Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application (in the United Kingdom), 26th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 26th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 17th Mar., 1900
I, EMILE DE MEULEMEESTER, of 54, Rue de Neuchatel, Brussels, in the Kingdom
of Belgium, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows: -
This invention has for its object a process of extraction of the protoplasm
from yeast so as to utilise the nitrogenous matters, albuminoids and minerals
which it contains.
According to this process the yeast, which can be previously washed and passed
through a sieve, is pressed in a filter-press or by any other appropriate means.
The pressed yeast is then mixed with gum arabic in powder or in lumps in
proportions which can vary from 0.5 to 8 parts in weight of gum arabic for
10 parts in weight of pressed yeast.
A liquefaction of the mixture takes place after a certain time and at the end
of 2 to 4 hours, at the ordinary temperature, the mixture enters into fermen-
tation and this lasts from 30 to 60 hours.
During the liquefaction and the fermentation of the mixture a great part of
the protoplasm of the yeast passes osmotically from the interior of the cells
into the liquified mass.
When this fermentation has finished, it may be seen with the microscope
that the volume of the cells has diminished by about two thirds and the liquified
mass contains a great quantity of the protoplasm originally contained in the
cells.
The part of the protoplasm which still remains in the cells can then be easily
extracted by carrying the mixture to and maintaining it at an elevated tem-
perature in a closed vessel without pressure until the microscopical examination
shows that all the cells are disintegrated and that all the. protoplasm has been
Bet free.

page_text: Process for the Extraction of the Protoplasm from Yeast.
I, EMILE DE MEULEMEESTER, of 54, Rue de Neuchatel, Brussels, in the Kingdom
of Belgium, Manufacturer, 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 has for its object a process of extraction of the protoplasm
from yeast so as to utilise the nitrogenous matters, albuminoids and minerals
which it contains.
According to this process the yeast, which can be previously washed and passed
through a sieve, is pressed in a filter-press or by any other appropriate means.
The pressed yeast is then mixed with gum arabic in powder or in lumps in
proportions which can vary from 0.5 to 8 parts in weight of gum arabic for
100 parts in weight of pressed yeast.
In about three hours a complete liquifaction of the mixture of yeast and gum
arabic is produced, and a microscopic examination indicates that the cells of
the yeast have undergone a small but at the same time a notable diminution
of volume. About four hours after the mixture has been made the whole is
in fermentation. This fermentation rapidly increases and in some hours the
volume of the mass attains from three to four times the original volume of the
mixture.
After from 12 to 15 hours of fermentation it is found that the fermentation
slightly diminishes in intensity and remains stationary for about 10 hours, after
which it gradually diminishes, ceasing a few hours later. It can then be ascer-
tained that the fluidity of the mass has still considerably increased.
The pro-
gress of the fermentation described above is attained on
from 15° to 20° C. and it is evident that the time necessary for the liquefaction
a temperature of
and fermentation depends upon the temperature of the mixture as well as upon
the kind of yeast which is dealt with.
A temperature of 15° to 20° C. suits a yeast of high fermentation and a tem-
perature of 5° to 12° C. suits a yeast of low fermentation and the time necessary
for the liquefaction and fermentation of yeast mixed with powdered gum arabic:
may vary according to circumstances from 36 to 80 hours.
The
At the end of the fermentation it is found on examination of the yeast by
the microscope that the volume of the cells has diminished about two-thirds
which explains the fact previously mentioned that the degree of the fluidity of
the mixture increases with the progress of the fermentation, for while the fer-
mentation is going on the protoplasm of the yeast passes under the influence
of osmotic action from the interior of the cells into the liquified mass.
fermentation being completed the disintegration of the membranes of the cells
of the yeast must be effected in order that the proportion of protoplasm which
the preceding fermentation has not succeeded in extracting by osmotic action 4
may become free and permeate the liquified mass.
of the mixture is subjected to a temperature of from 70° to 95° C. in a suitable
For this purpose the whole
heating apparatus, preferably a water bath. The duration of this operation may
vary from 12 to 20 hours according to the temperature employed. This heating
operation should be performed in a closed vessel without pressure in order to 4
avoid evaporation. To determine the completion of the operation it is necessary
to ascertain by a microscopic examination that all the cells of the yeast are
disintegrated and that the protoplasm which they contain has been set at liberty
and in great part therefore become soluble.

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. A process of extracting protoplasm from yeast characterized by the addition
of gum arabic to the yeast.
2. A method of extracting protoplasm from yeast consisting of the addition
of gum arabic to the pressed yeast then allowing the mixture to liquify and
ferment and then subsequently by raising the temperature of the mixture sub-
stantially as herein before described.
D
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and 25, Cross Street, Manchester,
Agents.