Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Sugar by Electricity.
Year: 1889

page_text: .
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Sugar by
Electricity.
We, ELIAS MAIGROT and JOSÉ SABATES, both of Havana in the Island of Cuba,
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 apparatus for the defecation of saccharine juices for the
purpose of obtaining an increased yield of pure prismatic sugar therefrom, by
subjecting the saccharine juices to the action of electric currents which operate to
decompose, alter, transfer, and remove from said juices the alkaline salts, acids,
albuminous and other deleterious substances that prevent or interfere with the
crystallization of the sugar; and our Invention consists in an apparatus of special
construction for such purposes embracing various novel and improved combination
of parts, substantially as hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims, whereby
the desired results are very perfectly secured.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specifi-
cation, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the
figures.
Figure 1 represents a plan view of so much of our improved apparatus as is
necessary to illustrate the invention.
Figure 2 a sectional elevation of the same in line with the electrolyzing troughs or
canals of the apparatus ; and
Figures 3, 4 and 5 are views in detail, upon a larger scale, as will be hereinafter
described:
A, indicates a tank for receiving the saccharine juices to be defecated. This tank
is arranged in convenient proximity to the defecating portions of the apparatus.
Communicating with this tank, as by a discharge pipe b, is a receptacle B, in which
the saccharine juices drawn from said tank to be treated, are constantly maintained at
a fixed level by means of a float d, in said receptacle B, connected with a cock c, in
the discharge pipe b.
CC, are a series or one group of horizontal electrolyzing troughs or canals,
preferably in parallel relation with each other at suitable distances apart. These
troughs of which there may be twelve, more or less, in a group, are each divided into
three longitudinal compartments, ƒ and g g, by means of suitable septuns s³, preferably
made of parchment paper. The central compartments f of these troughs communicate
with each other, alternately at opposite ends to promote circulation through them by
means of suitable connections h, and the two outsido compartments 9 g similarly
communicate with each other through the whole series of troughs C, by means of
suitable connections i and apertures ¹¹.
The saccharine juice to be electrolyzed is supplied to the central compartment of
the first one of the series of said troughs, by means of a pipe k, from the leveling
receptacle B of the tank A, and from thence passes, by the connections h, to the
central compartments fin the remainder of the series of troughs C, and so that the
juice is kept at a like and fixed level in all of the central compartments f.
D, is a tank containing water, for similarly supplying with water, at a fixed level,
the outside compartments 9 g of the several troughs C in the group, by means of a
levelling receptacle B', connected with the discharge pipe 6 from the tank D
controlled by a cock c and float d, a conducting pipe k, with terminal branches
delivering into the two compartments g g of the one end trough in the series, and the
connections between the compartments 9 9.
The liquids in all the compartments fand gg throughout the whole series of troughs
are maintained at the same level.

page_text: Within the central compartments f of the trough C, which compartments contain
the saccharine juice to be electrolyzed, we arrange a series of carbon electrodes G,
which are connected as by wires or electric conductors 1, with an electric cable E,
that in its turn is connected with the positive pole of an ordinary dynamo-electric
machine.
Within the outside compartments 9 g of the troughs C, which compartments
contain the water supplied from the tank D, we also arrange a series of carbon
electrodes H, which are connected as by wires or electric conductors m, with an
electric cable I, that in its turn is connected with the negative pole of the dynamo-
electric machine.
C¹, is another and independent group of horizontal troughs, similarly divided by
septums each into a central longitudinal compartment f and two outside com-
partments gg, and having their central and outside compartments, throughout the
whole series, respectively connected, as herein before described for the other group of
troughs C, by connections and with each other, that is, the central compartments
of the several troughs C¹ with each other and the outside compartments of the same
troughs with one another. Within, too, these compartments f, g, g, are arranged, as
in the case of the like compartments of the troughs C, a series of carbon electrodes G, H,
but these electrodes are reversely connected with the opposite poles of the dynamo-
electric machine, as, for instance, the electrodes G in the central compartments f of
the troughs C', by wires 1, with the electric cable or conductor I that connects with
the negative pole of the dynamo, and the electrodes H in the outside, or lateral
compartments g g of said troughs C", by wires m¹, with the electric cable or
conductor E that connects with the positive pole of the dynamo.
D', is a tank for containing water to supply the outside compartments g g of the
several troughs C¹ by the connections hereinbefore described between them and by a
pipe ³, leading from a leveling receptacle B₁ into which the water from the tank Di
is delivered subject to automatic regulation by a float d and connected cock c in the
discharge pipe 6 of said tank.
