Improvements relating to the Treatment of Oils for Imparting Drying Properties thereto.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1893-Accepted, 1st July, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM NELSON BLAKEMAN, Junior, of
No. 160, South 9th Avenue, in the City of Mount Vernon, County of
Westchester and State of New York, United States of America, Stock
Broker.]
Improvements relating to the Treatment of Oils for Imparting
Drying Properties thereto.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained, in and by the following
statement:-
The object of this invention is to impart drying properties to those oils, either
animal or vegetable, which belong to the so-called fatty, or non-drying," class,
as well as to hasten the drying action of those oils which are technically
denominated "drying oils "the oils treated by my process being especially
adapted for use in the manufacture of paints.
It is well known that oils of either animal or vegetable origin, absorb oxygen
when exposed to the air, exhibit an acid reaction, and, in the case of the drying
oils, harden and pass to the state of a resin; and, in the case of the non-drying or
"fatty" oils, the oils thicken and assume a very gummy or sticky character.
In my process I render the oils capable of absorbing carbon dioxide by which
absorption said oils dry rapidly, either when used alone or as pigment-vehicles.
In carrying out my process of treating the "fatty" oils, I first impart to the
oil selected an alkaline or basic reaction; and, second, I incorporate with the oil
thus exhibiting an alkaline or basic reaction, a chemical agent having an affinity
for the oil, such as either the metallic oxides or salts; and, third, I add a
chemical agent having an affinity for carbon dioxide. If the several agents
respectively employed in each step of the process shall each have, in addition
to the functions above described, the power also of absorbing carbon dioxide,
each successive step in the process will be cumulative in the absorption of carbon
dioxide; and thus the siccative action of the oil will be greatly promoted and
accelerated.
If the oil selected to be thus treated be cotton-seed-oil 1 dissolve in it a metallic
soap, preferably a metallic soap capable of absorbing carbon dioxide, such as
alumina soap; I then add basic acetate of lead, preferably the tribasic, as the
latter has an affinity for the oil and also for carbon dioxide, and may also be used
After a thorough
as a pigment in a subsequent reaction with carbon dioxide.
incorporation of the foregoing elements, I add thereto borate of magnesia, which
also has an affinity for carbon dioxide. This salt must also be thoroughly
incorporated with the other elements named.
While not confining myself to fixed proportions in this process, as the oils which
may be treated vary in density requiring varying proportions, yet good practice
dictates the use of about five to eight per cent. solution of the metallic soap;
twenty parts of oil made to exhibit an alkaline or basic reaction; twenty parts of
basic acetate of lead; and three parts of borate of magnesia. Twenty to thirty
parts of any pigment which it may be desired to use, if added to these proportions
of oil and the other named ingredients, will make a quick-drying liquid paint. A
small percentage of a "drying-oil" may be added to the fatty oil to advantage at
any stage of its treatment, if desired. As the acetates of lead give alkaline or
basic reactions, basic acetate of lead may be substituted for the metallic soap in
the first step of the process.
But as a solution is the most intimate of all mixtures,

page_text: the place of said soap in the process is one of great advantage as it has an affinity
for carbon-dioxide.
In carrying out my process of treating the "drying-oils," I first proceed to give
the oil selected for treatment an-alkaline or basic reaction and then to unite with it
a salt capable of absorbing carbon-dioxide. If the agent selected for imparting to
the oil an alkaline or basic reaction, be one having at the same time an affinity for
carbon dioxide, then the second step in the process, namely the addition of a salt,
absorbent of carbon dioxide, will he cumulative or augmentative. Having,
therefore, selected the oil, say-raw linseed oil, I add to it by grinding therewith
about twenty-five parts of basic acetate of lead to one hundred parts of the oil,
which imparts to the oil an alkaline or basic reaction. I then add to this mixture
by grinding until union is complete, borate of magnesia in about the proportion
of twenty per cent. of the basic acetate used.
. Instead of, or in addition to, using basic acetate of lead for imparting an alkaline
or basic reaction to the oil, such reaction may be imparted by dissolving in it a
metallic soap, preferably a metallic soap capable of absorbing carbon dioxide, such
as alumina soap, but the basic acetate of lead has been found to give decided results.
Salts, capable of absorbing carbon dioxide other than borate of magnesia may be
used for incorporation with the oil, such as sulphate of magnesia, sulphate of
alumina, alum, monometaborate of soda and like reagents, but borate of magnesia
will be found efficient, as it is insoluble in water, and also economical in cost.
