AN IMPROVED METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SOAP WITH A VEGETABLE BASIS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Louis Prosper Duroy, of No. 10, Faubourg
Montmartre, in Paris, France, Chemist, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED MEION ON M
Sealed the 21st June 1864, and dated the 2nd January 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Louis Prosper
Duroy at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 2nd January 1864.
I, JEAN LOUIS PROSPER DUROY, of No. 10, Faubourg Montmartre, in
Paris, France, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SOAP WITH A VEGETABLE BASIS,"
to be as follows:-.
In the manufacture of soap, according to my Invention, I introduced a
vegetable basis known as "saponin," and combine with this basis various
other vegetable and mineral substances, and am thus enabled to produce a
soap which is a substitute for ordinary descriptions of soaps bitherto made
and which are generally composed of oily or fatty substances combined with:
alkali, carbonate of soda, or potash. The substances which I prefer to mix or
combine with the "saponin" basis are "amylaceous" or starchy substances,
to which may also sometimes be added glycerine, sacchariferous substances,.
gums, clay, carbonate of magnesia, calcareous earths, or equivalent substances,
and according to the number and proportions of these ingredients which are.

page_text: combined with the "saponin" basis, so am I enabled to obtain several kinds
or descriptions of soaps adapted to suit various requirements, purposes,
or uses.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jean Louis Prosper Duroy in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 2nd July 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I JEAN
LOUIS PROSPER DEROY, of No. 10, Faubourg Montmartre, in Paris, France,
Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Jean Louis Prosper Duroy, Her special licence that I, the
said Jean Louis Prosper Duroy, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the [said Jean Louis Prosper Duroy, 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 "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF MANUFACTURING
SOAP WITH A VEGETABLE BASIS," upon the condition, amongst others, that I,
the said Jean Louis Prosper Duroy, 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 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 date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jean Louis Prosper Duroy, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in substituting for factitious soaps generally composed
of oily or fatty materials combined with alkali, soda, or potash, a new compo-
sition in which the combination of fatty and alkaline materials ordinarily
employed is replaced by a natural "saponin" substance as a basis, with which

page_text: I combine other materials, by preference "amylaceous" or starchy substances,
to which may also sometimes be added glycerine, sacchariferous substances,
gums, clay, carbonate of magnesia, calcareous earths, or equivalent materials;
and according to the number and proportions of these ingredients which are
combined with the "saponin " basis, so am I enabled by the variation in the
proportions of the components to obtain several kinds or descriptions of soap
adapted to such various requirements, purposes, or uses.
The properties of
"saponin "have been known for some time, and more particularly since the
researches of Messrs. Bussey and Bucholz. Amongst the plants which con-
tain "saponin" may be mentioned the following:-The soap wort (saponaria
officinalis), "saponin" being obtainable from part of the plant, and especially
from the root; the root of the Egyptian saponaria (bypsophila struthumi),
which grows spontaneously in Hungary, Greece, Persia, and other Eastern
countries, where it is used for cleaning Cashmere shawls and other similar
fabrics, the quillay (quillaya saponaria M.); (quillaya smymodernos, D. C.), a
tree which is found in Chili, the bark of which is used in that country on
account of its saponiferous qualities; and the lowness of its price should tend
to cause its adoption in Europe as a substitute for the manufactured soaps
and alkali cleansing compositions hitherto generally used.
The three plants I have just enumerated form at present the best sources from
which the "saponin" can be derived, and hereafter in order to produce it cheaper
to supply the requirements which shall probably increase, it will be very easy to
spread the cultivation of the one of the said plants which is within our reach,
viz., the European saponaria officinalis. Besides the foregoing named plants there
are others from which "saponin" may be obtained, such as the genus sapindus,
India soapberry tree; the fruit of the sapindus saponaria growing in the West
India islands and on the American continent; the fruit of the sapindus
muduriensis, which are sold in Java as soap; the fruit of the sapindus sene-
galinsis, used for the same purpose in Senegal. The bark of the quillay root
mounina polystichia (Ruiz), contains also a large quantity of "saponin." All
these plants may be appropriated to the manufacture of the new kind of soap
or saponaceous mixture which will be bereafter described. I am aware that
all these plants or parts of them have been used either raw, in powder, infused or
boiled down, for cleaning silk and woollen yarns, tissues, and cloth; but although
they clean these stuffs perfectly well without affecting either their suppleness
or colours (which cannot always be said of common alkalineous soaps), they
however have not hitherto been used to a large extent, doubtless on account
of the trouble involved by the preparation required before using them. The
advantage of the saponaceous compounds of my Invention is to do away with

