A New or Improved Process and Apparatuses for Preserving Organic Substances, and especially Alimentary Substances.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 20th Sept., 1890
UUMI LEIM DIBUITIVATION.
A New or Improved Process and Apparatuses for Preserving Organic
Substances, and especially Alimentary Substances.
1, CHARLES LÉON BACHELERIE, of 22 Chaussée d'Antin, 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:-
This invention relates to a new process of preserving alimentary substances, as also
to the construction and use of apparatuses adapted for application in such process.
Many attempts have been hitherto made to preserve alimentary substances, such as
meat, fish, eggs, vegetables &c., more especially in view of conveying them long
distances. Most of these attempts have failed, the freezing process alone having
succeeded, but it is well known that that method is expensive, that it requires com-
plicated fittings and that the matter submitted to such freezing process loses much of
its primitive savour, and soon spoils when brought back to the temperature of the
surrounding atmosphere.
My new process presents none of these drawbacks. It secures perfect preservation
of organic substances for a considerable length of time, and enables them to be
conveyed to any distance in free air provided such air be constantly renewed. It is
very economical, for the substances I use are cheap, and the treatment only lasts a few
minutes. Finally, the alimentary products not only retain their nutritive qualities
but also their savour entirely unchanged. The process consists essentially in treating
(under pressure), meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, &c., by an homogeneous mixture of
chlorhydric acid and carbonic acid, with this particularity that the carbonic acid is
only used as a medium for the chlorhydric acid, which it brings to a finely divided
state, and which it causes to penetrate the matter to be preserved.
In order to apply my invention, I use by preference, bicarbonate of soda, and I
treat it with a concentrated solution of chlorhydric acid in larger quantity than
would be necessary to set at liberty carbonic acid. This operation is effected in
presence of the matters to be preserved, in a closed vessel capable of resisting a
pretty strong pressure. The reaction is very sharp; the carbonic acid, as fast as it
is set at liberty, converts the chlorhydric acid which is in a free state, into a sort of
spray, and mixes thoroughly with it, upon which, by the action of the increasing
pressure which results, both penetrate into the mass of the substances to be preserved,
such substances being thus thoroughly impregnated. By means of this penetration,
the quantity of the preserving agent disseminated through the mass is very slight,
since the chemical analysis of the substances preserved shows only slight traces of
chlorhydric acid. This quantity cannot therefore be in any way injurious to health;
it is nevertheless sufficient to secure the preservation for a long time of the matters
treated.
I have stated above that the quantity of chlorhydric acid used should be a little in
excess of what is required to set at liberty all the carbonic acid of the bicarbonate of
soda. This condition is not absolutely essential, and the result might be attained by
mixing the two elements in the proportions given by the formula for reaction, viz..
one part by weight of chlorhydric acid, for two parts of bicarbonate of soda. In
fact the action is so rapid, and the production of gas so abundant that the chlorhydric
acid is carried off as soon as the reaction begins, so that such reaction may perhaps
not entirely be completed, that is to say, there may remain a certain portion of the
bicarbonate unaffected. It is therefore impossible to adopt strictly fixed proportions,
but satisfactory results will be obtained with the relative qualities above specified.
With these relative quantities the total quantity of reacting agents will vary
according to the capacity of the cylinder and the pressure required to be obtained.

page_text: As a rule, a pressure of an atmosphere and half suffices, but it may reach two, or
even three atmospheres when it is necessary to penetrate bulky pieces; the apparatus
should be made to resist that amount of pressure. The meats thus prepared are
afterwards exposed to free air, which must often be renewed. The evaporation of all
the aqueous parts contained in them then begins. According as they contain more or
less water, or as they are preserved with a more or less thick outer covering, they
remain for a longer or shorter period in the moist condition desirable for edibles.
For instance, pigeons may be eaten after a lapse of forty-five days, beef after six
weeks, eggs after eight or ten months. After that time these matters get drier every
day until at last they loose their natural moisture entirely.
In order to put my process in practice I have contrived an apparatus which is
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a cross view, half in section.
Fig. 2 a longitudinal view, half in section.
Fig. 3 an horizontal section of my apparatus, provided with the necessary parts.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a portable apparatus, and
Fig. 5 a plan of the same.