I am aware that basic acetate of lead has been used in mixture with drying-oils,
but the great objection to, or preventive of, said acetate's use, except within narrow
limits, is that its presence in the oil renders the oil of a dark yellow, or yellowish
red colour, which does not dissipate or bleach. By my process I obviate this
difficulty and the reaction of bleaching is readily accomplished in a few hours by
the salts introduced, by their absorption of carbon dioxide. At the same time
their presence in the oil renders it capable of absorbing carbon dioxide,
independently of its powers of absorbing oxygen, and thereby hastens its drying-
action.
The above described treatment of "drying-oils" may be used to supersede the
present method of boiling oils with metallic oxides for the purpose of improving
their drying action and will reduce raw oils quickly and economically to a basis
equivalent to that of boiled oil. The boiling of so-called "drying-oils" (this
term being used technically to distinguish them from "fatty" oils) with ",
oxygen-
carriers," such as the metallic oxides, in order to hasten the drying properties of
the oil is comparatively a tedious process, comprising boiling, settling or straining,
and bleaching, which extends through. many weeks; and while the time necessary
to accomplish the drying of the raw oil is reduced thereby from about ninety-six
hours to about eight to ten hours, yet the colour of the oil is very greatly deteriorated
and its quality likewise much impaired. By my treatment above-described, which
is simple and expeditious, the colour of the oil remains unimpaired, and the drying
term of the oil is reduced to about three and a half hours.
While, as above stated, my invention obviates the boiling of the oil, yet if it be
desired to include in the process the step of boiling, or if it be desired to treat an
oil already boiled, my invention may be carried out in the manner now to be
described :
Animal and vegetable oils are known as oxygenated hydrocarbons, that is they
are composed of oxygen, hydrogen and carbon, and as hereinbefore stated, have the
natural characteristic of taking on more oxygen by absorption when exposed to the
air. But the absorption of this acidifying element, oxygen, can be further increased
artificially by exposure of the oils to a continuous current or atmosphere of
oxygen; or by "boiling on oxygen-carriers," such as the metallic oxides and oxy-
salts in preparing commercial "boiled-oil"; or by adding to the oils in their cold
state, some of said oxides and salts, as acidifying agents, notably in the form of
commercial "paint-driers." But although oxygen is the great acidifying agent,
it is not alone in this action. Chlorine and other elements are classed, as such

page_text: agents. As oxygen in its union with oils gives acid reactions with the evolution of
carbon dioxide, I have taken advantage of this known characteristic, and, therefore,
I have first caused the oils to absorb oxygen, either naturally, or, in increased
quantity, by admixture with oxidizing or acidifying agents; and, secondly, I have
caused them to absorb carbon-dioxide.
When the boiling of the oils is to be effected as the oxygen absorbing step, the
heat may be directly applied to the containing vessel, or through the medium of the
sand-bath, or water-bath, and the proportion of oxides or oxygen carriers" used
may be from three to five per cent., the boiling requiring two to five hours, the time
varying according to the gravity of the oil, and the oxygen-carrier used. But as
the boiling points of oils vary between from about 590 degrees to about.
620 degrees Fahr., and as these points of temperature are also very near the
decomposing points of the oils, care must be exercised that the body and quality of
the oils be not injured in the boiling. This danger of injury can be largely
avoided, however, by. the use of a steam-jacket or water-bath, which, while
maintaining a much lower temperature, requires a longer exposure to its heat.
The agents or oxygen carriers generally used for the above purposes, are the oxides
and salts of lead, such as litharge, minium, and the acetates of lead; also oxides
and salts of manganese.
After cooling and settling, the oil is ready for the second
step of my process, that of imparting to it carbon dioxide. This I accomplish by
dissolving, grinding, or mixing with the oil, and by the aid of additional heat if
necessary, any agent or agents that will absorb carbon dioxide from the air, or that
will give up carbon dioxide, having held it in combination, and thus impart it to
the oil.
