A NEW PROCESS OF TREATING THE GRAIN OF MAIZE OR INDIAN CORN AND OTHER CEREALS FOR THE SEPARATION OF THE STARCH AND OILY GERMS WHICH ARE EMPLOYED IN DISTILLERIES AND STARCII WORKS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edgar Edmonds, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman,
and Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, for
an Invention of "A NEW PROCESS OF TREATING THE GRAIN OF MAIZE OR
INDIAN CORN AND OTHER CEREALS FOR THE SEPARATION OF THE STARCH
AND OILY GERMS WHICH ARE EMPLOYED IN DISTILLERIES AND STARCII
WORKS." A communication from abroad by Ferdinand Camus, of 17,
Boulevard Saint Martin, Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edgar Edmonds at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th February 1880.
EDGAR EDMONDS, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166,
"A NEW PROCESS OF
Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents.
TREATING THE GRAIN OF MAIZE OR INDIAN CORN AND OTHER CEREALS FOR
THE SEPARATION OF THE STARCH AND OILY GERMS WHICH ARE EMPLOYED IN
DISTILLERIES AND STARCH WORKS." (A communication from abroad by Ferdinand
Camus, of 17, Boulevard Saint Martin, Paris, France.)
The object of this Invention is a new process of treating the grain of maize or
Indian corn and other cereals for the purpose of separating the starch and oily germs
which are employed in distilleries and starch works.
This new process is based on the action of solutions of sulphites or bi-sulphites
of lime or of soda on the grains which have been previously cleaned, and on the
treatment of the grains swollen by the absorbtion of the sulphite or bi-sulphite
solutions with a certain determined quantity of an acid, such as sulphuric or hydro-
chloric acid, for example.
By this means the production of sulphuric acid in a nascent condition is effected
in the interior of the grain itself, and a bleaching and dismemberment or dis-
aggregation of the molecules are thus obtained, whereby the separation of the
oily germ from the epidermic skin and from the farinaceous matter is rendered
very easy.
Finally treating mechanically by rollers or grinding and passing through
suitable sieves or screens furnishes the raw material for the distillery and the
starch works.
The process consists in treating the grains (which have previously been subjected

page_text: to a very energetic dry mechanical cleaning) with sulphito, or preferably, bi-sulphite
solutions, and more especially by bi-sulphite of lime or bi-sulphite of soda.
The treatment may be effected at a high or a low temperature.
It is naturally longer at a cold temperature, when it will require about 4 or 5
days, whereas at a high temperature, that is to say, about 50°, it can bo sufficiently
terminated in 24 hours, at the end of this time the colored grain has become
extremely white.
To effect the operation the maize or Indian corn is put into vats constructed as
far as possible of wood, variable quantities of bisulphites are added according to the
base of the salt employed, and according to the rapidity with which it is desired to
complete the operation; for example, with crystallised bisulphite of soda, and
operating at 50°, two kilogrammes are required per hundred kilogrammes of maize
for the preparation to be perfected in 24 hours. Tepid water at 50° is then
introduced only just sufficient to cover the grains.
The whole is stirred from time to time either by hand or by a mechanical
agitator.
When the grains have partly swelled and they have absorbed the bi-sulphite
solution, a certain quantity of sulphuric or hydro-chloric acid in proportion to the
weight of the bi-sulphite and diluted in a large quantity of water is added in
very small quantities.
For example, if a hundred kilogrammes of maize are treated with two kilo-
grammes of bi-sulphite of soda, two kilogrammes of hydro-chloric acid should bo
be added, supposing that to be the acid chosen.
The acid penetrating to the middle of the grains there finds the bi-sulphito on
which it reacts; sulphuric gas is then produced, but in highly favorable conditions,
in effect this gas is in a nascent state, it therefore bleaches incomparably better
than if it had been produced in a solution already prepared; again this gas is in
direct contact with all the molecules of the grain, and lastly, though not the least
cause of the goodness of the result, this gas acts mechanically by distending the
parts of the grain, separating them one from another, and cracking and splitting
them in trying to escape.
All these combined actions are so energetic that the grain is completely bleached
and dismembered, and it is then very easy to separate the oily germ and the
epidermic skin or bran from the farinaceous matter.
This is effected by passing the grain either between two rollers separated
millimetre apart, or between mill stones at a suitable distance apart, or by any
other mill or grinder:
The material is afterwards passed along into a sieve by means of a current of
water, and all that passes through the sieve or screen constitutes the raw material
prepared for the distillery or the starch works.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edgar Edmonds in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th
August 1880.