page_text: all those irksome difficulties, and to produce an article not only for the
cleansing of tissues, but also for dressing purposes, and to employ the sapo-
naceous principle of the previously enumerated plants in a pleasing, conve-
nient, and cheap form. My soap is composed, first, of pure "saponin," the
purest that can be obtained; or second, of rough "saponin," viz., that which
has not been separated from other extractive soluble substances which are
united with it in the soapworts of Europe or Egypt, as well as in the Panania
bark.
The best process extant for extracting "saponin " is, I believe, that com-
municated by Professor Bussy to the Paris Academy of Sciences in 1832; it
consists in exhausting the Egyptian saponaria root, previously coarsely pow-
dered, with boiling alcohol at 36° Cartier (194° Fahrenheit). After a few
minutes of boiling in a distilling apparatus in order not to lose the alcohol, or
prevent it from taking fire, the liquid is filtrated, and the "saponin" is partly
precipitated by cooling; the liquid is then poured out on a cloth, the precipi-
tate is squeezed out as much as possible, and then dried. The same process
is repeated till the bark or wort is exhausted. The "saponin" obtained by
precipitation on a cloth will be still purer and whiter by dissolving it several
times successively in boiling alcohol, which by cooling will allow it again to
be precipitated, but retaining each time a part of the impurities which are
mixed with it. This juice is intended for my white soaps. The remaining
alcoholic liquids now distilled produce an extract still containing much
"saponin," which extract can be treated anew by alcohol in order to obtain
some purer "saponin," or it may be combined with the watery extracts of the
same substances (on account of it weakness), in order to be mixed with them
in common or coloured soaps.
As to the substance which I call impure saponin, it is a kind of watery
extract obtained by the process commonly used by druggists and dyers. Thus
for instance I take the quillaya bark, which I dip rapidly in water, and heap it
up in this wet state in a wooden tub, where it will drain, whilst it also by
degrees becomes softened; when in that state it must be pressed, bruised,
and broken. By following this preliminary process, the operatives are not
exposed to the injurious effects of the irritating powder which is produced
when the bark is prepared in the dry state. This bark being divided in the
best possible way, is submitted to several successive decoctions in a suitable
quantity of water till it is exhausted. Now the decoctions being settled and
lined down, they are evaporated to dryness, either in a water bath or within
an apparatus to concentrate liquids under vacuum. The dry extract thus
obtained being chiefly composed of "saponin," but a trifling proportion of

