Improvements in the Treatment of Starch-containing Substances for use in Brewing, Distilling, the Manufacture of Glucose, and in similar operations.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 29th July, 1893-Accepted, 9th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Starch-containing Substances for
use in Brewing, Distilling, the Manufacture of Glucose, and in
similar operations.
I, SPENCER PRATT, of Rothsay House, Lower Tooting, in the County of
Surrey, Analytical Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
My invention relates to improvements in the treatment of starch-containing
substances in order to render them especially suitable for use in brewing, distilling,
the manufacture of glucose, vinegar-making, and other processes or manufactures
in which starch is required in a highly liquid form. Starch in this form is
particularly useful in brewing, distilling, vinegar-making, and analogous operations,
inasmuch as diastase is able to act readily thereon.
Heretofore, many attempts have been made to obtain starch, in a condition in
which diastase will readily act thereon, from rice, maize, sago-flour and other
starch-containing substances (hereinafter referred to, for the sake of convenience,
by the term raw grain") by processes in which the raw grain is treated for
periods varying from about two to thirty-six hours, in the presence of steam at
temperatures not exceeding 310° Fahrenheit, and at corresponding pressures.
It
is a fundamental defect of the said processes that the products thereof are not in
the condition best suited to enable diastase to act readily thereon. The said
processes possess further defects, inasmuch as if they are practised on a scale of a
magnitude sufficient to render thein of service, commercially, it is necessary that
large quantities of raw grain should be operated upon at a time, and necessary,
therefore, that large receivers for the said large quantities should be provided.
The provision of the said receivers necessitates a considerable initial outlay, for
they must not only be large, but must in addition be of sufficient strength to with-
stand the internal pressure to which they are subjected by the steam employed in
the said processes. Moreover the duration of the processes, even in cases in which
it does not exceed the minimum of two hours herein before stated, increases the
necessity for the treatment, in the said processes, of a greater quantity of material
at a time, than need be dealt with if the duration of the treatment be shortened.
The cost and the difficulty of handling the raw grain in processes in which a con-
siderable bulk and weight of material is treated in one operation, are further
disadvantageous features of the said processes.
The principal object of my invention is to enable the whole of the starch contained
in raw grain to be obtained therefrom in a highly liquid condition, and in the state
best suited either to permit the diastase of the malt to act thereon immediately, or
to permit the said starch to be advantageously employed in the manufacture of
glucose, for instance.
This object effect by a process which is hereinafter fully set forth and which
involves the treatment of raw grain with steam. The said process can be effected
with but small expense for installation and subsequent working, and can be properly
carried out with great rapidity; being of brief duration it is economical with
regard to the steam used, and can be repeated at very frequent intervals, so that
the production of the starch is made almost continuous by the treatment of small
quantities of raw grain in vessels of small size, and easily constructed to withstand
considerable internal pressure.
Another object of my said invention is to improve the drainage in the mash tub
by the production, in the manner hereinafter set forth, of a solution of starch

page_text: from which the insoluble constituents of the raw grain are separated with great
facility.
According to one method of carrying my said invention into practice, I mix raw
grain with water in the manner and proportions hereinafter specified, and 1
subject the mixture to steam at temperatures of about 330° to 360° Fahrenheit and
at absolute pressures of 100 lbs. to 160 lbs. per square inch, in a suitable vessel.
Immediately a pressure and temperature within the said limits, or thereabouts, are
reached the whole of the starch is dissolved in the water and brought into a con-
dition to be readily acted upon by the diastase of the malt, and the solution can be
at once filtered with ease and rapidity, as it is remarkably fluid, and, when cooled
to the required mashing temperature may be used instead of water for mashing with
malt in the usual way.
I
prepare the said mixture of raw grain and water in a suitable vessel; it may
consist, for instance, of one quarter (336 pounds) of raw grain to about 250 gallons
of water.
In certain cases, I find it advantageous to include half a bushel (21 pounds) of
ground malt in the said mixture, for each quarter of raw grain and 250 gallons of
water therein. The said mixture of raw grain and water, with or without the
addition of malt is introduced into heated water in a suitable closed vessel, herein-
after termed a dissolver, the contents of which, after the introduction of the said
mixture, are subjected to the action of steam. The dissolver is preferably_so
constructed that its contents can be heated by steam introduced thereinto. For
each quarter of raw grain and 250 gallons of water in the mixture as aforesaid, I
place, say, 100 gallons of water in the dissolver prior to the introduction of the
previously-prepared mixture thereinto. Into the said water I introduce steam so
as to raise it to a temperature of say 160° Fahrenheit. While the water thus
heated in the dissolver is still subject to the influence of steam, the steam supply
valve being kept open, I introduce the previously-prepared mixture of raw grain
and water with or without the addition of malt into the said heated water, and
when it has been thus introduced all valves on the dissolver are closed except the
steam inlet. High-pressure steam is next supplied until the whole of the contents
of the dissolver have been raised to the necessary temperature of from 330° to 360°
Fahrenheit, and a pressure of 100 to 160 lbs. per square inch has been obtained.
