking of the quality of this last-named reaction. I
now proceed to demonstrate the manner in which the Inventor carries his
Invention into effect. I shall, in the first place, describe the soaps which he
habitually uses; in the second place, the manner in which he uses them;
although I claim the right of employing, if required, all soapy matters,
experience up to the present time induces him to give the preference to olive
oil amongst these, and amongst alkalies, to soda. He prepares the soap in
the ordinary way, which I need not here describe, as it is so well known, using
a sufficient quantity of alkali to render the saponification of the fatty matter
complete. I designate this soap N° 1, or neuter; it contains about 10 per cent.
of soda combined with the fatty matter. By the following process he obtains
the soap which I call N° 2, or acid :-He dissolves 1b. 20% of soap N° 1 in
2b of boiling water; he lets the solution cool down to about 40 degrees
centigrade, then adds 11b. 20%. of fatty matter also at 40 degrees, and then
carefully makes it into a paste. When this is done he raises the temperaturé
to boiling heat, filling up the vacuum caused by the escape of the steam with

page_text: water, which he continues to do during the whole operation. The proportion
of fatty matter to be added is optional. When thus prepared this soap
contains 7 parts of alkali for 100 parts of the whole fatty matter which it
contains mixed or combined. Lastly, the soap N° 3, or alkaline, is made by
dissolving the soap N° 1, in the manner above explained, and when dissolved,
adding soda or any other matter containing alkaline reactive salts in such
quantities as may be required. Under any circumstances the aim is to get
the fatty matter into such a state that it will cause the strongest reaction;
and the solution into a liquid, the most easy to be acted on, thus avoiding the
inconvenience which results from its feeble density when directly employed..
He makes use of the soaps Nos 1, 2, 3, according as the particular case,
requires, which he sums up under three general heads, and according to the
special necessities of the system of manufacture in cases. where they. are used,
for the production of different articles. He uses the soap. N° 1,. or neuter..
when in working out the operations he sees no fear of there being more
alkali in the juices, as, for instance, when saccharine has to be changed into
acohol. He uses the soap N° 2, or acid, on the other hand when he fears
the effect of an alkaline reaction will follow the operation; for instance, this
is the case when extracting sugar from saccharine juices. Finally, he uses
the soap
No 3, or alkaline, on the particular occasions when he finds that the
juices shew those symptoms of acidity which require to be promptly acted
upon. He makes use of ammonia in cases where saccharine liquor is not
intended to present any alkaline quality; this is most important in refining.
The cost of the fatty matter may be calculated as nothing, although in the
first instance it is somewhat dear, for the said cost scarcely exceeds what is
paid for the labour necessary to combine and use the fatty matter, since the
whole of it comes away in the scum in a state of calcareous soap, and can lie
used again and again with scarcely any loss.
I now proceed to explain how he makes use of this agent by a well known
process, when he applies it to the treatment of saccharine matters, taking
advantage of the tendency of soapy matters to form by mixture with lime
by simple or double decomposition what may be called insoluble salts or
calcareous soap.
He uses a double defecation or clarification; in the first
place, by using an excessive quantity of lime, and in the second place, by
eliminating or taking out the lime by means of the soap, and by forcing off in
the scum all substances foreign to the sugar, both parenchyme and all others,
which saccharine matters always contain in considerable quantities when they
are defecated by lime alone, however clear they may appear.

page_text: Although lime is commonly employed. to defecate saccharine juices, yet the
second operation which the Inventor employs nécessitates that the use of that'
alkali should be modified, thus constituting an entirely new process.
·
EXTRACTION OF RAW SUGAR FROM THE LIQUOR, OBTAINED FROM SACCHARINE
PLANTS.
It is necessary to consider the manufacture of this article from two points
of view, according to the nature of the process or plant generally used. In
most of the sugar manufactories in the colonies, the sugar is extracted from
the cane in coppers placed immediately over the fire. In Europe, on the
contrary, in the beet root sugar manufactories and in most of the refining
houses, a steam apparatus is almost always fitted up. It is in this way the
defecation or clarification is carried out in the second case, whilst, in the first
case the
copper for clarifying and defecating is heated by immediate contact
with the flame. This shews that two distinct methods of treatment are
required in 'defecating saccharine juices.
1
Defecation in Coppers exposed to the Flame of the Fire. The vessels
generally used for extracting the sugar from the sugar cane consist of a row
of coppers which gradually diminish in size, all heated by the same fire. The
largest copper is placed the farthest from the fire, and in that the operation
of clarifying is carried on. The defecated juice is then carried off and put
into next copper, and thence transferred to the smallest, where the process is
completed. The body of scum formed in the first copper is put aside, and
that which is formed in the others is taken off and put into the first copper;
the first copper used for clarifying is filled with fresh juice, which is, in the
first place, run into backs or vats from the pressing machine, and thus
the process continues as each charge of juice is clarified and taken out of the
copper.
3
:
:
The following is the explanation of the improved process:- As soon as the
juice is poured into the clarifying copper the quantity of. lime required is also
put in. This quantity varies so materially on account of the varieties in the
cane used, and the states which it is in, and also of the condition of the juice
employed, that I cannot state here the exact quantity to be employed, but the
Inventor puts in much larger quantities than are generally used. To expedite
the operation he then rouses it well up, and when the temperature arrives
at about 60 degrees centigrade, he adds soap No.2, in quantities varying
according to the quantity of lime used, but which may be calculated at about
one-half the weight of the quick-lime to be taken out. In the first he mixes

