Improvements in the Purification of Alcohols.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 19th July, 1889-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Purification of Alcohols.
I CHARLES PHILIPPART, of 4 Rue Alphonse de Neuville, Paris, France, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
My Invention relates to the purification of the phlegms resulting from the first
distillation, as well as to the purification of rectified alcohol of commerce (commonly
known in France as trois-six) without a second rectification.
The product to be purified is operated on directly in the cold without addition of
water or reduction of strength.
(1) To purify the phlegins before they pass to the rectifying column I treat them
with a concentrated solution of sodium, barium, or other alkaline bisulphite.
It is known that the bisulphites possess the property of combining with the acetones
and aldehydes to form crystalline compounds insoluble in alcohol.
The bisulphite being itself insoluble in alcohol the two products may be separated
either by decantation, filtration, or distillation. The bisulphite or acid sulphite may
also be saturated by an energetic base and converted into neutral sulphite or it may
be brought in presence of an oxidised base which converts the sulphite into sulphate.
It is preferable in this case, to employ sulphites which form insoluble sulphates.
When the purification is followed by distillation, the method above referred to may
be followed, e. convert the sulphite into sulphate by the action of an oxidised base
such as barium, lead, or manganese dioxide and even by the employment of hydrogen
dioxide either in a liquid state or formed in the liquid itself, certain precautions being
taken to prevent the oxidation of the alcohol.
(2) To purify alcohols (trois-six) without subsequent rectification, it is preferable
to employ sulphites which form insoluble sulphates.
The bisulphite may also be converted into sulphate by means of sulphuric or other
suitable acid, the sulphurous acid being eliminated by evaporation either in vacuo or
otherwise. Among other bisulphites which may serve for the purpose are the barium
sulphite forming the combination

page_text: One of the special advantages of this system is that the acetones and aldehydes
once separated from the alcohols or phlegmns, can be readily collected, a by-product
being thus obtained of which the value may compensate for the cost of the operation.
Dated this 1st day of November 1888
C. PHILIPPART.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Purification of Alcohols.
I, CHARLES PHILIPPART of 4 Rue Alphonse de Neuville, Paris, France, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
My Invention relates to the purification of the phlegms resulting from the first
distillation as well as to the purification of rectified alcohol of commerce, (commonly
known in France as trois-six) without a second rectification.
The product to be purified is operated on directly in the cold without the addition
of water or reduction of strength.
(1.) To purify the phlegms before they pass to the rectifying column, I treat them
with a concentrated solution of sodium, barium, or other alkaline bisulphite.
It is known that the bisulphites possess the property of combining with the acetones
and aldehydes to form crystalline compounds insoluble in alcohol. The bisulphite,
being itself insoluble in alcohol, the two products may be separated either by
decantation, filtration, or distillation. The bisulphite or acid sulphite may also be
saturated by an energetic base and converted into neutral sulphite, or it may be
brought in presence of an oxygenated base which converts the sulphite into sulphate.
It is preferable in this case to employ sulphites which form insoluble sulphates.
When the purification is followed by distillation, the method above referred to may
be followed, i.e. convert the sulphite into sulphate by the action of an oxygenated
base such as barium, lead, or manganese dioxide, and even by the employment of
hydrogen dioxide, either in a liquid state, or formed in the liquid itself, certain
precautions being taken to prevent the oxidation of the alcohol.
(2.) To purify alcohols (trois-six) without subsequent rectification, it is preferable
to employ sulphites which form insoluble sulphates.
The bisulphite may also be converted into sulphate by means of sulphuric or other
suitable acid, the sulphurous acid being eliminated by evaporation, either in vacuo or
otherwise. Among other bisulphites which may serve for the purpose are the barium
sulphite forming the combination
C² H³ SON H'.
The mode of operation may be varied, for example, there may be added to the
alcohol a quantity of SO2 which is neutralised by the base, thus forming the bisulphite
in the alcohol to be purified, and then separating either in the form of sulphate or of
sulphite, or in a soluble or insoluble state by distillation or otherwise.
4

page_text: The quantity of the purifying agent to be employed depends entirely upon the
degree of impurity of the phlegms or alcohols to be treated; an excess cannot
however in any case be injurious as the separation may be very simply effected.
One of the special advantages of this system is that the acetones and aldehydes
once separated from the alcohols or phlegms can be readily collected, a bye-product
being thus obtained, of which the value may compensate for the cost of the
operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is :-
1. The treatment in the cold of phlegms or alcohols, either by the addition to or
the formation in the liquid to be purified of an alkaline bisulphite as hereinbefore
specified.
2. The several methods herein specified for effecting the separation of the bisulphites
from the purified phlegms or alcohol.
3. The herein described process of purifying phlegms or alcohol, substantially as
specified.
Dated this 19th day of July 1889.
C. PHILIPPART.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.