I prefer to use for this purpose those agents, some of which have already been
named above, which have an affinity for, and will absorb, carbon dioxide, such as
some of the metallic soaps, as alumina, magnesia, or alum soap, and monometaborate
of soda, sulphate, of magnesia, sulphate of alumina, borate of magnesia, basic
acetate of lead, alum and the like chemical agents. One or more of these agents
may be used, as the result desired and practice shall dictate, but the best effects are
obtained by using those agents which have the property of making the oil alkaline
or basic in addition to their power for absorbing carbon dioxide, or which have an
affinity for the oil and also for carbon dioxide, such as magnesia, or alumina soap,
and basic acetate of lead, and any of the others may be afterwards added such as
borate of magnesia and mono-metaborate of soda. The quantity of these agents
used must be governed also largely by practice, but about five per cent. of metallic
soap, ten per cent. of borate of magnesia, and fifteen per cent. of basic acetate
of lead will give good results.
All of the steps of my process herein described, except boiling, if boiling be used,
may be carried on at ordinary temperatures, but heat may be applied to hasten any
of the reactions, without departing from my invention. Any of the oxygen-carriers
may be added to the oils in process of treatment, in the many forms of commercial
"dryers" now in use. If desired also, carbon dioxide may be charged through the
oils at any stage of the process of treating the oils, or after such treatment has been
completed.
All the oils treated by my invention as herein described, will be ready for
immediate use for making paints in mixture with any of the well-known pigments,
being well suited for use in making any of the well-known ready-mixed-paints of
commerce. These oils may, however, if preferred, be left for a few hours for
precipitation of any excess of matter that they may hold in suspension when
the supernatant oils may be drawn off for any use desired.
I do not confine myself in the process to exactly the successive steps above-named,
for although I have named the steps giving satisfactory and decided results, yet the
making of carbon dioxide an agent in the drying of oils being, I believe, entirely
new with me, some variation in combination and manipulation might be suggested
to the scientific mind to bring about the desired end; and while the object of my
invention is to effect the absorption of free carbon dioxide, I do not insist that this

page_text: is the total of the operation effected, for it may be possible that, as the results are
so positive, the influence of some chemical agency or reaction may be exercised, in
the process, which is not now apparent, though possibly yet discoverable.
A possible explanation of the apparent paradox, which I effect, that of an
acidifying agent giving an acid reaction and carbon dioxide being evolved, and an
alkaline or basic agent giving an alkaline or basic reaction and carbon dioxide
being absorbed, said actions going on apparently interchangeably, seems to be that
the acidifying agent unites progressively with a portion of the oil, evolving and
setting free carbon dioxide which is immediately seized and absorbed by a portion
of the oil rendered alkaline or basic and this action and reaction continues until
mutual exhaustion or until a neutral point is reached, with the resultant drying of
the oil.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The hereinbefore described process of imparting drying properties to oils,
which consists in combining in chemical union with such oils, an absorbent or
absorbents of carbon dioxide, and then exposing the oil so treated to the presence
of carbon dioxide.
2. The process of imparting quick-drying properties to oils, which consists in
first combining therewith alumina soap or other reagents basic to carbon dioxide
and adding reagents capable of absorbing carbon dioxide.
3. The process of imparting drying properties to fatty oils consisting in
incorporating with the oil, preferably cotton-seed-oil, a metallic soap having an
affinity for carbon dioxide (preferably alumina soap) then adding a salt or salts
having an affinity both for the oil and for carbon dioxide (such as, preferably, basic
acetate of lead) and then adding a salt capable of absorbing carbon dioxide, such
as borate of magnesia, or other carbon-dioxide-absorbent-salt, the whole combined
with or without the agency of heat.
4. The process of treating drying-oils, consisting in first incorporating with the
oil to be treated, basic acetate of lead or an equivalent alkaline or basic element
and then incorporating with this mixture a salt capable of absorbing carbon
dioxide, such as borate of magnesia or equivalent carbon-dioxide-absorbent.
5. The process of imparting drying properties to oils, or hastening the drying
action of the same, consisting in first chemically combining with the oil an
acidifying agent and then adding a carbonating agent.
6. The hereinbefore described process of causing oils to absorb carbon dioxide,
which consists in chemically combining with the oil an acidifying agent and then
adding an alkaline or basic agent capable of absorbing carbon dioxide.
7. The process of imparting drying properties to oils, or hastening the drying
action of the same, consisting in first oxidizing the oil selected, by boiling it in
mixture with an oxygen-carrier such as a metallic oxide or salt, and then adding an
alkaline or basic agent capable of absorbing carbon dioxide.
Dated this 9th day of May 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.