AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR EXTRACTING OIL AND ALBUMINOID MATTER FROM MAIZE AND OTHER GRAIN
Year: 1885

page_text: I, FRANCIS VINCENT GREENE, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of
America, Doctor of Medicine and Surgeon in United States Navy, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR EXTRACTING
OIL AND ALBUMINOID MATTER FROM MAIZE AND OTHER GRAIN," 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 the extraction of the oil and fat and the albuminoid
matter from corn, and is designed to be applied to the obtaining of these substances
as by-products of the manufacture of starch, spirits and other substances.
The process consists in, first, the production of an emulsion of the substances to
be extracted, second, the elimination of the water, and third, the separation of the
substances.
By steeping corn in water at or above atmospheric temperature, and bruising it,
or by grinding it and then macerating it in water, what is technically known
a starch milk is produced; from this the starch separates by subsidence and a
milky liquid remains, which in the manufacture of starch is generally a waste
product, and unless disposed of, creates a nuisance in the summer months by its
decomposition.
This milky liquid I have discovered to be an emulsion of a greater or less pro-
portion of the oil and albuminoid matter of the grain; I have also discovered that
the richness of this emulsion is increased where partial fermentation of the grain
is adopted, owing to the acid re-actions produced. I have however found that the
best results are attained by the use of chemicals. Dilute solutions of alkalies, as
ammonia or caustic soda; weak solutions of acid, as sulphurous acid; certain salts,
as sulphate of soda; are now used in the manufacture of starch in some cases, for
the purpose of purifying the starch, and I propose to use them to obtain the above
mentioned by-products.
In order to free the combined oil and albuminoid matter from the water, the
emulsion is conveyed into a suitable receptacle, and the albuminoid matter is:
precipitated, carrying the oil with it; this may be accomplished by heat, or by the
use of chemicals, as common salt or sea water or dilute mineral acids, preferably;
Prica 4d1

page_text: in conjunction with heat. I have however discovered that the best method of
accomplishing the result chemically is by the use of a salt of alumina, preferably
the sulphate; and that the precipitation takes place more readily and effectually
after the slight fermentation has occurred.
By permitting further fermentation than in the above case, a separation of the
suspended matter occurs spontaneously, a creamy portion rising to the surface,
which is much richer than the remainder, which precipitates. This creamy portion
is then removed and treated by the methods for treating the precipitate described
below.
I do not desire however, to confine myself to the above methods of eliminating
the water, as it may be accomplished mechanically by filtration.
The oil may be separated from the albuminoid matter by pressure, or by dis-
solving out the oil from the dried precipitate by benzine, bi-sulphide of carbon and
like substantaces.
Where pressure is used, the supernatant liquid may be simply run off and the
moist residuum subjected to pressure, expelling the water and oil together; the oil
will then rise to the surface of the water and may be readily separated.
This separation of the water and oil may be accelerated by heat or by revolving
them rapidly in a drum.
A portion of the residual moisture in the precipitate may be first removed by a
centrifugal drier.
In the manufacture of spirits from corn, the residue after distillation may be
treated in the manner described above; and the emulsion obtained from it; or the
corn may be first treated, and the emulsion separated, the starch and hulls being
used for the mash.
The albuminoid substance extracted is valuable as a fertilizer, and may by further
treatment be converted into other products.
I am aware that dilute acids have been tried for the purpose of precipitating the
suspended matter in the milky-liquid produced in the manufacture of starch, for
the purpose of rendering it saleable, when mixed with the hulls, for cattle food;
but the process has never been put in practice on a commercial scale, owing to the
expense proving prohibitory.
As some albuminous matter may remain dissolved in the supernatant liquid after
precipitation by some of the above methods, and would by its decomposition
become offensive,-I therefore precipitate it by the use of acids, and thus attain
one of the objects of my invention, the prevention of the nuisance which the
present disposition of these residues creates.
Although I have specified corn as adapted to the application of my invention, it
is manifest that it is also applicable to other grains; although the percentage of oil
contained in them is so small as to render it doubtful whether the process could be
profitably employed.
"
"
I therefore intend that the word corn as herein used, shall comprehend any
natural products, containing oil and albuminoid matter, to which the herein
described process is applicable.
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
First. The process of extracting the oil from corn through the medium of an
emulsion of it with the albuminoid matter.
Second. The process of extracting the albuminoid matter from corn through the
medium of an emulsion of it with oil.
Third. The process of precipitating the oil and albuminoid matter of corn from
an emulsion by the use of heat, for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The process of precipitating the oil and albuminoid matter of corn from
an emulsion by the use of acids, for the purpose specified.
Fifth. The process of precipitating the oil.and albuminoid matter of corn from
an emulsion by the use of common salt or sea-water, for the purpose specified.

page_text: Sixth. The process of precipitating the oil and albuminoid matter of corn from
an emulsion by the use of a salt of alumina, for the purpose specified.
Seventh. The process of separating the oil and albuminoid matter of corn from
an emulsion by filtration, for the purpose specified.
Eighth. The process of extracting the oil from the albuminoid matter of corn by
means of solvents for the purpose specified.
Ninth. The process of extracting the oil from the albuminoid matter of corn by
means of pressure, for the purpose specified.
Tenth. The process of separating the emulsion of the oil and albuminoid matter
of corn into a creamy portion and a precipitate by fermentation for the purpose
specified.
Eleventh. The herein described process of extracting the oil and albuminoid
matter of corn from distillery refuse in the form of an emulsion, for the purpose
specified.
Twelfth. The herein described process of extracting the oil and albuminoid matter
from corn by obtaining them in the form of an emulsion, freeing them wholly or
partially from the water and then separating them.