ANRO METHOD OF AND
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Konrad Trobach and Alfred Cords, both of Berlin, in the
Kingdom of Prussia, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND
LETTERS PATENT to Konrad Trobach and Alfred Cords, both of Berlin, in the
Kingdom of Prussia, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING ALCOHOL.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Konrad Trobach and Alfred
Cords at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th December
1881.
KONRAD TROBACH and ALFRED CORDS, both of Berlin, in the Kingdom of
Prussia. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING ALCOHOL."
Our Invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for producing
pure alcohol direct from the mash by chemically dephlegmating and freeing the
spirits from anylic alcohol or fusel-oil.
In order to obtain the "titre" of the mash in a pure and concentrated state we
employ asbestos which has been treated with a saturated solution of chloride of
barium. For this purpose we preferably utilize the asbestos in a fibrous, felted,
or woolly state, and after heating the same in a pan or similar receptacle we pour
over it the said solution which consists of about 15 per cent. of chloride of barium
and 85 per cent. of water. The water then will evaporate while the chloride of
barium is combined with the asbestos.
We separate the alcohol from the water and fusel-oil by heating the mash to the
boiling point and pass the steam originating from the boiling mash through the
apparatus illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, which apparatus is provided
with layers of the asbestos treated with such chloride of barium. It is a peculiar
feature of the indefinitely hygroscopic qualities of asbestos-wool that it retains
steam even at a very high temperature, and together with the steam it will also
retain the fusel-oil by means of the chloride of barium combined with the asbestos.
In order to carry our said Invention into practice we employ the apparatus
shewn in the accompanying Drawing, in which apparatus the spirits are freed from
Price 6d1

page_text: the fusel-oil by the sole action of the asbestos treated with chloride of barium
through which the steam originating from the mash is forced to flow.
In this Drawing
Figure 1 is a vertical central section of the said apparatus, and
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line D, E, F, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a similar section on the line G, H, of the same Figure.
The said apparatus consists of three main parts, that is to say; first, the mash
apparatus or column; second, the condenser and first heater B; and, third, the
refining or rectifying apparatus C.
Referring first to the mash apparatus or column A; a, a, are compartments 1
arranged one above the other and resting upon the receptacle b for the dregs or
residue, and closed near the top by the vaulted or arched cover c. In each of the
said compartments a is arranged diagonally a steam-tight box d inade of corrugated
sheet metal. The boxes d are fastened in the upper and lower diaphragm of the
said compartments a, and are connected with each other by means of the short
pipes x. The said compartments a are provided with sieve-bottoms e and with
apertures f for introducing the asbestos into the compartments a; these apertures
may be closed by any suitable means during the operation of the apparatus after a
layer of the asbestos treated with the chloride of barium has been placed upon
the said sieve-bottoms_e.
The condenser B is connected by means of the short pipe y to the mash
apparatus A, and is made of corrugated sheet metal having a corrugated conical or
tapering form, and provided with three or more bottoms or diaphragms g having
their rims corrugated so as to form on all sides apertures between the said
bottoms g and the inner walls of the said condenser. The entire corrugated vessel
is surrounded by a casingh to which are connected the mash pipe i, the mash-
eduction pipe k, and the connecting pipe l.
The refining apparatus C like the mash-apparatus consists of several compart-
ments a¹ having apertures f¹ and the sieve bottoms which are covered with similar
layers of asbestos treated with chloride of baryum rest upon the hot steam pipe or
conduit m extending throughout the apparatus. The said compartments a¹ are
supported by a receptacle n of a similar construction to the receptacle 6, and are
connected to the condenser by means of the alcohol-steam connecting pipe, and
the eduction pipe q serving as a conduit for the water of condensation.
Steam enters the lower box d in the mash-apparatus, as indicated by the arrows,
passes through the pipe m to the refining-apparatus C, and is then led off into the
dregs accumulating in the receptacle band frees the saine of any spirits remaining
therein.
The operation of our improved apparatus is as follows, that is to say:-
Each of the sieve-bottoms in both the mash and refining apparatus is provided
with layers of the asbestos treated with chloride of barium of any suitable
thickness. The apparatus is then closed and is heated by means of the hot-
steam-conduit m until the layer of asbestos treated with the chloride of
barium are heated to about from 140 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The mash is
then conducted by the pipe i into the first heater consisting of the casing h
arranged around the condenser, and through the pipe k enters the mash apparatus
or column A and runs down the corrugated upper surface of the box d of the
upperinost compartment a and then proceeds in the direction indicated by the
arrows until it enters the receptacle b. The mash by means of the corrugated or
stair-case-like form of the boxes d is compelled to flow slowly from compartment to
compartment, and to spread in thin layers over the large surface of evaporation
offered by the corrugations of the boxes d, in consequence whereof it is quickly
freed from the spirits while the dregs flow down into the receptacle b where they
are freed from the last remainder of the spirits by means of steam entering from
the hot steam conduit m as above described.
The vaporous spirits or alcohol-steam freed from the mash rise through the
sieve-bottoms e arranged above the said surfaces of evaporation, and then pass

page_text: through the layers of asbestos treated with the chloride of barium covering the
said sieve-bottoms; the said vaporous spirits then enter the corrugated-conical or
tapering condenser B freed of nearly all amylic alcohol or fusel-oil.
The vaporous spirits or alcohol-steam not condensed by the condenser B proceed
with from 95° to 98° Tralles to the refining-apparatus or column C and pass in an
upward direction from the receptacle n through the sieve-bottoms and layer of
asbestos treated with chloride of barium, whereby they are fully freed from the
remaining fusel-oil and water, when by the pipe p they are led to the cooling or
refrigerating apparatus. The steam or vapours condensed by the condenser B also
enter the said receptacle n by means of the waste-pipe q, and are heated by the
lowest coiled part of the conduit m, so that they are freed entirely from the
remainder of alcohol they still contain and pass off through the pipe p.
The water of condensation from the receptacle n and the dregs from the
receptacle bare carried away by means of pipes or conduits in any convenient
manner. The refining apparatus or column C may, if desired, be combined with
mash-apparatus of the ordinary construction. We obtain by our improved process
when using the apparatus hereinbefore described, first, most concentrated dregs;
second, alcohol of very high degree freed from every particle of fusel-oil; and,
third, all the fusel-oil. The latter is recovered by regenerating the asbestos treated
with the chloride of barium in an iron retort exposed to a very high temperature,
the fusel-oil being obtained as the product of distillation. The material, that is to
say, the asbestos treated with the chloride of barium, being dried and freed from
fusel-oil at the same time may be applied over and over again without losing its
efficiency.
Having thus fully described our said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, we wish it understood that we claim,---
First. In the refining or distillation of alcohol, the above described method or
process of separating the fusel-oil from the alcohol, which process consists in
passing the alcoholic vapours through a compound of asbestos and chloride of
barium, substantially as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Second. In the preparation of alcohol, a compound consisting of asbestos in
either a felted, woolly, or fibrous state in combination with chloride of barium or
similar chemical agents, substantially as above set forth and for the purpose
specified.
Third. In apparatus for preparing alcohol, the combination with the corrugated
boxes d, of the mash apparatus or column A, substantially as above set forth and
for the purpose specified.
Fourth. In apparatus for preparing alcohol, the combination with the mash-
apparatus or column A, of a conical condenser made of corrugated sheet-metal,
substantially as above described and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, we, the said Konrad Trobach and Alfred Cords, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eighth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
KONRAD TROBACH. (LS.)
ALFRED CORDS.
(L.S.)