page_text: colouring extractive substances can directly be employed with my common
saponary compound, as will be hereafter described; the same process with very
slight variations which any one will understand, are to be applied to obtain
either pure "saponin," or watery extract of the other soap plants.
COMPOSITION, PROPORTIONS, AND PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING SEVERAL
KINDS OF THE NEW SOAP.
33
No. 1. White vegetable soap, its mixture is composed as follows:-
60 units of weight of pure "saponin;" 70 of wheat starch; 25 of "leiocomme'
or dextrine (optionally); 75 of powdered white sugar; 10 of white honey;
40 of "glycose" syrup obtained from diastase; 100 of colourless and
inordorus glycerine; 6 of powdered gum dragon; 4 gum arabic, and about
100 of water. The "saponin "is dissolved in a very small quantity of water in
a large marble mortar with a wooden pestle, the gum dragon, gum arabic, and
sugar are mixed together with a suitable quantity of water to form a mucil-
agenous compound, which is obtained by beating it together sufficiently and
pouring the water in gradually till it ceases to thicken; then the "leiocomme"
or dextrine is added while stirring up the mixture; then the solution of
"saponin," glycerine, and honey are added; the whole is again thoroughly
stirred up in order to obtain a homogeneous mixture. The starch is then little
by little incorporated, and the mass is thoroughly beaten till it acquires a
suitable plastic state, and if necessary a small quantity of water may again
be added. When the whole mass bas become homogeneous and coberent
enough it may be cut into pieces of the required weight and size; these pieces
are then kneaded on a table to give them the required shape, or they may be
pressed into mould, as in soap manufacturies. When taken out from the
moulds the pieces must be carefully laid on smooth wooden or glass shelves,
and then carried into the drying rooms and left till the water is evaporated.
They must not be dried too quickly in a hot chamber because they would
crack. This soap may be perfumed by adding to the mass before moulding
some fragrant essence. To obtain marble-like soap some pigment may be
mixed with a part of the mass which is then combined and rolled out.
Some
fine powder of iris, marshmallow, or any other root may be mixed with it
for the purpose of imparting to it other special properties.
No. 2. Vegetable coloured soap is composed as follows:-100 units of
weight of watery extract of quillaya root, which might be replaced by Egyptian
saponarum, officinal saponaria, or any other extract of soap plant; 700 of
potatoe or any other amylaceous fecula; 25 of dextrine or "leiocomme;"
75 of moist sugar; 60 liquid glycose obtained by "diastasis;" 100 of

page_text: inodorous glycerine; 6 gum dragon; 4 gum arabic, and about 100 of water.
The working process is the same as that of No. 1. Both in No. 1 and No. 2,
but more especially in the latter, starch or fecula may be replaced by any
cerial meal, such as that of wheat, barley, rye, oats, or Indian corn, or by
meal of seeds of the leguminous family, such as horse beans, common beans,
peas, lentils, buckwheat meal, or by very very fine bran, and such bran soap
may be used for bathing purposes. However, I must remark that those seed
powders being for a shorter or longer while closely united with water .might
be liable to turning" or fermenting, and to prevent which the proportion of
and
water may be much lessened, whilst the proportion of "glycose" syrup
glycerine would be increased in proportion.
is then
No. 3. Semi-solid (or half soluble) vegetable soap is composed of 500 units
of weight of wheat meal, with enough water to form a compact dough, which
may be allowed to remain for at least two hours in order to hydrate the gluten
it contains, when the mass is exposed to the action of a current of water, so
as to separate from each other the two principle elements of which the meal is
composed, viz., the starch and the gluten. When, after this washing process
the gluten has become membraneous and distended, it is considered as
sufficiently deprived of its starch, and is then stored up in a cool and damp
place. The starch separated by the washing treatment is gathered and poured
with the water containing starch in solution into a large and deep evaporating
this
pan, which must be either tinned over or enamelled inside; pan
at once placed over a water bath, and the contents of the pan are stirred' up
continuously with a large wooden spatula till the whole thickens to the
consistency of thick paste; then 30 parts of pure "saponin" and 25 parts of
glycerine are added, the mixture being left in the water bath and constantly
stirred up till it becomes of the requisite thickness, when it is laid upon a
large table. Underneath this table there is a small steam jet, which is so
placed as to heat the central part of the table in order to effect the evaporation
of the surplus water contained in the mixture and better to concentrate the
soapy mass, and to prevent as much as possible the formation of clots,
unavoidable in the common concentrating process. The material must be
constantly stirred up whilst on the table, and be spread over its surface; as
soon as the mixture is hard enough it is removed to be united to the gluten,
which is still soft but deprived of its superfluous water. After these operations
bave been thoroughly performed the soapy material is of a suitable density and
plastic consistency, and may be easily moulded or shaped. However, I must
observe that I have not found the ordinary mechanical moulding process to answer
as well as might have been expected, I have therefore, used by preference