page_text: bis soap in about eight parts weight of boiling water; he then adds it at the
temperature before pointed out, and after having well roused it up leaves it
till reaction takes place and the scum accumulates. When the liquid attains
the heat of about 92 degrees centigrade, this takes place; at this moment the
scum rises abundantly condensed on the surface, and he then skims off this'
scum as quickly as possible, so that the operation may be finished before
ebullition takes place; he then pours the contents of the clarifying copper
into the copper to be next used.
In certain cases circumstances render it necessary that the saccharine juice
be forced up to 22 degrees Beaumé, and the syrup put aside for future
operations. In this case the operation by clarifying in the first copper
repeated, as before explained, in so far as respects the use of the lime, but at
the same time only a third part of the quantity of soap destined to take it out
is added. The two other third parts are reserved to be used only in carrying
on a fresh clarification when the syrup is at 22 degrees.
Defecation in a Steam Apparatus. In a defecator containing about 220
gallons of juice, the Inventor adds the quantity of lime required; rouses it
well up, and turns on the steam, which he turns off on the first appearance of
boiling. In this state he leaves the liquid for some minutes, and then draws
it off by the tap. He lowers the temperature by the use of a refrigerator to
40 or 50 degrees centigrade, and then passes it into another defecator, when'
he adds the soap N° 2, prepared in the way previously explained. He stirs up
quickly, and the reaction promptly takes place. The remainder of the
operation then goes on in the ordinary way, and the scum accumulates on
the surface in one solid mass. When the defecation of the juice is finished, it
runs out clear and bright from the copper, and is no more spoiled. If there
are no means at hand to cool the liquid, he proceeds in regard to the tempe-
rature as has been previously pointed out in the case of the coppers exposed
to the flames of the fire..
For refining, the operation goes on as just stated, after the raw sugar and
the inferior matter have been dissolved by rousing, and when the syrup has
attained 22 degrees. In this case, he proposes to use the soap N° 2, pre-
pared by amalgamation with the soap N° 1, not in an equal quantity in
weight with the soapy matter, but with double the quantity, or even as much
as it will absorb, so that these fatty matters may be uniformly distributed in
the mass, that the compound may act on the lime in the most efficacious
manner he modifies it by adding ammonia or carbonate of ammonia.

page_text: Saccharine liquids, obtained either by being dissolved, or by being expressed,
or by any other method, after being changed into glucose sugar from a chemical
reaction on ligneous and cellular fibres, pectose, or pectosine, starch, &c., as the
case may be, the Inventor does not put under fermentation, until they have
previously undergone a double defecation, the operation being carried out as I
have previously explained, whether over the flame of the fire or by steam. In
the first place, he submits these liquids to a course of lime, and afterwards to
a course of the soap; the liquid is after this drawn off clear, and put under
vinous fermentation, and distilled or otherwise treated as the case may be.
This process, which can be generally applied as before explained, for taking
out the lime dissolved in saccharine liquids, is equally efficacious for the elimi-
nation or the taking out of all or any other agents which may be employed for
defecation. It can be employed in those cases where a composition of barytes
is used, or where any other metallic acid is employed in the shape of salts.
The process is applicable in every case, provided that the agent employed in
defecating will, when combined with the soapy bodies, form an insoluble soap.
It might happen that the density of the soap thus formed may prevent it from
coming off with the scum, and from being removed except by continually
separating it by precipitation; in this case, the prescribed operation ought to
be suitably modified in its details, as will be understood.
DISINFECTION OF ALCOHOLIC FLUID WITHOUT REGARD TO WHAT IT IS MADE
FROM, OR TO THE QUANTITY OF ALCOHOL IT MAY CONTAIN.
In the foregoing remarks, the question has turned upon a double defecation
with lime or any other oxide or double composition and, with the soap upon
liquids full of glucose, before subjecting them to the operation of fermentation.
It has been remarked generally, that the advantage which results from
it is shewn in a greater roundness or fulness, and in a better quality in
the article produced. The advantage derived from the use of soapy bodies
mixed with alkali is shewn in another way, when the alcohols of bad odour
usually sold are submitted to their action, no matter what they may be made
from, or what their degree of strength; in this case the only object is to
improve the quality of the alcohol by disinfecting it; either the fatty matter
contained in it, or the alkali combined with it, reacts on the essential oil dis-
solved in the alcohol, thus constituting a sort of soap. The unvarying result

page_text: of dissolving a certain quantity of soap No 1 in alcohol which has a strong
smell, (which the alcohol commonly sold has) and then distilling it, is that the
product becomes equal to the best spirit; in this case the operation is very
simple, it consists in adding to the liquid thus prepared about 7 lbs. of soap
No 1, dissolved in as little water as possible, for a quantity of 30 gallons of
alcohol to be acted on; this mixture being well roused up, it is then distilled
in such a way as to preserve the mixture which remains, and from which the
soapy bodies can be taken out by the process already made known, and then
be employed again. The alcohol thus produced from good stills cannot be
surpassed, and by an insignificant outlay becomes of considerable value in the
market. The quantity of 7 b. of soap for 30 gallons of liquid must not be
taken as the quantity absolutely required, but it serves to indicate the pro-
bable quantity required in each particular case. The disinfection of alcohol
can also be effected by means of a course of lime treatment, followed by one
of soap; the liquid thus prepared is drawn off clear, and is distilled after the
soap has been added or put into the boiler.
It will be observed from what has been stated, that the characteristic
feature of the Invention is the following:-The lime or analagous treatment,
by treatment with saponifiable matters, either alone or combined with other
matters, whenever they can be made to form an insoluble soap with the
substance itself, or with one of the constituents of the defecating substance.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, the method of defecating sugar and other saccharine matters, by first
treating them with lime or its equivalent in excess, and then with a saponi-
fiable matter, in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described.
Second, the method of refining or rectifying alcohols, by first treating them
with lime or its equivalent in excess, and then with a saponifiable matter, in
the manner and for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of February, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
R. A. BROOMAN. (L.S.)