IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Josef Görz of 70 Wilhelmstrasse W. Berlin, Prussia,
German Empire for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF SUGAR AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Josef Görz.at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th May 1883.
JOSEF GÖRZ of 70b Wilhelmstrasse W. Berlin, Prussia, German Empire
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
"
This invention relates to improvements in the process of and apparatus for
extracting sugar from syrups molasses and other sugar-containing liquors by means
of electricity.
According to the said invention the syrups, molasses or other liquids are heated in
a vacuum by steam at a low temperature until they form a concentrated liquor which
being boiled for a short length of time in a vessel, with or without the presence of
air, is then ready to be acted upon by the electric current. This current is allowed
to pass for some time through the liquid mass, which is subsequently left to settle,
when, providing the temperature does not exceed 30° Centigrade, nearly the whole
of the sugar contained in the said mass will precipitate in the form of crystals-
which are afterwards collected in the usual manner.
The remaining sugar is extracted from the liquor by reboiling and again passing,
an electric current through the mass, the process being repeated until the liquid is
thoroughly free from sugar.
The process herein before described may be modified by forcing a continuous
stream of the liquid sugar-containing mass into a vessel and subjecting the same
to the action of the electric currents in the usual manner. In this latter case a
coil of pipes is placed in the vessel, hot air or steam being caused to circulate
through the coil.
According to another. modification the liquid sugar-containing mass is forced
through the coil where it may, by means of suitable arrangements, be heated and
subjected to the action of the electricity.
The electric currents may be caused to pass from a battery or other source of

page_text: electricity through the syrup, molasses, or other sugar-containing liquor either by
using vessels made of insulating material in which the electrodes are inserted or
by having the said vessels covered with insulating material, or lastly by using
vessels made of metal and insulated in a suitable manner. In this last case the
vessel itself may serve as one of the electrodes whereas the other electrode may be
placed in the liquid mass.
According to another arrangement I place three or more electrodes in the
insulated vessel at various distances from each other and cause the liquid mass to
circulate through the spaces between the electrodes in order to subject the said
mass to the action of the electric currents.
In order to prevent the electric currents from being interfered with by the
tubing which is in the vessel suitable insulating material is used.
The electric, currents may be obtained either from batteries or electric machines
and may be either continuous or alternating; an 'induced current would also answer
the purpose.
The electric current may be passed through the liquid sugar-containing mass
when the latter is heated in a vacuum
0
In constructing apparatus for extracting sugar according to this improved process
I provide a vacuum pan in which are arranged two electrodes in the form of rings,
the liquid when in the apparatus being caused to circulate through the annular
aperture between the electrodes.
One of the electrodes, which is angular in cross section, is properly insulated
from the sides of the apparatus and is connected by means of a small rod with
one of the electrical conductors. The other electrode is fastened to the lower part
of a metal cylinder and is connected through the said cylinder and a rod to the
other electrical conductor the said rod being insulated at the points where it passes
through the side of the apparatus by means of pieces of insulated material which
also prevent any shifting of the said rod.
The coil of pipes is placed between the metal cylinder and the external shell of
the apparatus and is heated by steam which is admitted through a cock. In
consequence of the above arrangements a rapid circulation of the liquid will take
place, this liquid entering through the annular aperture between the two electrodes
and thus meeting first with the electric current, and afterwards with the spiral.
tubing.
The apparatus is provided as usual with a cock for the admission of the liquid
mass an outlet, a manometer, a vacuum gauge, a thermometer, a water gauge, and
an arrangement for allowing the withdrawal of a small quantity of liquid for
testing purposes.
I sometimes arrange several pairs of electrodes in an open vessel, in this case
each bend of the coil alternates with a pair of electrodes, one set of the electrodes
or rings being connected with the sides of the vessel' and the other set of electrodes
or rings being connected with the metal circulation cylinder. The electric
conductors and the insulating may be arranged as hereinbefore described.
The shape and arrangement of the electrodes, the manner of placing them with
regard to the heating coil, the direction in which the electric current is caused to
pass, and the circulation of the liquid mass may be modified in various ways without
departing from the nature of the said invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Josef Görz in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th November
1883.
"
JOSEF GÖRZ of 70 Wilhelmstrasse,. W. Berlin, Prussia, German Empire
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
This invention relates to a process of, and apparatus for, extracting sugar from
syrups, molasses, and other saccharine liquids, by means of electricity.
According to the said invention the syrup, molasses or other liquid is heated in a
vacuum by steam at a low temperature until it forms a concentrated liquor which,
after boiling for a short length of time in a vessel with or without the presence of
air, is subjected to the action of the electric current. This current is allowed to
pass for some time through the liquid mass which is subsequently left to settle,
when, providing the temperature does not exceed thirty (30) degrees Centigrade,
nearly the whole of the sugar contained in the said mass will precipitate in the
form of crystals which are afterwards collected in the usual manner
The remaining sugar is extracted from the liquor by reboiling and again passing
an electric current through the mass, the process being repeated until the liquid
mass is thoroughly free from sugar.