A¹, is a tank for supplying the saccharine juices, after they have been electrolyzed
in the first group of troughs (and filtered, as will be hereinafter described, to the
central compartments of the second group of troughs C", through the connections
between the several compartments f, by a pipe k³, leading to the central compartment f
of one of the end troughs in the series, from a leveling receptacle B into which the
previously treated and filtered juices are delivered from the tank A¹ by its discharge
pipe b controlled by a cock c and float d to maintain said juices in the compartments f
of the troughs (at a fixed and uniform level.
J, is a receiving tank for the electrolyzed juices from the electro-positive com-
partments of the group of troughs C, said juices being delivered into said tank J
by a spout or trough n, from the last end trough of the series of troughs C. From
this receiving, tank J, the electrolyzed juices are elevated by any suitable attached
siphonic device S, s, to a tank L. From this tank L, the electrolyzed juices are run
by suitable pipe connections through any suitable filters M, and from these filters
the electrolyzed and filtered juices are run by a pipe or pipes N, to another siphonic
device S', 81, which raises the electrolyzed and filtered juices to the tank A¹ for
supplying the central compartments of the second group of troughs C¹ with said
electrolyzed and filtered juices as herein before described.
P, is a discharge pipe for the neutral juices or saccharine water from the com-
partments of the second group of troughs C¹ to a receiver Q; and R, a pipe for
carrying off the acid water from the lateral compartments g of said troughs C.
V, is a pipe connected with one end of the group of troughs C for discharging the
alkaline waters from the compartiments g g in said troughs after the electrolyzing of
the saccharine juices within the troughs, for the purpose of extracting, as a bye-product,
the alkalies contained in said water."
When the electric connections are made with the electrodes in the different com-
partments of the several troughs as described, it will be understood that the liquids in
the troughs complete the circuits.

page_text: There are minor details of construction which we have not thought it necessary here to
show or describe, but will enumerate some of them. The troughs we propose to make
of wood, say, four metres long, thirty-five centimeters wide and thirty. centimeters
deep and to support them on suitable uprights. The parchment paper septums within
the troughs may be connected with the walls of the troughs by metal braces. We
furthermore propose to provide each series of electrodes with suitable mechanism
for raising and withdrawing them from the troughs to facilitate cleaning, renewal or
repair of them, and to provide the connections between the compartments f and
between the compartments g g of the troughs with three-way cocks to facilitate the
separate cleaning of each trough.
In the operation of the apparatus, when the electric current circulates through it
as described, the electrolysis of the saccharine juices in the central compartments fof
the first group of troughs C begins and its action is made visible by an effervescenco,
due to the separation of oxygen by the decomposition of the water contained in the
saccharine juices in said compartments f in which are the electrodes G, through
which and the juices surrounding said electrodes the positive current passes, and of
hydrogen liberated by the decomposition of the water surrounding the negative :
electrodes H in the compartments g g of said troughs C. This will cause the mineral
salts contained in the saccharine juices in the compartment of the troughs C, such.
as the salts of potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, and others to be decomposed
by the electrolytic action and to be transferred, the bases toward the negative poles
and the acids toward the positive poles, while the protein and pectic substances are
dissolved or combined in favor of the bases of acids and remain in suspension in the
juices in the clotty state, they being transformed under the influence of the oxygen
liberated by the decomposition of the water; which gas in the nascent state and
ozonized has the property of modifying or changing the structure of albumen into
insoluble fibrine. The other substances pertaining to the pectic family and coloring..
materials are, during this part of the operation, combined or destroyed by the action
of the electric current, and the liberated acids eliminated from the juices by trans-
ference to the positive pole, are dissolved in the current of water that establishes the
electrolytic circuit of the positive electrodes.
The first group of troughs are thus devoted, more strictly speaking, to the electro-
lysis of the juices, that is to the decomposition, by electro-chemical action, of the
bodies contained in said juices, while the second group of troughs Care devoted to
the electro-dynamic diminution of the acids liberated and dissolved in the juices by ..
the electro-chemical treatment in the first group of troughs.
1
The extracted saccharine juices to be treated in the apparatus are first pumped into
the receiving tank A or tanks, if more than one, until said receptacle or receptacles
are filled, and the water tanks D D' are also filled with water. This done, the cocks
controlling the discharge from the tanks A D into the leveling receptacles B Band
from the latter to the troughs C, are opened and the several troughs. in the
group of troughs C, filled or nearly so, the compartments f, in which are the
positive electrodes G, with the saccharine juices, and the compartments g g with
water. Any further supply to these tanks A and D is then stopped, and the dynamo
is set in motion the poles of which are previously connected with the carbon electrodes,
positive in the compartments fof the troughs wherein are the juices, and negative
in the compartments g g of said troughs containing the water, both sets of electrodes
being arranged lengthwise in their respective compartments of juice and water; which
liquids close the electro-polar circuit.