EDGAR EDMONDS, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166,
Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents. "A NEW PROCESS OF
TREATING THE GRAIN OF MAIZE OR INDIAN CORN AND OTHER CEREALS FOR THE
SEPARATION OF THE STARCH AND OILY GERMS WHICH ARE EMPLOYED IN
DISTILLERIES AND STARCH WORKS." (A communication from abroad by Ferdinand
Camus, of 17, Boulevard Saint Martin, Paris, France.)
The object of this Invention is a new process of treating the grain of maize or
Indian corn and other cereals for the purpose of separating the starch and oily
germs which are employed in distilleries and starch works,
This new process is based on the action of solutions of sulphites or bisulphites of
lime or of soda on the grains which have been previously cleaned, and on the
treatment of the grains swollen by the absorbtion of the sulphite or bisulphite
solutions with a certain determined quantity of an acid, such as sulphuric or
hydro-chloric acid, for example. By this means the production of sulphuric acid in a
nascent condition is effected in the interior of the grain itself, and a bleaching and
dismemberment or disaggregation of the molecules are thus obtained, whereby the
separation of the oily germ from the epidermic skin and from the farinaceous
matter is rendered very easy.
Finally treating mechanically by rollers or grinding and passing through suitable
sieves or screens furnishes the raw material for the distillery and the starch
works.
The process consists in treating the grains (which have previously been subjected
to a very energetic dry mechanical cleaning) with sulphite, or preferably bisulphite
solutions, and more especially by bisulphite of lime or bisulphite of soda.
The treatment may be effected at a high or a low temperature.
It is naturally longer at a cold temperature, when it will require about 4 or 5
days, whereas at a high temperature, that is to say, about 50°, it can be sufficiently
terminated in 24 hours; at the end of this time the colored grain has become
extremely white.
To effect the operation the maize or Indian corn is put into vats constructed as
far as possible of wood, variable quantities of bisulphites are added according to
the base of the salt employed, and according to the rapidity with which it is
desired to complete the operation; for example, with crystallised bisulphite of soda,
and operating at 50°, two kilogrammes are required per hundred kilogrammes of
maize for the preparation to be perfected in 24 hours. Tepid water at 50° is then
introduced, only just sufficient to cover the grains. The whole is stirred from
time to time either by hand or by a mechanical agitator.
When the grains have partly swelled and they have absorbed the bisulphite
solution, a certain quantity of sulphuric or hydro-chloric acid in proportion to the
weight of the bisulphite and diluted in a large quantity of water is added in very
small quantities.
For example, if a hundred kilogrammes of maize are treated with two kilo-
grammes of bisulphite of soda, two kilogrammes of hydro-chloric acid should be
added, supposing that to be the acid chosen.
The acid penetrating to the middle of the grains there finds the bisulphite on
which it reacts; sulphuric gas is then produced, but in highly favorable conditions,
in effect this gas is in a nascent state, it therefore bleaches incomparably better
than if it had been produced in a solution already prepared; again, this gas is in
direct contact with all the molecules of the grain, and lastly, though not the least
cause of the goodness of the result, this gas acts mechanically by distending the

page_text: parts of the grain, separating them one from another, and cracking and splitting
them in trying to escape.
All these combined actions are so energetic that the grain is completely bleached
and dismembered, and it is then very easy to separate the oily germ and the
epidermic skin or bran from the farinaceous matter. This is effected by passing
the grain either between two rollers separated millimetre apart, or between mill
stones at a suitable distance apart, or by any other mill or grinder.
The material is afterwards passed along into a sieve by means of a current of
water, and all that passes through the sieve or screen constitutes the raw material
prepared for the distillery or the starch works.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declaro that I claim on behalf of my foreign
correspondant,--
First. The new application of sulphites or bisulphites of lime, soda, and others
for the purpose of soaking the grains of maize or Indian corn or of other cereals
previous to treating them with an acid, whereby the nascent sulphuric acid is
disengaged from the interior of the grain or grains.
Secondly. The new process as herein before described of treating the grains of
maize or Indian corn or of other cereals by the nascent sulphuric acid for the
purpose of bleaching and disaggregating them so as to facilitate their mechanical
treatment for the separation of the starch and oily germs for the use of distilleries
and starch works.]
In witness whereof, I, the said Edgar Edmonds, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty seventh day of August, One thousand eight hundred
EDGAR EDMONDS. (L.S.)