Improvements in the Method of Cleaning and Improving the Color of the Shells of Edible Nuts.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in the Method of Cleaning and Improving the Color
of the Shells of Edible Nuts.
1, FRANCIS M. IRONMONGER of 229 Broadway, in the City, County and State of
New York, in the United States of America Railway Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF CLEANING AND
IMPROVING THE COLOR OF THE SHELLS OF EDIBLE NUTS" and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention consists in the method employed for cleaning and improving the
appearance of the shells of edible nuts, in order to render the same more attractive
and hence more valuable, since nuts of good quality having dark shells are less sought
after and are less marketable than those having clean and light colored shells. The
method employed, which constitutes this invention, renders the shells of nuts, which
have been discolored by the action of the atmosphere or otherwise, clean, bright and
attractive in color, and makes the nuts as readily salable as those having naturally
bright shells. In accordance with the invention the nuts are subjected to an
oxidizing process to restore the original or bright color to the nut shell.
This method or process is carried out by chemical action, namely, by oxidation of
the color of the nut shell or nut, and it is accomplished by immersing the nuts in a
bath of either a strong or a dilute solution of an acid, such as phosphoric, sulphurous,
chloric, citric, tartaric, or any of those acids which have as a radical, oxygen. These
acids may be either of organic or inorganic nature. There also may be used for this
process soluble oxygen acid salts containing either two atoms or one atom of acid to
one atom of an acidifiable base. These acid salts may be either of organic or inorganic
nature.
All of the above mentioned substances will produce beneficial results on the nuts,
but the most satisfactory results are produced by using one of the following formula
according to the nature of the shells.
1. Oxalic acid. Dissolve one part of the crystals in nine parts of water.
2. Protochloride of tin. Dissolve one part of the crystals in twenty parts of water
and add gradually commercial muriatic acid till the white clouds disappear.
In using either of these solutions immerse the nuts in the solution and allow them

page_text: to remain long enough to change the color satisfactorily say from one to thirty
minutes according to the strength of the solution and the nature of the shells of the
nuts operated upon. Then separate the nuts from the solution, after which wash the
nuts well in clear water to remove any of the solution that may be left upon them.
Then separate the-nuts from the water and dry them by exposure or by artificial
heat, after which they are ready to be packed.
If it is desired to make the nut still lighter in color after the above operation, and
before the washing, a little chlorinated water may be added to the clear water used
for the washing.
The selection of the most effective treatment depends altogether upon the nature of
the different kinds of nuts and their respective colors, and must be left to the good
judgment of the operator, or it may be determined by a single test which of the
treatments or substances would work best and to the fullest satisfaction and advantage.
Of course if one treatment is selected another should not be applied to the same batch
of nuts.
Since, therefore, a variety of acid and acid salts may be used to carry out the
objects of the invention, the invention is not limited to any special ingredients but
embraces the use for restoring the natural color to nuts of all those acid and acid
salts which have oxygen as their radical and which will oxidize nut shells and thereby
improve them in color and make them more salable and therefore more valuable.
Having-now-particularly-described_and_ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is
Restoring the natural color of the shells of edible nuts by oxidation, that is, by
treatment with acids and acid salts substantially as described.
Datad the thing I
CL1000
NEWNHAM BROWNE,
Agent for the Applicant.