IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES WITH HYDROCARBONS, AND IN TREATING EXTRACTS OBTAINED FROM SUCH SUBSTANCES SO TREATED
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TREATING ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES WITH HYDROCARBONS, AND
IN TREATING EXTRACTS OBTAINED FROM SUCH SUBSTANCES SO TREATED." A
communication from abroad by William Adamson, of Philadelphia, Pennsyl-
vania, United States of America.
Scaled the 20th February 1877, and dated the 24th October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th October 1876.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES
WITH HYDROCARBONS, AND IN TREATING EXTRACTS OBTAINED FROM SUCH SUB-
STANCES SO TREATED." A communication from abroad by William Adamson, of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
This Invention relates to the treatment of animal and vegetable substances with
hydrocarbon vapors or liquid hydrocarbon for the purpose of extracting therefrom
fatty, oily, resinous, and other matters, for cleansing different materials, and for
preserving substances.
The first part of the Invention relates to an improvement in the treatment of
animal and vegetable substances with hydrocarbon vapors, and the object of this
improvement to prevent the fætid and other odors imparted to the vapour by
the substances treated from being recommunicated to the said substances through
the medium of the vapour from the re-used hydrocarbon.
In carrying out this part of the Invention apparatus may be employed, con-
structed, and arranged in the following manner :-
A vessel herein-after termed vessel No. 1 is provided, in which the substances
have to be treated by hydrocarbon vapor, the said substances being introduced
into the vessel through a man-hole, and deposited on a perforated diaphragm, the
man-hole being provided with a suitable cover.

page_text: A steam coil is placed in the vessel in a space beneath the diaphragm, and liquid
hydrocarbon is introduced into the said space, and is there vaporized by the steam
coil. The vapor rising through the perforated diaphragm permeates the substance
upon the same, so as to extract therefrom the oily, fatty, and resinous matter, which
passes downwards through the diaphragm into the space below the same, whence it
may be drawn off from time to time through a discharge pipe.
Liquid hydrocarbon may be introduced from a tank or from a source explained
hereafter into the top of the vessel, so that it will pass through the material and be
vaporized when it reaches the coil, the said material being in this case subjected to
a downward current of liquid hydrocarbon and an upward current of vapour.
It has been the practice prior to the present Invention to cause the vapor, after
acting on the substances in the vessel to pass through a worm in a condenser, the
lower end of the worm communicating with the vessel No. 1 beneath the diaphragm
so that the hydrocarbon was continually re-utilized.
It has been found in practice that this is objectionable in many cases for the
following reason:-In treating animal offal, for example, for the extraction of fats,
foetid odors are imparted to the hydrocarbon vapours, and remain to a considerable
extent in the condensed vapour when the latter is restored to the vessel, hence the fœtid
odors were recommunicated both to the fatty extracts and to the material treated.
The same objections have been experienced in treating meat for preservation, and
vegetable matter for the extraction of oil by hydrocarbon vapors. This difficulty is
obviated according to this Invention in the following manner:-The vapor pipe
communicates with another vessel, herein-after termed vessel No. 2, at the top of the
same, and the vapour is met by numerous small jets of cold water, say, for example,
from a perforated tubular ring, into which the water is forced through a suitable
pipe.
Many different appliances may be used, such for example, as roses, revolving jets,
and the like, for causing a spray through which the vapour must pass, and by which
it must be condensed. The result of this will be a supply of tainted water on the
bottom of the vessel No. 2, and a quantity of washed and purified hydrocarbon above
the water, the latter having taken up the foeted odors.
The washed hydrocarbon may be drawn off through a pipe into any suitable
vessel, and thence introduced through another pipe into the vessel No. 1, or may
pass directly into the latter to be again vaporized therein, the vapour, after per-
meating the material and passing through the connecting pipe between the two
vessels being simultaneously condensed and washed in the vessel No. 2 preparatory
to being returned in the condition of purified liquid hydrocarbon to the vessel No. 1.
By the practice of this process there is obtained a purer extract than heretofore,
and at the same time the substances acted upon are more free from noxious odors.
