IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PURIFICATION, REFINING, AND TREATMENT OF THE VOLATILE AND FIXED OILS PRODUCED FROM THE DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF PEAT OR TURF
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Denis McGrath, of Kilberry, in the County of
Kildare, in Ireland, Superintendent of Peat Works, for the Invention of
“IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PURIFICATION, REFINING, AND TREATMENT OF THE
VOLATILE AND FIXED OILS PRODUCED FROM THE DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF
PEAT OR TURF."
Sealed the 19th June 1866, and dated the 22nd December 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Denis McGrath at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd December 1865.
I, DENIS MCGRATH, of Kilberry, in the County of Kildare, in Ireland,
Superintendent of Peat Works,, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PURIFICATION, REFINING, AND TREATMENT
OF THE VOLATILE AND FIXED OILS PRODUCED FROM THE DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION
OF PEAT OR TURF," to be.as follows:-
My improvements relate to the purification, refining, and treatment of the
volatile and fixed oils produced from the destructive distillation of peat. or
turf, so as to utilize the volatile portion of such oils as a commercial product
for illuminating and other purposes, and so as to purify and refine the

page_text: fixed or lubricating portion of such oils in a more effectual manner than
hitherto.
My improvements consist in the admixture of petroleum oil of commerce
or other hydrocarbon oils, whether obtained in a natural state or as produced
from the distillation of coal shale or other bituminous substances with the
crude oils produced from peat or turf, and in proportions varying according
to the qualities of the oils. From th to 3rd of petroleum or other hydro-
carbon oils to ths or 3rds of crude peat or turf oil will generally be found
a good proportion. I allow the admixture to stand for such time and at such
temperature as the nature or class of the oils or other circumstances may
require, say, for a period of about 36 hours and at a temperature of about
115° Fahrenheit, more or less. I use by preference ordinary crude petroleum
-oil.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Denis M°Grath in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd June 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DENIS
M°GRATH, of Kilberry, in the County of Kildare, in Ireland, Superintendent
of Peat Works, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Denis M'Grath, Her special licence that I, the said Denis
McGrath, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Denis M°Grath, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PURIFICATION, REFINING, AND TREATMENT OF THE VOLATILE
AND FIXED OILS PRODUCED FROM THE DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF PEAT OR TURF,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Denis McGrath, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
late of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Denis McGrath, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
My improvements relate to the purification, refining, and treatment of the
volatile and fixed oils produced from the destructive distillation of peat or
turf, so as to utilize the volatile portion of such oils as a commercial product
for illuminating and other purposes, and so as to purify and refine the fixed
or lubricating portion of such oils in a more effectual manner than hitherto.
My improvements consist in the admixture of petroleum oil of commerce or
other hydrocarbon oils, whether obtained in a natural state or as produced
from the distillation of coal shale or other bituminous substances with the
crude oils produced from peat or turf, and in proportions varying according
to the qualities of the oils; from one-fourth to one-third of petroleum or
other bydrocarbon oils to three-fourths or two-thirds of crude peat or
turf oil will generally be found a good proportion. I allow the admixture
to stand for such time and at such temperature as the nature or class
of the oils or other circumstances may require, say, for a period of about
thirty-six hours, and at a temperature of about 115° Fahrenheit, more or
less. I use by preference ordinary crude petroleum oil. When the chemical
combination of the hydrocarbons thus mixed takes place, and their dissolving
action on each other is complete, which will be effected in about the time
above mentioned, I allow the charge thus treated to flow into a wrought-iron
still capable of containing, say, 1,000 gallons. I distil one-third of this
charge with common steam, the pressure in the boiler being about 60 lbs.
on the square inch. I distil the remaining part with superheated steam
at a temperature of from 400° to 600° Fahrenheit. After treatment with an
acid and with an alkali the first part of the distillate becomes quite clear
and free from the disagreeable odour which unrefined peat oil ordinarily
possesses. The second or heavy part of the charge I also treat with acid and
alkalies, and I then run it into a still capable of containing about 600 gallons.
In distilling the heavy oils I apply a moderate heat underneath the still in
conjunction with superheated steam. The oils thus obtained are of the best
quality, and after filtration are immediately fit for the market.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, purifying,

page_text: refining, and treating the volatile and fixed oils produced from the destructive
distillation of peat or turf by the admixture with such oils of petroleum or
other hydrocarbon oils, substantially as herein-before described."
In witness whereof, I, the said Denis McGrath, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of June, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-six.