IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREAT- MENT OF SUGAR
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Duncan, Sugar Refiner, John Alexander Reina
Newlands, Analytical Chemist, both of Mincing Lane, in the City of London,
and Benjamin Edward Reina Newlands, Analytical Chemist, of East Ham, in
the County of Essex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREAT-
MENT OF SUGAR.”
Sealed the 20th December 1878, and dated the 1st August 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Duncan, John Alex-
ander Reina Newlands, and Benjamin Edward Reina Newlands at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st August 1878.
JAMES DUNCAN, Sugar Refiner, JOHN ALEXANDER REINA NEWLANDS, Analytical
Chemist, both of Mincing Lane, in the City of London, and BENJAMIN EDWARD
REINA NEWLANDS, Analytical Chemist, of East Ham, in the County of Essex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SUGAR."
This Invention relates to improvements in the treatment of raw or low-class
sugar by alcohol.
The raw or low-class sugar, containing more or less glucose, is agitated in a close
vessel with a considerable quantity of hot alcohol for a short time. The alcoholic
solution is then separated by decantation, filtration, or by means of a closed centri-
fugal machine, and allowed to cool, when the greater part of the glucose and other
matters it contained are deposited. The alcoholic solution is next separated from
this deposit either by decantation, filtration, or by means of a closed centrifugal
machine, and is then reheated and used for the purification of another portion of
raw or low-class sugar. After the alcohol has thus been alternately heated, used for
washing sugar, and cooled several times, it must be distilled, to separate it from
water and other impurities.
In place of ordinary ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol may be employed, or any
mixtures of ethyl and methyl alcohol, such as that known as methylated spirit,

page_text: The sugar, which has been deprived of its glucose and other impurities to a greater
or less extent, should be heated either with or without water in a suitable still so
long as any adhering alcohol distills over.
The principal advantage of this mode of employing alcohol in the treatment of
raw or low-class sugar over the methods previously proposed, is that by alternately
heating and cooling, the same alcohol can be made to serve several times without
distillation, instead of its having to be distilled after every operation.
The deposit produced by cooling the hot alcoholic solution contains glucose,
sugar, and other matters, and any alcohol adhering to such deposit is separated by.
distillation.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said James Duncan, John Alexander Reina Newlands, and Benjamin Edward
Reina Newlands in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st January 1879.
JAMES DUNCAN, Sugar Refiner, JOHN ALEXANDER REINA NEWLANDS, Analytical
Chemist, both of Mincing Lane, in the City of London, and BENJAMIN EDWARD
REINA NEWLANDS, Analytical Chemist, of East Ham, in the County of Essex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SUGAR."
Our said Invention relates to improvements in the treatment of raw or low-class
sugar by alcohol.
In carrying out our said Invention the raw or low-class sugar, containing more or
less glucose, is agitated in a close vessel for a short time (we have found about a
quarter of an hour sufficient), with a considerable quantity of hot alcohol, which we
prefer to be as near the boiling point as possible.
We have found that about three gallons of alcohol to about 10 lbs. of sugar is
usually sufficient for carrying out our said Invention. The alcoholic solution is then
separated by decantation, filtration, or by means of a closed centrifugal machine,
and allowed to cool, when the greater part of the glucose and other matters it con-
tains are deposited. The alcoholic solution is next separated from this deposit either
by decantation, filtration, or by means of a closed centrifugal machine, and is then
reheated and used for the purification of another portion of raw or low-class sugar.
After the alcohol has thus been alternately heated, used for washing sugar, and
cooled several times, it must be distilled, to separate it from water and other
impurities.
In place of ordinary ethyl alcohol methyl alcohol may be employed, or any
mixtures of ethyl and methyl alcohol, such as that known as methylated spirit.
The sugar, which has been deprived of its glucose and other impurities to a
greater or less extent, should be heated either with or without water in a suitable
still so long as any adhering alcohol distills over.
The principal advantage of this mode of employing alcohol in the treatment of
raw or low-class sugar over the methods previously proposed is that by alternately
heating and cooling, the same alcohol can be made to serve several times without
distillation instead of its having to be distilled after every operation.
The deposit produced by cooling the hot alcoholic solution contains glucose,
sugar, and other matters, and any alcohol adhering to such deposit is separated by
distillation.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, we would observe in conclusion that we do not confine ourselves to the exact
proportions of the substances herein-before mentioned, as the same will necessarily
be varied, according to the varying nature of the material under treatment, but what
we consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is :-
The treatment of raw or low-class sugars by means of heated alcohol, substantially
in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Alexander Reina Newlands, on behalf
of James Duncan and Benjamin Edward Reina Newlands and myself, have
to this our Specification set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of
January, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
JOHN A. R. NEWLANDS. (L.S.)