page_text: bivalded moulds, into which the material is merely compressed by hand. In
this soap, No. 3, gluten is substituted for gum, and extract of quillaya or soap
wort for the pure "saponin," but their proportional quantities should be in-
creased. The proportion of glycerine may be either increased or reduced, or even
dispensed with altogether. Sometimes honey, sugar, or glycose syrup may be
added, as in those kinds previously described. Some earthy powders may also
be incorporated with the saponaceous compound, such as fullers' earth, clay,
or any other similar powder. The subdivided pieces of soap are then dried as
before described.
No. 4. Concentrated vegetable soap entirely soluble, composed of 100 parts
extract of quillaya bark or Egyptian soap-wort; 20 glycerine; 20 glycose
syrup, obtained by diastasis; 40 dry or moist sugar; 20 "leiocomme" or
dextrine, and a suitable quantity of water for working. The saponary extract
is dissolved with a very small quantity.of water in a tinned or enamelled pan
placed in a water bath, sugar and dextrine are added and the whole is triturated.
and thoroughly mixed with a wooden pestle; the syrup and glycerine are
then added and the soapy material is taken out of the pan and put on
plates, which are carried in a hot chamber heated to 95° or 104° Fahrenheit
and must be stirred for some time, and when it is at a suitable degree of
hardness, the soap is formed into square, cylindrical, or other shaped pieces.
To obtain this soap of a whiter colour pure "saponin" must be used instead
of saponaceous plants. This soap, No. 4, is intended especially for cleaning
spotted stuffs or garments, or for any similar purpose.
No. 5. Vegeto-mineral soap with " saponin basis for scouring wools,
woollen cloth, or for similar purposes. This soap is composed of 15 parts of
watery extract of quillaya bark or common soap-wort; 30 of glycose syrup,
obtained from diastesis; 60 of molasses; 240 of fullers' earth, finely
powdered; 30 of carbonate of magnesia, and a suitable quantity of water for
working the whole. In order to have a lighter mass a 10th part either of
amylaceous fecula or starch may be added, the extract being dissolved in a
little water; the whole is then thoroughly compounded and mixed together in
a mortar in order to get a homogeneous soap stuff, which is formed to the
shape of a square lump, as common soap, and is then slowly dried. By
reducing the proportion of clay and increasing the quantity of carbonate of
magnesia, the soap obtained is lighter, but as in that case the bulk increases,
the proportion of the extract must also be increased, and some fecula may be
added, as in Nos. 1 and 2. Instead of fullers' earth any pulverable inert fine
and soft material may be used, such as several varieties of talc, "magnesite
of salmette (stone for taking out stains), chlorite or Verona earth, carbonated

page_text: lime (white chalk), all kinds of clays, light or ferraginous "figuline." Very
fine vegetable powder (such as wood dust) may be substituted for the above-
mentioned earthy materials.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, as well as the several
working processes used to carry it into practise, and the proportions of the
various substances employed for manufacturing soap of various qualities with
a vegetable basis, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to
the exact proportions herein-before set forth; but I claim the composition and
manufacturing of all kinds of soap the basis of which is pure "saponin
matter extracted from any of the plants which contain it, the "saponin" being
mixed in variable proportions (either in the ways previously described or
otherwise) chiefly with saccharine or syrupy substances, and with gums, clays,
glycerine, carbonate of magnesia, or lime, talc, magnesite, chloride or Verona
earth, or with any other mineral, earthy, or vegetable finely powdered substance
having the same physical proportions.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Louis Prosper Duroy, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of June, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-four.
Signed and sealed in the presence of
L. D'AUBRÉVILLE, C.E.
J. L. P. DUROY. (L.S.)