Process of and Apparatus for Continuous Extraction.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1898—Accepted, 4th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Process of and Apparatus for Continuous Extraction.
We, ERNST SCHLIEMANN, Merchant, and EDGAR VON BOYEN, Chemist, both of 25,
Catherinenstrasse, Hamburg, in the German Empire, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had
to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say:-
This invention relates to a process of, and apparatus for, continuous extraction,
in which, as in the method adopted with lixiviating tanks used in the manufacture
of soda, fresh extracting medium is caused to enter that tank in which the material
under treatment is almost completely exhausted and, during its passage through
the apparatus to become gradually more and more enriched or laden with extract,
until it leaves by the last of such tanks almost entirely saturated.
To render our invention readily understood, we have annexed a sheet of drawings,
in which:
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of our improved apparatus, and
Fig. 2 a plan.
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the extracting apparatus, looking from
the left.
Fig. 4 is a like view of the apparatus, but looking from the right.
Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken through the extracting apparatus, and
Fig. 6 is a front elevation of one of the doors used in connection with each
chamber of the apparatus.
The said apparatus consists essentially of a number of chambers a¹ to a,
arranged column-wise and closed air tight by a door J provided with a cross bar
and tightening screws. In these chambers are located tanks b¹ to 10 in which are
placed the material to be treated, such for instance as ceresin, petroleum residue,
bones, offal, or other fatty substance. These tanks are supported on angle irons so
arranged as to leave a space between the bottom of each tank and that of the
chambers, to allow for the flowing out of the extract. The solvent or menstruum
is introduced either in a gaseous or in a liquid form, by means of the pipe 1) which
extends along the column and is connected by branch pipes with perforated
serpentines, or coils, d to do arranged above the tanks to 610.
The extract flows through the perforated bottoms c of the tanks into the pipe f
and passes through suitable piping, capable of being closed by cocks z, into the
inlet portion e of the serpentine d below. The pipe f is provided with a test cock
from which samples can be drawn off, when desired, to test the working of the
extracting process. All the draw-off pipes f can be put into communication with
one another by means of a pipe G. In connection with the pipe d for the solvent,
is a pipe P up which the extract rises. The solution on leaving the first chamber
enters the serpentine of the second chamber and passes through the perforations in
such serpentine into the material under treatment, from which it takes up more fat,
or the like, and then passes into the serpentine in the third chamber, through a

page_text: similar pipe f, and so on, until the saturated extract finally enters the distilling
apparatus A, B, one or other of which is alternately at work.
In connection with the pipe d, is a third pipe X (provided with a cock) for
supplying steam to the exhausted residue in the tank on the closing of the cocks
in the pipes P and D, the latter of which supplies the solvent. The steam, together
with any remaining solvent and traces of fat, or oil, escapes through the pipe G,
by closing the cock z and opening the cock w¹, and enters the distilling apparatus,
so preventing loss both of solvent and of extract.
To start the extracting process, the cocks w¹ on the pipe G, and the
steam supply pipe X, as well as the valves r¹ for supplying benzine, or the like,
are closed, but the uppermost of such valves is left open. The vaporized
solvent such as benzine, benzole, naphtha, carbon bisulphide, sulphur
chloride, ether, alcohol-(supplied from a heater, not shewn) passes through the
valve into the serpentine d¹, and thence into the freshly charged tank b', from
which it escapes (after having absorbed the extract) through the pipe f, cock z,
and inlet e into the lower perforated serpentine, and so on.
Thus it is obvious
that while the first tank is completely exhausted by the incoming vapour of
benzine, or the like, the material in the last tank, b, will be only slightly acted
upon by the already enriched solvent.
On it being ascertained, by taking samples from the cock w, that the first tank 61
is completely exhausted, the second tank becomes the first, the cocks being
then reversed and the exhausted tank 6' disconnected for the purpose of being
refilled with fresh material. The vapour of solvent now enters direct into the
second tank and, after passing out from the last tank 610, the now enriched solvent
flows through the pipe P into the first tank before entering the distilling
apparatus. Prior to discharging the exhausted tank, it is, as above described,
freed by steam, from the last traces of solvent and extract which are driven out,
through the pipe G, into the second distilling apparatus.
By means of this improved apparatus, the complete exhaustion of the material
under treatment can be effected in the shortest possible time, and with the smallest
possible quantity of solvent. Also, by its arrangement, losses which have hitherto
been unavoidable, even with the best constructed extracting apparatus, are avoided.
Each tank, when completely exhausted, can at once be disconnected and need
not, as heretofore, be kept in communication with the solvent until all the other
tanks below it are completely exhausted, one after the other.
Obviously, this apparatus can be used with any appropriate solvent, and it can
likewise be employed for extracting mineral oil and fatty substances, as well as for
extracting other substances, for instance, the principal constituents for certain
druga.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what wo
claim is:-
1. The herein described process for continuous extraction, which consists in
causing the solvent or menstruum to flow through tanks, arranged column-wise,
containing the material to be treated and from the first of which it passes into
the next tank and so on, thereby becoming gradually saturated with extract and
finally passes out from the last of such tanks, fresh solvent being always supplied
to that tank containing the most exhausted material.
2. For carrying out the above claimed process, apparatus in which a number of
chambers are arranged columnwise and communicate with each other through a
system of piping, or with a steam supply pipe, and which chambers are each
provided with a tank to receive the material to be treated, and with a perforated
serpentine for supplying solvent, which after acting in one chamber flows into the
one next below it through its corresponding serpentine, substantially as described.
3. In apparatus as above claimed, chambers (a¹ to a¹º) provided with hermetically

page_text: closed doors (J) and with angle irons for supporting the perforated tanks (6 to 10)
above the bottoms of such chambers whereby space is left to allow passage to the
solvent from chamber to chamber through perforated serpentines arranged above
such tanks, substantially as described.
4. In apparatus, as claimed in Claim 2, the arrangement whereby each individual
chamber can be put into communication alternately with the solvent supply pipe
and with the next chamber, or with both simultaneously, as well as with the steam
pipe, when requisite, the outlets of such chambers being so arranged as to cause
them to communicate with each other and also through a pipe (G) direct with the
distilling apparatus, substantially as described.
5. Our improved apparatus for continuous extraction, substantially as herein-
before described with reference to the annexed drawings.
Dated this 10th day of March 1898.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78. Fleet Street, London, and 5*, Market Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicants.