CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OR PROCESS OF REFINING AND PURIFYING ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE OILS AND GREASE
Year: 1846

page_text: DAN
MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATIONS.
SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PETER
BANCROFT, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-fifth day of February, in the ninth year of Her reign, and
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-six, did for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Peter
Bancroft, Her especial license; full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said Peter Bancroft, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and such
others as I, the said Peter Bancroft, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England and Wales and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OR PROCESS OF REFINING AND PURIFYING ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE
OILS AND GREASE;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that
I, the said Peter Bancroft, shall cause a particular description of the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after 'the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent,

page_text: as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Peter Bancroft, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained in and by the Drawings hereto annexed, and the following
explanation thereof, that is to say :-
The nature of my said Improvements consists in a process or processes of
refining or purifying certain vegetable and animal oils, whereby they are made
more valuable for lubricating the working parts of machinery; for a process of
refining or purifying tallow, improving it for the purposes of lubricating the
pistons of steam-engines, and for other similar uses; likewise for a process of
purifying and sweetening inferior descriptions of lard, causing them, when so
refined, to become fit for human food, and applicable to all purposes for which
the best Irish lard is now used.
The vegetable oils which I make use of to be refined for the abovesaid
purpose are the common olive oils, Galipoli, Spanish, Portugal, Sicily, and
such like qualities of olive oils. It is well known that these oils, when applied
in their impure state to the working parts of machinery, quickly become
glutinous, act injuriously upon the brass work, and impede the proper working
of the machine. This effect is produced by the action of the air upon the
impurities contained in the oil when the oil is exposed in small quantities. To
remove this hurtful matter I treat the oil, heated to about 90°, or thereabouts,
with a strong solution. of potash or soda, either in the state of a carbonate, or
made caustic by lime. I generally prefer to use the alkali in a caustic state,
in consequence of its producing less effervescence in the oil, and the operation
being more quickly finished than when the carbonates of either of the above
alkalies are made use of. I usually prefer to use the solution of the alkali at
a specific gravity of 1.2, or even stronger. During the addition of the alkali
the oil is to be kept in a constant state of agitation, to cause the one to mix
thoroughly with the other. To ascertain when the operation is completed, and
a sufficiency of the solution added, I take a small portion into a glass bottle,
or any other convenient vessel, and add to it a solution of the alkali in excess,
shake it well, and then allow it to remain at rest for a quarter of an hour. or
until the alkali has settled to the bottom of the vessel. Should the alkali
-settle quite clear, without causing a thick deposit to take place, I conclude
that the oil is sufficiently refined; if it does not remain clear, but carries down
with it a thick soapy matter, I add more alkali to that in operation, until, on
further trial, this elect takes place. The quantity of alkali required will

page_text: depend entirely upon the quality of the olive oil operated upon. I have found
in practice that some qualities have required as much as 8'per cent. of solution
of specific gravity 1.2, while other qualities have not required more than
3 per cent. When the above operation is completed I then allow the oil
to remain at rest for twenty-four hours, or until such time as the thick soapy
matter formed in the oil by the alkali has subsided; the supernatant oil
may then be run off and passed through a filter. The oil so operated upon
will not be found to tarnish the most delicate brass work; nor will it become
thick and glutinous upon exposure to the air. The animal-oil which I treat
to be used for the same purposes as the above is the oil expressed from lard.
My mode of refining this oil is exactly similar in all its details to the above.
My process of refining and purifying tallow so as to make it more valuable
for the purposes of lubricating the pistóns of steam-engines, and other similar
purposes, is the following. But, first, I may observe, that all tallows are not
applicable; those which I have found most suited to my purpose being those
which are termed in commerce Y. C., of light yellow color, and sweet or good
home-rendered tallow :-I melt tallow of the above description by steam or
other: heat. When the tallow has become fluid, but before it has become
much heated beyond its melting point, I add, as in refining olive oil, a strong
solution of potash or soda, either caustic or in the state of a carbonate; and of
specific gravity 1:2, or thereabouts. I add this solution of the alkali with
constant agitation of the tallow during its introduction. Upon the first intro-
duction of the alkali a very thick soapy matter is precipitated. The operation
is completed when, upon a further addition of the alkali, this effect ceases to
be produced. The tallow is then heated to about 180° or 200° of temperature.
I then allow it to repose for twenty-four hours or more, according to the
quantity operated upon, and the heat of the weather. When it is perceived
that the tallow, in cooling, is becoming lightly opaque, it is run off into casks,
which, while cooling, must be well stirred to prevent it from granulating.
My process for refining and sweetening American and inferior lards is as
follows: In using American lard it is in most cases too. soft and oily; I
I
therefore, before operating upon it, extract a portion of the oil by pressure;
then melt the lard by steam or other heat, and add, as before, a strong solution
of potash or soda, or carbonate of these alkalis, with constant agitation of the
lard. This process is exactly similar to my process for refining and purifying
tallow. I may mention that a weak solution of the alkalies is to be avoided,
and that the stronger or denser they are made the more perfectly will they
separate the impurities from the oils and fats.
The matter which is precipitated in the refining of the above oils and fats

page_text: may be used in the manufacture of soap, the nature of the soap depending
upon the alkali made use of. If it is required, an inferior oil or fat may be
recovered from the deposit formed by neutralizing the alkali by an acid. For
this purpose I usually employ the sulphuric acid diluted with water.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be carried into practical effect, I desire it to be under-
stood that I am aware that the alkalies potash and soda have been used and
recommended for the purification of oils and fats; but, to the best of my belief,
they have never been employed for the purification of the oils and fats men-
tioned above, when those oils are refined for the purpose of being applied as
described. I therefore claim as my Invention the refining and purifying olive
oils, lard oil, tallow, and lard, for the purposes already mentioned, by treating
them as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Bancroft, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-six

page_text: In the Matter of Letters Patent granted to Peter Bancroft, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Merchant, for his Invention of "Certain
Improvements in the Method or Process of Refining and Purifying
Animal and Vegetable Oils and Grease," and bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-fifth day of February, One thousand eight
hundred and forty-six.
DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATIONS entered
by the said Peter Bancroft, pursuant to the provisions of an Act passed
the fifth and sixth years of the reign of His late Majesty King William
the Fourth, "intituled An Act to amend the Law touching Letters
Patent for Inventions."
I, the said Peter Bancroft, do hereby declare that since the Inrolment of
the Specification of my said Invention, I have been advised that there being
no Drawings required to explain my said Invention, and none having been
inrolled, all mention of Drawings in my said Specification should be omitted.
And further, I have been advised that it is doubtful if my said Invention is
new with reference to any oleaginous matter except lard. And for these
reasons, I, the said Peter Bancroft, do hereby disclaim all those parts of my
said Specification which allude to Drawings, and which have reference to
vegetable oils and to tallow. Whereupon my said Specification will be as
follows (that is to say) :-
"TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Peter
"Bancroft, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant, send greeting.
"WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
"Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
"Westminster, the Twenty-fifth day of February, in the ninth year of Her
"reign, and in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-
"six, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
"the said Peter Bancroft, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege
"and authority, that I, the said Peter Bancroft, my executors, administrators,
"and assigns, and such others as I, the said Peter Bancroft, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,

page_text: "
66 6
$5
"from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed
"should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and enjoy, and vend, within
England and Wales and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of
Improvements in the Method or Process of Refining and Purifying
certain Animal Grease;'" in which said Letters Patent is contained a
"proviso that I, the said Peter Bancroft, shall cause a particular description
of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in
part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being there-
"unto had, will more fully and at large appear.
"NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Peter Bancroft, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention,
"and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly
"described and ascertained in and by the following explanation thereof (that
"is to say):
"
"
દ
.
"The nature of my said improvements consists in a process of purifying
and sweetening inferior descriptions of lard, causing them, when so refined,
to become fit for.human food, and applicable to all purposes for which the
"best Irish lard is now used. My process for refining and sweetening
American and inferior lards is as follows:-In using American lard it is in
"most cases too soft and oily; I therefore, before operating upon it, extract
a portion of the oil by pressure. I then melt the lard by steam or other
heat, and add a strong solution of potash or, soda, of specific gravity 1.2 or
thereabouts, or carbonate of these alkalies, with constant agitation of the
lard. Upon the first introduction of the alkali avery thick soapy matter
is precipitated; the operation is completed when, upon a further addition
"of the alkali, this effect ceases to be produced. The lard is then heated to
"about one hundred and eighty degrees or two hundred degrees of temperature;
"I then allow it to repose for twenty-four hours or more, according to the
quantity operated upon and the heat of the weather. When it is perceived
that the lard in cooling is becoming lightly opaque, it is run off into casks,
which, while cooling, must be well stirred, to prevent it from granulating.
"I may mention that a weak solution of the alkalies is to be avoided, and
that the stronger or denser they are made, the more perfectly will they
separate the impurities from the fats.
"
"
6
"
.<<
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
"in which the same is to be carried into practical effect, I desire it to be
"understood that I am aware that the alkalies potash and soda have been

page_text: used and recommended for the purification of oils and fats, but, to the best
"of my belief, they have never been, employed for the purification of the fats
mentioned above, when. refined, for the purpose, of being applied. as
"described. I therefore claim as my Invention the refining and purifying
"lard for the purposes already mentioned, by treating it as herein
" described."
And in order that the title to my said Invention may be consistent with my
Specification, as it will be after the said Disclaimer and Memorandum of
Alteration shall have been entered as aforesaid, I hereby limit my said, title, by
disclaiming certain parts of the same, and alter it in order that, after such
disclaimer and alteration of the said title shall have been entered as aforesaid,
the title to my said Invention will be as follows (that is to say):-" Improve-
ments in the Method or Process of Refining and Purifying certain Animal
Grease."
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Bancroft, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of, April, in the year, of, our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.
PETER (L.s.) BANCROFT.

page_text: the Times, Morning Herald, and Liverpool Albion newspapers; and no
objection having been made to the said application, I have accordingly granted
leave to the said Peter Bancroft to file his said Disclaimer and Memo-
randum of Alterations, pursuant to the said Statute passed in the 5th & 6th
years of the reign of His late Majesty, entitled "An Act to amend the Law
touching Letters Patent for Inventions."