This is effected in a very short period, for, as soon as a temperature and pressure
within the said limits, or thereabouts are obtained the whole of the starch will have
been rendered liquid, and the solution containing the liquid starch can be
immediately blown out of the dissolver through suitable valves, by the pressure of
the steam therein, and thus, or otherwise, transferred to a settling back whence the
solution can be run off into the "hot liquor back"; or the said solution can be
filtered. Owing to the high fluidity of the solution, the operation of settling or
filtration is very easily and rapidly accomplished. When cooled to the required
mashing temperature the resulting bright solution may be used instead of water
alone, for mashing with malt in the usual way but with a far more satisfactory
result or it may be employed in the manufacture of glucose or for other
purposes.
By the production of a highly liquid solution of starch as hereinbefore set forth,
I am able to use in a mixture of malt and raw grain 50% of raw grain, and, as the
whole of the starch is utilized I am able to obtain a far more satisfactory result
than hitherto, inasmuch as an increase of fully 20% of extract may be obtained by
the use of starch prepared according to my invention as aforesaid. In addition
there can be no defective drainage inasmuch as the starch is converted into maltose
and dextrose in the mash tun, and the.albumenoids and other impurities contained
in the raw grain will have been completely coagulated owing to the high temperature
employed in the dissolver and will have been removed, by the settling or filtration
as aforesaid.
Suitable devices are employed within the dissolver so that its contents may be
stirred and brought into intimate contact with the steam which is supplied thereto.

page_text: I wish it to be clearly understood that the employment in the dissolver of a high
temperature, of at least 320° Fahrenheit but preferably 350° to 360° Fahrenheit,
and corresponding absolute pressures of 90 to 160 lbs. per square inch is an essential
feature of my invention, but I do not limit my said invention to the methods, appa-
ratus, and proportions of materials herein before set forth by way of example,
for it is obvious that these may be varied without departure from the nature of my
invention.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Starch-containing Substances for
use in Brewing, Distilling, the Manufacture of Glucose, and in
similar operations.
I, SPENCER PRATT, of Rothsay House, Lower Tooting, in the County of Surrey,
Analytical Chemist, 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 improvements in the production of a starch-containing
solution for use in brewing, distilling, the manufacture of glucose, vinegar-making,
and other processes or manufactures in which starch is required in a highly liquid
form. Starch in this form is particularly useful in brewing, distilling, vinegar-
making, and analogous operations, inasmuch as diastase is able to act readily
thereon.
Heretofore, many attempts have been made to obtain starch, in a condition in
which diastase will readily act thereon, from rice, maize, sago-flour, potatoes, and
other starch-containing substances (hereinafter referred to, for the sake of con-
venience, by the term "raw grain") by processes in which the starch of the raw
grain has been gelatinized by the action of steam, and so-called "flaked malts"
and similar articles have been thus produced, but in all these products, the oils,
albumenoids, and impurities originally contained in the raw grain have not been
separated, or have been only partially separated, and have been the cause of con-
siderable difficulty in the mash tun by reason of their preventing thorough and
proper drainage, and also by reason of their imparting objectionable flavours to the
beers produced with their aid.
In the said processes the raw grain is treated for periods varying from about
2 to 36 hours in the presence of steam at temperatures not exceeding 316° Fahren-
heit and at corresponding pressures. The said processes possess the fundamental
defects that they are not sufficiently rapid, and the products thereof are not
thoroughly liquid and are not in the condition best suited to enable diastase to act
readily thereon. The said processes possess further defects, inasmuch as if they
are practised on a scale of a magnitude sufficient to render them of service, com-
mercially it is necessary by reason of their lengthy duration, even where the
duration does not exceed the minimum of two hours, aforesaid, that large quantities
of raw grain should be operated upon at a time, and necessary, therefore, that
large receivers for the said large quantities should be provided.
The provision of the said receivers necessitates a considerable initial outlay, for
they must not only be large, but must in addition be of sufficient strength to
withstand the internal pressure to which they are subjected by the steam employed
in the said processes. The cost and the difficulty of handling the raw grain in
processes in which a considerable bulk and weight of material is treated in one
operation, are further disadvantageous features of the said processes.