In all these figures the same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
In this metallic chamber, constructed to resist a high pressure, supports A, running
on rails are placed, (two are shown in the example given) of suitable form, which carry
the matters to be treated. These supports or carriages enter by an air-tight door at
one end of the apparatus, remain in the chamber whilst the reaction takes place, and
leave by an opposite door similar to the first. On the floor of the chamber B arranged
in the form of a reversed pyramid trunk, the required quantity of bicarbonate of soda
is placed. Above is placed a moveable bowl C intended to receive by a tube D, the
chlorhydric acid. This bowl may be made to swing on pivots at each side. This
swinging motion is effected from outside by means of a rod E with a handle. Around
the chamber are placed pipes F perforated with holes by which water is forced when
desirable by means of a distributing tap G. A discharge opening H at the bottom of
the chamber is closed by a plug with balance weight 1. Finally, on the top of the
chamber, one or more safety valves J are fitted, as also an electric bell or other similar
contrivance to shew the limit of pressure which must not be exceeded, and which marks
the end of the operation.
Fig. 3 represents, at the side of the apparatus strictly speaking, a chamber M in
which the operator may sit, and communicating by a small window, K with the
apparatus.
The process will now be easily understood. The bicarbonate of soda being spread
over the bottom B, and the carriage A being in position, all the issues are closed. The
desired quantity of chlorhydric acid is passed into the bowl C by the pipe D, upon
which, by pulling the rod E, the bowl is upset. The acid falls all at once upon the
bicarbonate of soda; carbonic acid is set at liberty in abundance, and mingles with the
chlorhydric acid in excess so as to bring it to a very finely divided state. The pressure
increases rapidly in the chamber, and in a few minutes the pressure indicator announces
that the operation is terminated. The discharge valve H and the water tap G are then
opened. The water gushes out of the holes in the pipes F, washes the floor of
the chamber, and carries away the products of the reaction. The doors of the
apparatus may then be opened, the carriages A drawn out, and the operation re-
commenced.
I have also contrived a portable apparatus essentially similar to the first, but on
a smaller scale, and suitable even for households. It is composed of a cylinder N
of enamelled cast iron or lined with any other acid-proof matter and mounted on
four legs O. This cylinder is closed at the top by an autoclave lid P held firmly
down by a pressure screw Q. It is provided with a discharge pipe R having a
tap S, a manometer or pressure gauge T, and upon the lid, with a safety valve
and an opening for the introduction of the acid, which opening may be closed by
a screw plug. The bowl C for chlorhydric acid swings upon its two pivots, one
of which extends outside and is fitted with a handle E. This bowl is of course

page_text: acid-proof. A tube D of glass porcelain, or other suitable material, supported by
holdfasts V conveys the acid to the bowl.
The matter to be preserved is suspended from one or more cross-bars X. It
may also, according to its nature, be arranged on perforated shelves or gratings
placed one above the other, or in any other suitable manner. The cylinder N is
preferably covered outside with wood, bound together with hoops Z. Two handles W
may also be fitted to it in order to facilitate carriage. In order to make use of
this apparatus, the desired quantity of bicarbonate of soda is placed on the bottom
of the cylinder N after which the substances to be treated are introduced. The lid
is then fixed down firmly by means of the screw Q, and by the proper opening
the acid is introduced and descends by the pipe D into the bowl C. The opening
is then closed by its screw plug, and by turning the handle E the bowl is upset.
The chlorhydric acid falls all at once upon the salt of soda, setting at liberty an
abundance of carbonic acid mixed with chlorhydric acid in the form of spray, and
having the effects above described. It is evident that the above described apparatus,
ог Depulsor" as I call it, may be varied and modified in a variety of ways, both in
construction and in form without in any way affecting the principle of my invention.
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 I
claim is :
1. The new or improved process of preservation of alimentary substances which
consists essentially of treating them in a closed vessel and under pressure, with a
mixture of gaseous or very finely divided chlorhydric acid and carbonic acid, the latter
acting more especially as a medium for the chlorhydric acid, in the manner, and for the
purpose above specified.
2. In the new or improved process of preservation of elementary substances above
described; the construction and use of a treatment chamber, of large or small
dimensions such as represented in the accompanying drawings, and more especially the
combination of the recipient B, the moveable bowl C, and the perforated tubes F, for
the washing after each operation.
Dated this 10th day of & none 1800
C URQUHART FISHER,
Applicant's Agent.