It is not essential to adhere to the apparatus herein-before described. In carrying
out this part of the Invention the vessel No. 1 may, for example, consist of a
horizontal hollow cylinder, and the vaporizing of the hydrocarbon may be accom-
plished otherwise than by a steam coil.
The construction of the apparatus may in fact in a great measure depend on the
locality which it has to occupy.
The second part of this Invention relates to the treatment of animal and vegetable
substances by liquid hydrocarbons for the purpose of extracting therefrom oils, fats,
resins, and the like, for cleansing different materials, and for preserving animal and
vegetable substances.
The object of the improvement is the same in the former case, that is, to prevent
the foetid and other odors imparted to the liquid hydrocarbon by the substances
treated from being recommunicated to the said substances and to the extracts
therefrom by the liquid hydrocarbon when re-used. In carrying out this part of the
Invention apparatus may be employed, constructed, and arranged in the following
matter:-
A vessel, herein-after termed vessel No. 1, is provided, into which the substances

page_text: tobe treated are introduced through a man-hole provided with a suitable detachable
cover, and through an opening in an upper perforated diaphragm with which such
vessel is furnished, a detachable perforated plate being placed over the said opening
after the substances have been passed through the same; the said substances are
supported by a lower perforated diaphragm, beneath which is a space for receiving
the extract and the liquid hydrocarbon after the latter las percolated through the
mass in the vessel.
The extract which occupies the lowest position in the vessel may be removed
therefrom from time to time prior to being purified by distillation or otherwise.
The liquid bydrocarbon is permitted to pass from time to time through a pipe
into another vessel, where it is met by jets of water from a pipe, the hydrocarbon
and water being thoroughly agitated in the vessel by a revolving paddle wheel.
This washing of the liquid hydrocarbon may be accomplished by different appliances,
for example, the paddle wheel may be dispensed with, and water forced upwards
into the vessel from below in the form of numerous small jets. The water and
hydrocarbon after this washing operation are permitted to pass into a subsiding
vessel, the hydrocarbon being above and the water below the foetid and other odors
derived by the hydrocarbon from the substances in the vessel No. 1 having during
the washing operation being transferred to the water, which may be drawn off from
time to time.
The washed and purified hydrocarbon may be forced directly through a pipe into
the vessel No. 1, to be there re-used for treating the substances therein, or it
may be
pumped first into a reservoir, and permitted to flow from the same into the said
vessel No. 1.
More or less hydrocarbon is lost by being drawn off with the extract; in order
therefore to compensate for this loss a supply may be introduced at intervals from a
tank through a suitable pipe.
By the practice of the process herein-before described there is obtained a purer
extract than by the ordinary processes of treating substances with liquid hydro-
carbons; at the same time the substances treated are much more free from noxious
odors than when the hydrocarbon is continually re-utilized without washing.
It is not essential to adhere to the apparatus herein-before described in carrying
out this part of the Invention, as the construction of the apparatus will depend in a
great measure on the locality in which it has to be situated.
The third part of this Invention consists of a mode of treating the extracts derived
from the practice of the above processes with the view to facilitate the evaporation
of the hydrocarbon remaining in the said extract, and of preventing the loss and
discoloration of the resultant fatty or oily matter. In carrying out this part of the
Invention an ordinary vacuum pan, such for example as is used in the manufacture
of sugar may be employed.
The fatty or oily extracts obtained by the above-described treatment with hydro-
carbon vapour or liquid hydrocarbon are placed in the vacuum pan.
Steam is introduced into the coil within the pan in the usual manner, and the
heat thus imparted to the extract vaporizes the hydrocarbon which remains in the
extract, the vapor passing up to the condenser, where it is met by a stream of
water, the mixed liquids passing up into a tank, where they can be separated. By
this treatment whatever hydrocarbon may remain in the extract may be evaporated
at a low temperature, and more rapidly and thoroughly than by ordinary distilla-
tion; at the same time the hydrocarbon is washed and purified, and the fatty or
oily extracts are in a pure condition, and more free from discoloration than if the
evaporation had been conducted by a slower process.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
April 1877.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES
WITH HYDROCARBONS, AND IN TREATING EXTRACTS OBTAINED FROM SUCH SUB-
STANCES SO TREATED." A communication from abroad by William Adamson, of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
The said Invention relates to the treatment of animal and vegetable substances
with hydrocarbon vapors or liquid hydrocarbon for the purpose of extracting
therefrom fatty, oily, resinous, and other matters, for cleansing different materials,
and for preserving substances.
The first part of the Invention relates to an improvement in the treatment of
animal and vegetable substances with hydrocarbon vapors, and the object of this
improvement is to prevent the foetid and other odors imparted to the vapor by the
substances treated from being recommunicated to the said substances through the
medium of the vapor from the re-used hydrocarbon.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 represents partly in section apparatus
whereby the Invention may be carried into effect.
A is a vessel in which the substances have to be treated by hydrocarbon vapor,
the said substances being introduced into the vessel through a man-hole x
(provided with a suitable cover), and being deposited on a perforated diaphragm B.
A steam coil D is placed in the vessel in a space beneath the diaphragm B, and
liquid hydrocarbon is introduced into the said space, and is there vaporized by the
steam coil. The vapor rising through the perforated diaphragm permeates the
substance upon the same so as to extract therefrom the oily, fatty, and resinous
matter which passes downwards through the diaphragm into the space below the
same, whence it may be drawn off from time to time through a discharge pipe D¹.
Liquid hydrocarbon may be introduced from a tank or from a source herein-after
explained into the top of the vessel A through a pipe m, so that it will pass through
the material and be vaporized when it reaches the coil, the said material being in
this case subjected to a downward current of liquid hydrocarbon, and an upward
current of vapor.
It has been the practice prior to the present Invention to cause the vapor after
acting on the substances in the vessel to pass through a worm in a condenser, the
lower end of the worm communicating with the vessel A beneath the diaphragm,
so that the hydrocarbon was continually re-utilized. It has been found in practice
that this is objectionable in many cases for the following reason:-In treating
animal offal, for example, for the extraction of fats, foetid odors are imparted to the
hydrocarbon vapors and remain to a considerable extent in the condensed vapor
when the latter is restored to the vessel A, hence the foetid odors were recommuni-
cated both to the fatty extracts and to the material treated. The same objections
have been experienced in treating meat for preservation and vegetable matter for
the extraction of oil by hydrocarbon vapors. This difficulty is obviated according
to the said Invention in the following manner:- -The vapor pipe D communicates
with a vessel H at the top of the same, and the vapor is met by numerous small
jets of cold water, in the present example from a perforated tubular ring m³, into
which the water is forced through a pipe n.
Many different appliances may be used, such for example, as roses, revolving jets,
and the like, for causing a spray through which the vapor must pass, and by which
it must be condensed. The result of this will be a supply I of tainted water on the
bottom of the vessel H, and a quantity J of washed and purified hydrocarbon above
the water, the latter having taken up the factid odors.
The washed hydrocarbon may be drawn off through a pipe g into any suitable
vessel, and thence introduced through the pipe h into the vessel A, or may pass

page_text: directly into the latter to be again vaporized therein, the vapor after permeating
the material and passing through the pipe D2 being simultaneously condensed and
washed in the vessel H preparatory to being returned in the condition of purified
liquid hydrocarbon to the vessel A. By the practice of this process there is obtained
a purer extract than heretofore, and at the same time the substances acted upon are
more free from noxious odors.
It is not essential to adhere to the apparatus herein-before described and illus-
trated in the accompanying Drawings in carrying out this part of the Invention;
the vessel A may, for example, consist of a horizontal hollow cylinder, and the
vaporizing of the hydrocarbon may be accomplished otherwise than by a steam
coil.
The construction of the apparatus may in fact in a great measure depend on the
locality which it has to occupy.
The second part of the said Invention relates to the treatment of animal and
vegetable substances by liquid hydrocarbons for the purpose of extracting therefrom
oils, fats, resins, and the like, for cleansing different materials, and for preserving
animal and vegetable substances.
The object of the improvement is the same as in the former case, that is to say,
to prevent the foetid and other odors imparted to the liquid hydrocarbon by the
substances treated from being recommunicated to the said substances and to the
extracts therefrom by the liquid hydrocarbon when re-used.
Figure 2 of the accompanying Drawing is a sectional view of apparatus whereby
the Invention may be carried into effect.
A is a vessel, into which the substances to be treated are introduced through a
man-hole x, provided with a suitable detachable cover, and through an opening in
the upper perforated diaphragm B, a detachable perforated plate 6 being placed over
b
the said opening after the substances have been passed through the same; the said
substances are supported by the lower perforated diaphragm B¹, beneath which is a
space for receiving the extract and the liquid hydrocarbon after the latter has
percolated through the mass in the vessel.
The extract which occupies the lowest position in the vessel may be removed
therefrom from time to time, being drawn off by the pipe and cock D¹ prior to
being purified by distillation or otherwise.
The liquid hydrocarbon is permitted to pass from time to time through a pipe d
into a vessel D, where it is met by a jet or jets of water from a pipe f, the hydro-
carbon and water being thoroughly agitated in the vessel by a revolving dash
wheel E. This washing of the liquid hydrocarbon may be accomplished by different
appliances; for example, the wheel may be dispensed with, and water forced upwards
into the vessel from below in the form of numerous small jets. The water and
hydrocarbon after this washing operation are permitted to pass into the subsiding
vessel H, the hydrocarbon being above, and the water below, the foetid and other
odors derived by the hydrocarbon from the substances in the vessel A having
during the washing operation been transferred to the water, which may be drawn
off from time to time.
The washed and purified hydrocarbon may be forced directly through a pipe m
into the vessel A, to be there re-used for treating the substances therein, or it may
be pumped first into a reservoir, and permitted to flow from the same into the said
vessel A.
More or less hydrocarbon is lost by being drawn off with the extract; in order
therefore to compensate for this loss a supply may be introduced at intervals from a
tank through the pipe H¹.
By the practice of the process herein-before described there is obtained a purer
extract than by the ordinary processes of treating substances with liquid hydro-
carbous; at the same time the substances treated are much more free from noxious
odors than when the hydrocarbon is continually re-utilized without washing.
It is not essential to adhere to the apparatus herein-before described and illus-
trated in the accompanying Drawings in carrying out this part of the Invention, as the

page_text: construction of the apparatus will depend in a great measure on the locality in
which it has to be situated.
The third part of the said Invention consists of a mode of treating the extracts
derived from the practice of the above processes with the view to facilitate the
evaporation of the hydrocarbon remaining in the said extract; and of preventing the
loss and discoloration of the resultant fatty or oily matter.
In carrying out this part of the Invention an ordinary vacuum pan, such for
example as is used in the manufacture of sugar, and shown at C in Figure 3 of the
Drawing, may be employed.
The fatty or oily extracts obtained by the above-described treatment withhydro-
carbon vapor or liquid hydrocarbon are placed in the vacuum pan.
Steam is introduced into the coil G within the pan in the usual manner, and the
heat thus imparted to the extract vaporizes the hydrocarbon which remains in the
extract, the vapor passing up to the condenser, where it is met by a stream of water,
the mixed liquids passing into a tank, where they can be separated. This treat-
ment enables whatever hydrocarbon may remain in the extract to be evaporated at
a low temperature, and more rapidly and thoroughly than by ordinary distillation;
at the same time the hydrocarbon is washed and purified, and the fatty or oily
extracts are in a pure condition and more free from discoloration than if the evapora-
tion had been conducted by a slower process.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. As an improved mode of treating substances with hydrocarbon vapor the
process of causing the vapor to pass through the substances to be treated in onc
vessel, then causing the said vapor to be simultaneously washed and condensed in
another vessel, and finally separating the washed and purified liquid hydrocarbon
from the foul water preparatory to revaporizing in the first vessel, all substantially
as herein-before described.
Second. As an improved mode of treating substances with liquid hydrocarbon the
process of causing the said liquid to pass through the substances to be treated in
one vessel, then causing the liquid to be washed in another vessel, and finally
separating the washed and purified liquid hydrocarbon from the foul water pre-
paratory to re-using it in the first vessel, all substantially as herein-before described.
Third. The mode herein set forth of treating extracts made from animal and
vegetable substances with liquid hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon vapors, that is to say,
the evaporating of the extracts under a vacuum for readily depriving them of all
traces of the hydrocarbon, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Specifica-
tion set my hand and seal, the Seventeenth day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)