The principal object of my invention is to enable the whole of the starch
contained in raw grain to be obtained therefrom with great rapidity and economy

page_text: in a highly liquid and clear condition, free from oils, albumenoids, and impurities,
and in the state best suited either to permit the diastase of the malt to act thereon
immediately, or to permit the said starch to be advantageously employed in the
manufacture of glucose, for instance; it is an important feature of my invention
that the said oils and albumenoids are set free in such a condition that their
utilization as valuable bye-products is facilitated.
This object I effect by a process which is hereinafter fully set forth and which
involves the treatment of raw grain or raw grain and malt, in water, with steam.
The said process can be effected with but small expense for the installation of plant
and the subsequent working, and can be properly carried out with great rapidity;
it is economical with regard to the steam used, and can be repeated at very frequent
intervals, so that the production of the liquid starch is made almost continuous by
the treatment of small quantities of raw grain in vessels of small size, easily
constructed to withstand any desired internal pressure.
Further, I improve the drainage in the mash tun by the production, in the
manner hereinafter set forth, of a bright solution of starch from which the insoluble
constituents of the raw grain are separable with great facility.
According to one method of carrying my said invention into practice, I mix raw
grain with water in the manner and proportions hereinafter specified, and I subject
the mixture to steam as hereinafter set forth at absolute pressures of 100 lbs. to
175 lbs. per square inch, and at temperatures of at least 328° Fahrenheit but
preferably 350° to 370° Fahrenheit, in a suitable vessel. Maize, rice, and the like
of course require to be treated at higher pressures and temperatures than soft
grain; but in all cases the pressures and temperatures employed must be such as
are hereinabove indicated according to my invention. Immediately a pressure
and temperature within the said limits or thereabouts are reached, the whole of the
starch is dissolved in the water and brought into a condition to be readily acted
upon by the diastase of the malt, and the solution can be at once filtered with
ease and rapidity, as it is remarkably fluid, and, when cooled to the required
mashing temperature may be used instead of water for mashing with malt in the
usual way. In certain cases, I find it advantageous to mix from five to twenty
per cent. by weight of ground malt with the raw grain, as hereinafter set forth.
In order that my said invention may be clearly understood I will now proceed to
describe, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying diagram, a
method of carrying it into practice.
The said diagram indicates the general arrangement of apparatus for the treat-
ment hereinafter specified.
A A A are vessels hereinafter referred to as dissolvers. They are fitted with
suitable thermometers, pressure gauges, and safety valves. B is a pipe fitted with
suitable valves B' by which steam is introduced to perforated pipes B2 in the
dissolvers; from the said perforated pipes it issues into the material placed in the
said dissolvers.
Water is supplied to the interior of the dissolvers by pipes C' fitted with
valves C'.
D is a settling back connected by the pipe D' with each dissolver. Suitable
blow-off valves D' and non-return valves D³ are placed in the said pipe D' to
control the passage of fluid therethrough.
E E are hoppers from which the raw grain is delivered to the dissolvers through
the openings A which are provided with removable covers A. A is a blow-off
cock on each dissolver. F is a stirrer rotatable in each dissolver and driven by
any suitable means so that the contents of the said dissolver may be stirred and
brought into intimate contact with the steam which is supplied thereto.
The several dissolvers are worked successively so that the process hereinafter
set forth is very nearly a continuous one.
I will now describe the process as carried out in the dissolver A', by way of
example, as the process is carried out in exactly the same manner in the other
dissolvers.

page_text: I introduce raw grain to the dissolver A¹ through the opening A* and also water
through the pipe C³, to form the aforesaid mixture of raw grain and water which
consists, for instance, of one quarter (336 lbs.) of raw grain to about 330 gallons
of water. The water is first placed in the dissolver; into it I introduce steam
from a boiler or other suitable source, by way of the pipes B B2 so as to raise it to
a temperature of 140° F. I then shut off the steam and introduce by way of the
opening A the raw grain, either with or without the addition of ground malt (the
said malt being in the proportion of five to twenty per cent. by weight of the raw
grain) into the said heated water from the hopper E and when it has thus been
introduced the cover A is securely fastened down and all valves on the dissolver
are closed. Steam is then introduced again into the dissolver so as to gradually
raise the temperature of its contents to 180° F. The steam inlet valve B' is then
turned full on until an absolute pressure of 100 to 175 lbs. per square inch is
obtained and thus the whole of the contents of the said dissolver are quickly raised
to the necessary temperature of from 328° F. to 370° Fahrenheit. Or, alternatively,
the contents of the dissolver, instead of being heated first gradually and then rapidly,
may be raised in temperature in a single continuous operation. The blow off
cock A is then opened and the steam and the whole of the volatile oils which are
contained therein are blown off, the said steam being thereafter condensed or other-
wise suitably treated for the extraction of the said oils, which, as aforesaid, are
valuable bye-products.