The process hereinbefore described may be modified by forcing into a vessel a
continuous stream of the liquid sugar-containing mass and subjecting the same to
the action of the electric current in the usual manner. In this case a coil of pipes
is placed in the aforementioned vessel, hot air or steam being caused to circulate
through the coil.
According to another modification the liquid sugar-containing mass is forced
through the coil where it may, by means of suitable arrangements, be heated and
subjected to the action of electricity
The electric currents may be caused to pass from a battery or other source of
electricity through the syrup, molasses, or other sugar-containing liquor, either by
using vessels made of insulating material in which the electrodes are inserted, or by
having the said vessels covered with insulating material, or lastly by using vessels
made of metal and insulated in a suitable manner. In this last case the vessel
itself may serve as one of the electrodes whereas the other electrode may be placed
in the liquid mass.
According to another arrangement I place three or more electrodes in the
insulated vessel at various distances from each other and cause the liquid mass to
circulate through the spaces left between the electrodes in order to subject the said
mass to the action of the electric currents
In order to prevent the electric currents from being interfered with by the tubing
which is in the vessel suitable insulating material is used.
'
The electric currents may be derived either from batteries or electric machines,
and may be either continuous or alternating; induced currents would also answer
the purpose.
The electric current may be passed through the sugar-containing mass when the
latter is heated in a vacuum, which in this case serves as a conductor.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of apparatus constructed according
to this invention
Figures 2 and 3 are views of details of the same.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of another form of apparatus.
In the apparatus shewn in Figure 1 the sugar-containing liquor is treated in a
vacuum.
a and b indicate two electrodes, in the form of rings, the liquid in the apparatus
being caused to circulate through the annular aperture between the electrodes.
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page_text: 1
The electrode a which is angular in cross section is insulated from the sides of the
apparatus at c, and is connected by means of a rod m with one of the electrical
conductors.
The electrode b is fastened to the lower part of a metal cylinder d and is connected,
through the said cylinder and rod i, to the other electrical conductor at n the said
rod being insulated at the point where it passes through the side f of the
apparatus by means of pieces e, e¹ of insulated material as shown in Figure 3 which
pieces also prevent any shifting of the said rod i.
A coil of pipes g is placed between the metal cylinder d and the external shell ƒ
of the apparatus and is heated by steam which is admitted through the cock h.
By reason of the above arrangements a rapid circulation of the liquid will take
place in the direction of the arrows, the said liquid passing through the annular
space between the two electrodes a and b whereby it is brought into contact with
the electric current and the spiral tubing.
The apparatus is provided with a cock b for the admission of the liquid mass,
also with an outlet p, a manometer, a vacuum gauge, a thermometer, a water gauge
and an arrangement for permitting the withdrawal of a small quantity of liquid
for testing purposes.
I sometimes arrange several pairs of electrodes in an open vessel as shown in
Figure 4. In this case the convolutions of the coil alternate with pairs of electrodes
one set of the electrodes or rings a being connected with the sides of the vessel and
the other set of electrodes or rings 6 being connected with the metallic circulation
cylinder d. The electric conductors and the insulating material may be arranged in
the manner bereinbefore described.
.
I do not limit myself to the shape and arrangement of the electrodes, the manner
of placing them with regard to the heating coil, the direction in which the electric
current is caused to pass or the direction in which the circulation of the liquid
takes place as I may vary the same considerably without departing from the
nature of my invention.
Having thus fully described my said invention and the manner of performing
the same I wish it understood that I am aware that electricity has heretofore been
used in the purification and clarification of saccharine juice but such electricity
was used previous to the heating of the said juice by steam and partly with the
addition of salts, without allowing the liquor to settle and without re-subjecting
the said liquor to the action of the electric current. I do not therefore claim
broadly the use of electricity for the purification of saccharine juice, as my invention
consists essentially in passing the electric current through saccharine liquor in the
manner above described in combination with the heating and settling of the said
liquor, whereby a series of chemical changes take place so that the sugar separates
in a crystalline state from the non-saccharine portions of the liquor as above
described, but I claim :-
First. The process herein before described of extracting sugar from syrup, molasses
or other saccharine liquid, which process consists in heating the same, passing
electric currents therethrough, and allowing the said liquid to settle; substantially as
described.
Second. The arrangement of one or more pairs of annular electrodes in combina-
tion with a cylinder d and a coil of tubing g for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof I the said Josef Görz have hereunto set my hand and seal
this Second day of November in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and eighty three.