At the end of half an hour, more or less, of the electrolysis, an analysis should be
made to ascertain if all the alkalies, potash, soda and other salts, are eliminated from
the juices, in which analytical operation three or four drops of the juice are taken from
the first trough and the same from the last trough, the first of which selected juices
should be turned in a platinum capsule and the residue, moistened with a few drops of
water, placed on red litmus paper which should turn blue if the juice contains alkalies,
in which case the electrolysis should be prolonged; and if the reaction on the paper
does not change the color, it shows that the potash and soda salts are mainly eliminated
:

page_text: from the juice. The same operation should be repeated in testing the juice taken from
the last trough in the series of troughs C.
This superficial analytical operation ended, we proceed to regulate the currents of
juice and water in accord with the volume of juice that the compartments f, g, of the.
troughs C. contain during the time necessary for the electrolyzation of the juices,
which operation is effected by graduating the supply of juice and water to said com-
partments, the volumes being modified in harmony with electro-chemical potency of
the dynamo and the chemical constitution of the juices.
Having thus normalized the working of the electrolyzed juices, we run them from
the last trough in the group of troughs C into the receiving tank J, from which said
juices are raised by the siphonic device S, s, to the tank L, from whence, when fully
charged, the electrolyzed juices are run through the filters M M that should be charged.
with granulated coke. These filters cause all insoluble substances to be held in the
interstices of the coke, the electrolyzed juices as they are introduced to the filters.
consisting of saccharine water, acids and insoluble fibrine in suspension produced by
conversion of the albuminous matter, and the filters M serve to remove this fibrine
and all insoluble matter.
From the filters M, M, the electrolyzed and filtered juices are then conducted by
the pipe N to the siphonic device S₁, & of the second group of troughs C. The
saccharine juices as they leave said filters have then received all their electro-chemical
treatment, properly speaking, and only contain water and sugar with the organic
acids, which latter it is the object of the second group of troughs C¹ to separate by
what may be termed an electro-dynamic operation, because in these troughs C, in the
juice compartments f of which are the negative electrodes G and in the water com-
partments g g the positive electrodes H, the electric current acts mechanically upon
the acids in the solution, transferring them without decomposing them in the current
of water which circulates in the electro-positive compartiments g g of the group of
troughs C¹.
The siphonic attachment S₁ & operates to raise the electrolyzed and filtered.
saccharine juices or saccharine water as they may now be termed to the tank A¹, from
which, when charged, said saccharine water is supplied by the pipe and means
herein before described, to and made to circulate through or sufficiently fill the com-
partments of the troughs C', containing the negative electrodes G which are con-
nected by the wires with the conductor I leading to the negative pole of the dynamo,
and plain water is simultaneously supplied from the tank D' and pipe 2 to the compart-
ments g g of the troughs C in which are the positive electrodes H that connect,
through the wires m', with the conductor E leading to the positive pole of the dynamo.
The circuit being closed upon the dynamo, the electro-dynamic operation upon the
current then begins upon the acids in the saccharine water within the negative com-.
partments of the troughs C₁, and transfers them to the current of plain water in the
positive compartments g g of said troughs. At the expiration of half an hour, more
or less, an analysis may be taken of the saccharine water or solution by means of
litmus paper, which when placed in contact with the solution, ought not to change its.
reddish violet color, thereby indicating that the acids are eliminated from the
saccharine water; but in caso the paper assumes a more or less reddish hue, the
electro-dynamic action should be continued until the saccharine water presents a
reaction which is really neutral.
When this last named result is obtained, we pass, as in the first treatment of the.
saccharine juices, a current or volume of saccharine fluid and plain water from the
tanks A¹ D, equal to that contained in the compartiments of the troughs C¹ into said
troughs. The neutral juices or saccharine water are discharged, from the compart-
ments of the troughs C³, by the pipe P into the receiver Q, or any number of
receivers, and the acid water discharged by the pipe R, from the lateral compart-
ments gg of said troughs. The saccharine water, thus derived, may then be boiled in
any suitable evaporating apparatus, such for instance as used in the ordinary manu-
facture of sugar, and by the treatment of the saccharine juices in the apparatus as
described, we obtain absolutely and directly the prismatic sugar contained in

page_text: the saccharine juices, and numerous other favorable and economical results due to
the apparatus.