The raising of the pressure and temperature as aforesaid is effected in a very
short period, and as soon as the temperature within the said limits of 328° to 370° F
or thereabouts is obtained and the oils volatilized, the whole of the starch will
have been rendered liquid, and the solution containing the liquid starch can he
immediately blown out of the dissolver into the settling back D through the pipe D'
by the pressure of the steam in the said dissolver; or it may be transferred in any
other suitable manner to the settling back; or the said solution can be filtered.
The malt added to the raw grain as aforesaid is found to facilitate, in a marked
degree, the liquefaction of the starch at the high pressures and temperatures
specified, so that by its aid the process is rendered very rapid and complete. Owing
to the high fluidity of the solution the operation of settling and filtration is very
easily and rapidly accomplished and during the said operation the albumenoids are
deposited or extracted; they may be afterwards pressed into cakes, as they con-
stitute a valuable feeding material. When cooled to the required mashing
temperature the resulting bright solution may be used instead of water alone, for
mashing with malt in the usual way but with a far more satisfactory result; or it
may be employed in the manufacture of glucose or for other purposes. The said
solution remains clear and bright, even when cold and may be kept for several
days without risk of the setting in of decomposition.
By the production of a highly liquid solution of starch as hereinbefore set forth,
I am able, in the mash tun, to use, in a mixture of malt and raw grain, 50% of raw
grain, as the starch is entirely freed from its oils and the albumenoids and impurities,
in the manner herein before described; moreover the whole of the said starch is
utilized and I am able to obtain a far more satisfactory result than hitherto,
inasmuch as an increase of fully 20% of extract may be obtained by the use of
starch prepared according to my invention as aforesaid. In addition there can be no
defective drainage, as the starch is converted into maltose and dextrose in the mash
tun, and the albumenoids and other impurities contained in the raw grain will have
been completely coagulated owing to the high temperature employel in the dissolver,
and will have been removed by the settling or filtration as aforesaid.
I wish it to be clearly understood that the employment in the dissolver of the
high pressures and high temperatures aforesaid, is an essential feature of my inven-
tion, but I do not limit my said invention to the particular methods, apparatus, and
proportions of materials hereinbefore set forth by way of example, for it is obvious
that these may be varied without departing from the nature of my invention.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. For the production of a highly-liquid_starch-containing solution, the process
constituted by the admixture of raw grain and water, in, approximately, such relative
proportions and under such conditions as are herein set forth, that is to say:-The
addition of 336 pounds of raw grain to about 330 gallons of water at a temperature
of 140° Fahrenheit, and treating the whole with steam, under an absolute pressure
of 100 to 175 lbs. per square inch, substantially as set forth.
2. For the production of a highly-liquid starch-containing solution, the process
constituted by the admixture of raw grain, malt, and water, in, approximately, such
relative proportions and under such conditions as are herein set forth, that is to
sayThe addition of 336 pounds of raw grain and 17 to 68 pounds of ground
malt, to about 330 gallons of water at a temperature of 140° Fahrenheit, and
treating the whole with steam at an absolute pressure of 100 to 175 lbs. per square
inch, substantially as set forth.
3. For the production of a highly-liquid starch-containing solution, the process
constituted by the admixture of raw grain and water, in, approximately, such
relative proportions and under such conditions as are herein set forth, that is to
sayThe addition of 336 pounds of raw grain to about 330 gallons of water at a
temperature of 140° Fahrenheit, gradually raising the mixture of raw grain and
water to a temperature of 180° Fahrenheit, and treating the whole with steam at
an absolute pressure of 100 to 175 lbs. per square inch, substantially as set forth.
4. For the production of a highly-liquid starch-containing solution, the process
constituted by the admixture of raw grain, malt, and water, in, approximately, such
relative proportions and under such conditions as are herein set forth, that is to
sayThe addition of 336 pounds of raw grain and 17 to 68 pounds of ground
malt to about 330 gallons of water at a temperature of 140° Fahrenheit, gradually
raising the mixture of raw grain, malt, and water to a temperature of 180° Fahrenheit,
then treating the whole with steam at absolute pressures of 100 to 175 lbs. per
square inch, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 29th day of July 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.