AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR CLEANSING AND PURIFYING FOUL AND MUSTY CASKS OR BARRELS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Cairns Copley, of the Town and County of
Nottingham, Analytical Chemist, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PROCESS
FOR CLEANSING AND PURIFYING FOUL AND MUSTY CASKS OR BARRELS."
Scaled the 24th December 1878, and dated the 1st November 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said James Cairns Copley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st November 1878.
JAMES CAIRNS COPLEY, of the Town and County of Nottingham, Analytical
Cheinist. AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR CLEANSING AND PURIFYING FOUL AND
MUSTY CASKS OR BARRELS."
My said Invention consists in an improved process for cleansing and purifying
foul and musty casks or barrels, especially those which have contained beer. For
this purpose I employ the manganate or permanganate of potash or of soda, or any
other manganate or permanganate from which permanganic acid is liberated, or a
soluble permanganate can be formed when the same is employed in combination
with any of the compounds herein-after mentioned, that is to say, a solution of
persulphate or perchloride of iron, or a compound termed nitrosulphate of iron,
which is prepared in the manner herein-after described, or chloride of zinc may be
employed instead of or mixed with the salts of iron above mentioned.
I prepare the compound termed nitrosulphate of iron in solution for use in the
process which forms the subject of my said Invention in the following manner :--
Four hundred parts of protosulphate of iron (commonly known as copperas or green
vitriol) are placed in a capacious wooden or earthenware vessel, and one hundred and
twenty-five parts by weight of strong nitric acid are added thereto in small portions
at a time. When the strong chemical action which ensues has ceased the mixture
is well stirred and allowed to stand for three days, the same being occasionally
stirred. The product is then diluted with one thousand parts by weight of
water.

page_text: In actual practice I prefer to employ the permaganate of potash and the solution
of nitrosulphate of iron, and with these materials I prepare the cleansing solution
in the following manner:-To every four pints of the solution of nitrosulphate of
iron I add six ounces of permanganate of potash, the latter-having-been-previously-
dissolved in water, and the mixture thus obtained is diluted with about five gallons
of hot water. The solution thus prepared is poured into the casks or barrels which
it is desired to cleanse or purify, and the same well agitated.
The casks or barrels, with the solution therein, are allowed to stand for a period
_varying_from_three hours to six days, according to the degree of foulness which
exists, the casks or barrels being occasionly shaken to bring the solution into contact
with all parts of the internal surfaces.
-When-it-is-considered-that-the-process-has-been-completed-the-liquor-is-poured.
out, and may be employed for cleansing other casks or barrels in like manner until
its strength becomes diminished, as shewn by the loss of colour.
The other chemical compounds above mentioned may be employed in a similar
manner, corresponding proportions giving similar strength being used, as will be
well understood by persons conversant with chemical operations.
The following summary clearly shews the successive operations employed in
completely cleansing and purifying casks and barrels in accordance with my said
Invention.
1. The head of the cask or barrel is taken out and the inside of the latter well
brushed with water in order to remove mechanical impurities.
2. The head is replaced, and the cask or barrel well scalded out with hot water,
and then put to drain with the bung hole downwards.
3. The cask or barrel when cooled and comparatively dry is then treated with the
chemical solution in the manner herein-before described, such solution after standing
the requisite length of time being afterwards poured out.
4. Finally, the cask is rinsed out with water several times, and afterwards well
scalded with boiling water and allowed to drain and cool.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which
it is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and
original, and therefore claim as constituting the same, is the employment of man-
ganate or permanganate of potash or of soda, or any other manganate or perman-
ganate from which permanganic acid is liberated, or a soluble permanganate can be
formed when the same is employed in combination with the compounds herein-before
mentioned (including perchloride of iron, persulphate of iron, and nitrosulphate of
iron and chloride of zinc), for cleansing and purifying foul and musty casks or
barrels, substantially as herein-before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Cairns Copley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TATS
זדהוADI
TATRIC
CAIRNS COPLEY. (L.S.)