We here desire to state that numerous changes may be made in the construction
of the apparatus without departing from the characteristic feature or principle of our
invention, which is dependent for its success upon the proper diffusion of the
electrical current through the saccharine juices, and so that, while a powerful electric:
current may be used and large quantities of saccharine juices be defecated within a
very limited period of time, there will be no inversion of the prismatic sugar produced
by the electrolysis of the saccharine juices. This we attain by circulating the juices
through a labyrinthine series of troughs or vessels divided by one or more porous
septums, preferably two as shown, but a greater number may be used if desired, so
as to make a series of. longitudinal compartments alike for the flow or circulation of
the juices and for the flow of a current of water separated from the juices by the
septums, and whereby the juices may be acted upon in comparatively thin bodies or
layers while they and the water outside of them are in motion, the several compart-
ments throughout the whole series of troughs or vessels, containing. the juices, being
connected with each other, and the several compartments throughout the whole series
of troughs or vessels, containing the water, likewise connected with each other, in
order to establish a proper circulation of the juices and water. Such, in one form,
when taken in connection with electrodes arranged within the juice and water
compartments and connected respectively with positive and negative conductors from
an electro-machine, is the construction shown and described in the drawings, but it
will be obvious that the invention is not restricted to any shape or number of
electrolyzing troughs or vessels in a labyrinthine series, nor yet as hereinbefore
stated to any precise number of compartments for the juices and water within the
troughs or vessels, which may either be arranged upon the same or different levels,
and the septums dividing the juices from the water may be inade of any porous
material that will admit of the passage of the electric current through them, but will
prevent the mixing of the water and juices.
Figure 3 is a broken and partly sectional longitudinal elevation, upon a larger scale,
of one of the electrolyzing troughs with electrodes therein, mainly in illustration of
the preferred construction of said troughs and of the means used to clamp the same
and to secure the septums or diaphragms which divide each of said troughs into
separate longitudinal compartments in which the carbon electrodes are arranged.
Figure 4 is a broken plan view of the same; and
0
Figure 5 a vertical transverse section thereof, upon the linear in figure 4.
In these figures, C, indicates one of the electrolyzing troughs or canals, and the
central and the outer. longitudinal compartments of said trough. are the
septums or diaphragms of parchment paper or other material, that will permit of
the passage of the electric currents through them but will prevent the mixing of the
saccharine juices and water contained respectively in the compartments of the trough
that said septums serve to form and divide.
Each of these troughs is composed of side walls or pieces a*, a*, separated from
each other by longitudinal base blocks or pieces a³, a³, a³, and end blocks or
pieces a", a. These base pieces a and end pieces a form clamping blocks or pieces
for holding in between them..the septums ³, and they serve to pack or make tight
said septums, so that the saccharine juices and water contained respectively within
the compartments of the trough cannot pass the septums or mix with one another.
Said septum-clamping blocks or pieces are made to tightly hold the septums in
between them, and the sectionally constructed trough has its parts closely bound
together by metal base clamps 65, fitted with binding screws c³, that bear against the
outer longitudinal walls of the trough, and the ends or heads of each trough are
further firmly braced or held by strap-like clamps d' fitted with binding screws e.
The apertures in the compartments f and 9 g of each trough, which establish
communication by connections as hereinbefore described between the water compart-
inents, respectively of the several troughs, are indicated by the lotters f and go."
H indicates the carbon electrodes; land m the electric conductors, soldered with

page_text: tin, which pass the necessary currents through the electrodes and which are suitably
connected with the opposite poles of the dynamo-electric machine substantially as
heréinbefore described.
L' in Figure 3, indicates the level of the saccharine juices within the troughs.
Ordinarily, we find that it will suffice to have each trough or canal represent a
superficies of effective electrolytic electrodes equal to about 87 per cent. of each pole
of the electro-dynamo machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. In apparatus for the defecation of saccharine juices by electrical currents in
the manufacture of sugar, a series of troughs or vessels divided respectively, by
porous septums into separato compartments, the one set of which, connected with
each other throughout the series of troughs or vessels, is adapted to circulate the
saccharine juices through them, and the other set of which, also connected with each.
other throughout the series of troughs or vessels, is adapted to circulate water
through them, in combination with electrodes arranged within the juice and water
circulating compartments and connected respectively with positive and negative'
conductors from an electric machine, for operation upon the saccharine juices within
the one set or series of compartments, substantially as specified, whereby the
diffusion of the electric current throughout the saccharine juices is secured and the
inversion of prismatic sugar is avoided, as set forth.
