IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OR MANUFACTURE OF SACCHARATE OF Lime
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE PRODUCTION OR MANUFACTURE OF SACCHARATE OF Lime." A commu-
nication from abroad by Hector Legru, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
Sealed the 23rd September 1879, and dated the 29th March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th March 1879.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OR MANUFACTURE OF SACCHARATE
OF LIME." A communication from abroad by Hector Legru, of Paris, in the Republic
of France.
This Invention relates to an important improvement in the manufacture of
saccharate of lime, which is produced more particularly for the purpose of extracting
the sugar contained in molasses, or drips obtained in the manufacture of sugar in
sugar works or in sugar refineries.
It is known that certain methods of manufacturing saccharate of lime possess the
serious disadvantage of involving the employment of a considerable quantity of
anhydrous or slightly hydrated lime, in order to avoid the liability of the materials
to become consolidated in or adhere to the apparatus employed for the manufacture
of the saccharate, and that according to other methods the saccharate of lime
becomes at least partially consolidated in a compact mass, which necessitates con-
siderable labor in breaking it up for the purpose of submitting it to the operation
of washing in alcohol, in order to remove the impurities and mineral salts.
It has been ascertained from experience that in the case of the methods firstly
hereinbefore referred to, the proportion of the weight of lime employed frequently
exceeded the weight of the sugar to be couverted into saccharate, whereas a much
less quantity would theoretically be sufficient for the purpose.
This disadvantage is very important when treating syrups or molasses indepen-
dently of the manufacture of sugar, or in this case the whole of the expenses
of manufacturing and employing lime have to be charged to the one operation;

page_text: moreover the quantity of carbonic acid required is very considerable, and greatly
increases the duration and cost of the operation.
Now, according to the present Invention, it is proposed to substitute for a portion
of the lime an inert, pulverulent, and absorbent body of small value, such, for
example, as silica, carbonates of lime, and the like, and in the case in question even
the scums or products resulting from the process of carbonating saccharate of lime,
which are obtained in considerable quantities, and after drying are in a favourable
condition for the purpose.
A quantity of lime, very nearly approximating to the quantity theoretically
requisite, is then sufficient to ensure the proper formation of saccharate, for example,
by employing a quantity of lime equal in weight to about eighty per cent. of the
weight of sugar, mixed with a quantity of dried scum or other absorbent material,
equal in weight to the sugar contained in the molasses or syrups; the mixture thus
formed, after being treated in a suitable mixing apparatus, will not become consoli-
dated nor adhere to the apparatus; moreover, the saccharate of lime thus formed is
in a most favorable condition for the operation of washing.
It will thus be evident that in the case of the methods of manufacturing saccha-
rate of lime secondly herein before referred to, by employing a suitable quantity of
inert matter mixed with the lime or syrup, a friable saccharate may be obtained in
consequence of the interposition of such matter capable of being easily reduced to
fragments, and in excellent condition for washing, by reason of the porous condition
in which it is obtained.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
September 1879.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OR MANUFACTURE OF SACCHARATE
OF LIME." A communication from abroad by Hector Legru, of Paris, in the Republic
of France.
The said Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of saccharate of
lime, which is produced more particularly for the purpose of extracting the sugar
contained in molasses, or drips obtained in the manufacture of sugar in
or in sugar refineries.
sugar works
It is well known that certain methods of manufacturing saccharate of lime possess
the serious disadvantage that they necessitate the employment of a considerable
quantity of anhydrous or slightly hydrated lime, in order to avoid the liability of
the materials becoming consolidated in or adhering to the apparatus employed for
the manufacture of the saccharate, and that according to other methods the
saccharate of lime becomes at least partially consolidated in a compact mass, which
necessitates considerable labour in breaking it up, for the purpose of submitting it
to the operation of washing with alcohol, in order to remove the impurities and
mineral salts.
It has been ascertained from experience that in the case of the methods firstly
herein before referred to, the proportion of the weight of lime employed frequently
exceeded the weight of the sugar to be converted into saccharate, whereas a much
less quantity would theoretically be sufficient for the purpose.
This disadvantage is comparatively unimportant when treating molasses or syrups
during the manufacture of sugar, as the saccharate formed may in this case be
employed instead of lime in the operations of defecating and carbonating, but it
becomes very serious when treating syrups or molasses independently of the manu-
facture of sugar, as in this case the whole of the expenses of manufacturing and
employing lime have to be charged to the one operation; moreover, the quantity of
carbonic acid required is very considerable, and greatly increases the duration and
cost of the operation.
It has been observed by my foreign correspondent that the greater part of the
lime employed does not enter into combination, but remains simply interposed
between the particles of the saccharate produced. Now, according to the prosent
Invention, there is substituted for a portion of the lime an inert pulverulent and
absorbent body of small value, such, for example, as silica, carbonates of lime, and
the like, and in the case in question even the scums or products resulting from the
process of carbonating saccharate of lime, which are obtained in considerable quan-
tities, and after drying are in a favorable condition for the purpose.
It has been ascertained that under these conditions a quantity of lime very nearly
approximating to the quantity theoretically requisite is sufficient to ensure the
proper formation of saccharate; for example, by employing a quantity of lime
equal in weight to about eighty per cent. of the weight of sugar, mixed with a
quantity of dried scum or other absorbent material, equal in weight to the sugar
contained in the molasses or syrups, the mixture thus formed, after being treated
in a suitable mixing apparatus, will not become consolidated nor adhere to the
apparatus; moreover, the saccharate of lime thus formed is in a most favourable
condition for the operation of washing.
The inert matters which may be added to the lime in substitution for the portion
of lime which has been dispensed with are the following, videlicet :-The froth or seam
produced in sugar manufacture, dried natural carbonate of lime crushed, ground, or
otherwise reduced to a more or less coarse state of division; the various kinds of

page_text: marl, silica, including the kind known as "randonite," and other substances employed
in the manufacture of dynamite, in order to absorb the nitro-glycerine, bone black
in a state of powder, tile dust, saw dust, cork in a fine state of division, and the
like. The proportions in which these substances are employed will vary according
to the nature of the particular substance or substances selected, and the nature of
the saccharate that it is required to obtain.
It will thus be evident that by employing a suitable quantity of inert matter
mixed with the lime or syrup, a friable saccharate may be obtained, in consequence
of the interposition of such matter, capable of being easily reduced to fragments,
and in excellent condition for washing by reason of the porous condition in which
it is obtained.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the 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 consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in
part recited Letters Patent is,―
The application of absorbent and inert matters in the manufacture of saccharate
of lime, substantially in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Specifica-
tion set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of September, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)