2. In apparatus for the defecation of saccharine juices by electrical currents in
the manufacture of sugar, one or more troughs divided vertically by septums into
central and lateral compartiments, in combination with electrodes arranged in said
compartments connected respectively, that is the central compartment relatively to
the lateral compartments, with positive and negative conductors from an electric
machine, for operation upon the saccharine juices or solution within the central
compartiment, in connection with water in the lateral compartments, substantially
as specified.
3. In apparatus for the defecation of saccharine juices by electrical currents in
the manufacture of sugar, as herein described, the troughs in which the saccharine
juices are treated provided with vertical longitudinal septums of parchment paper
arranged to divide the troughs into longitudinally central and lateral compartments,
essentially as and for the purpose or purposes herein set forth.
4. In apparatus for the defecation of saccharine juices by electrical currents in the
manufacture of sugar, the combination, in a group, of a series of troughs each divided
vertically by septums into a central compartment for the saccharine juices or solution
and into lateral or outside compartments for water, circulating connections between
the several central compartments, and separate circulating connections between the
lateral compartments throughout the whole series of troughs, and positive and negative
electrodes arranged within said central and lateral compartments respectively,
substantially as specified.
5. In apparatus for the defecation of saccharine juices by electrical currents in
the manufacture of sugar, the combination, of independent groups of troughs, each
trough of either series being divided vertically by septums into a central compart-
ment for the saccharine juices or solution and into lateral compartments for water,
circulating connections between the several central compartments in each group of
troughs, and separate circulating connections between the several lateral compartments
thereof, a series of positive electrodes within the central compartments of the one
group of troughs, a series of negative electrodes within the lateral compartments of
the same troughs, and a series of negative electrodes within the central compartments
of the other group of troughs, and a series of positive electrodes within the lateral
compartments of the last named group of troughs, essentially as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
6. In apparatus for the manufacture of sugar as described, the combination, with

page_text: the group or series of connected and circulating troughs C, their septums ², the
positive electrodes within the central compartments of said troughs, and the negative
electrodes within the lateral compartments thereof, of one or more filters M, for
treatment of the saccharine juices after leaving the compartments in the troughs
containing the positive electrodes, essentially as specified.
7. In apparatus for the defecation of saccharine juices by electrical currents in the
manufacture of sugar, the troughs C, divided into separate compartments by water-
proof septums, capable of permitting of the passage of the electric currents through
them, and constructed with base and end clamping blocks or pieces adapted to hold
said septums in between them, in combination with fastenings operating to bind the
septum-clamping blocks and septums to their places, substantially as specified.
8. The combination, with the side walls a', of the troughs, of the clamping base
blocks or pieces a³, the clamping end blocks or pieces a, the septums 33, and the
clamp, provided with binding screws c, essentially as described.
9. The combination, with the side walls at, of the troughs, of the clamping base
blocks or pieces a', the clamping end blocks or pieces a, the septums, and the
head or end strap-like clamps do, provided with binding screws e, substantially as
specified.
10. In apparatus for the manufacture of sugar as described, the combination,
with the independent groups CC, of vertically-divided troughs with their positive
and negative electrodes reversely arranged in the compartments of the one group of
troughs relatively to those of the other group, of one or more filters M, with
connections adapted to receive the electrolyzed juice from the compartments of the one
group of troughs containing the positive electrodes and to deliver it into the
compartments of the other group of troughs containing the negative electrodes,.
substantially as specified.
11. In apparatus for the manufacture of sugar as described, the combination, of
the independent groups of vertically-divided troughs (C¹, with their positive and
negative electrodes reversely arranged in the compartments of the one group of
troughs relatively to those of the other group, the saccharine juice or solution
receptacles A A', the water tanks D D₁, the fluid leveling attachments B B,
connected with said tanks and receptacles, the pipes k¹² k³, connecting said
leveling attachments with the troughs, the receiver J, from the group C of troughs,
the siphon Ss, the tank L, connected with said siphon, the filters M, connected with
the tank L, the siphon S¹ s¹, connected with the receptacle A', the pipe N, connecting
the filters with the siphon S₁s, the receiver Q, for the finished product, and the
pipe P, connecting said receiver with the group C¹ of troughs, essentially as
describou.
ELIAS MAIGROT.
JOSÉ SABATES.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.