Improvements in and relating to the Treatment of Magmas for Distillation.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in and relating to the Treatment of Magmas for
Distillation.
1 MARIE LEON GODEFROY of 175 Rue Vaugirard Paris in the Republic of France,
Professor of Chemistry do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
The process of disinfection described below has for its object the chemical
modification of the impurities contained in the magmas of industry, both before and
after rectification.
It consists essentially in the employment of a chemical mixture at the same time
both hydrogenizing and oxygenizing this mixture contains zinc in powder covered
with copper and a hypo-chlorite. The zinc has already been employed alone, but
under the form of sticks, and under conditions particularly difficult for practical use.
Zinc in powder is much more practicably useful, its hydrogenating action is remarkable,
it can be employed pure or covered with copper by immersion in the sulphate of this
metal, it can act in both the cases, but it is preferable to employ the zine covered
with copper, though at the same time pure zinc can be used.
The exclusive action of the zinc in powder upon the magmas never being complete,
and necessitating too great a quantity of this substance, I associate with it a particular
oxydizer, the hypo-chlorite of lime, or any other hypo-chlorite. The hypo-chlorite
of lime, of which the oxydizing properties are well known, has already been used
alone or in association with lime for the treatment of magmas, but in either case it
ordinarily gives birth to odorous products which are found partially in the distilled
alcohol. The hydrogenating mixture that 1 propose energetically attacks the
reducing products and other impurities of the head ("impuretés de tête ; it destroys
certain odorous impurities which ordinarily foul the last products (“produits de
queue") and communicate to them a disagreeable odour and taste.
The operative process is of little importance so long as the above cited substances
are introduced into the magmas and made to act successively or simultaneously. The

page_text: magmas.
quantities of matter employed are varied according to the degree of impurity of the
In the most ordinary conditions it is good, in order to have a more constant
resultant, to operate as follows. The zine powder is put into a little water, whilst, at
the same time stirring it, there is added a solution of sulphate of copper until the zine
in suspension which had taken a black colour, commences to become brown. It is
now allowed to stand, then decanted and washed two or three times with water, the
matter is then introduced into the magmas in the proportion of about 40 to 50 grams
of pure zinc per hectolitre; the mass is agitated at several intervals, and after a space
of time, dependant on each kind of magma, about 70 to 85 grams of commercial
chloride of lime, diluted in a sufficient quantity of water, is added; the mass is now
allowed to stand and is distilled.
It should be remarked that the magmas should be very slightly acid at the time
these different substances are introduced.
The novelty in the present process consists not only in the simultaneous employment
of substances, the isolated usage of which only gives incomplete and even disagreeable
results; but also in the idea that has led to this employment: the disinfection of the
magmas of industry by a chemical hydrogenizing mixture.
The principal results obtained in practice are.
1st. The almost complete destruction of poisonous products of the head.
2nd. An increased yield with good taste.
3rd. A notable improvement of the alcohols.
4th. Simplification in the rectification by the act that there is obtained at first a
larger quantity with a perfectly pure good taste, whilst the lower products to be
repassed diminish very much.
Dated this 16th day of March 1888.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Treatment of Magmas for.
Distillation.
1 MARIE LEON GODEFROY of 175 Rue Vaugirard, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Professor of Chemistry, 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 :-
The process of disinfection described herein has for its object the chemical
modification of the impurities contained in the magmas of industry, both before and
after rectification.
It consists essentially in the employment of a chemical mixture, at the same time
both hydrogenizing and oxygenizing this mixture contains zinc in powder covered
with copper, and a hypo-chlorite. Zine has already been employed alone, but in the
form of sticks, and under conditions particularly difficult to realize in practice. Zinc
in powder is much more practicably useful, its hydrogenizing action is remarkable,
it can be employed pure or covered with copper by immersion in the sulphate of
this metal, it can act in both cases, but it is preferable to employ the zine covered
with copper, though at the same time pure zinc can be used.
The exclusive action of the zinc in powder upon the magmas never being complete,
and necessitating too great a quantity of this substance, I associate with it a particular
oxydiser, the hypo-chlorite of lime, or any other hypo-chlorite. The hypo-chlorite of
lime, of which the oxydizing properties are well known, has already been used alone, or
in association with lime for the treatment of magmas, but in either case it ordinarily gives
birth to odorous products which are found partially in the distilled alcohol. The hydro-
genating mixture that I propose energetically attacks the reducing products and other
impurities of head ("impuretés de tête"); it destroys certain odorous impurities
which ordinarily foul the last products ("produits de queue") and communicates to
them a disagreeable odour and taste.
The operative process is of little importance so long as the above cited substances
are introduced into the magmas, and made to act successively or simultaneously.
The quantities of matter employed are varied according to the degree of impurity
of the magmas. In the most ordinary condition it is good, in order to have a more
constant result, to operate as follows:-
The zinc powder is mixed with a little water, and whilst the mixture is still being
stirred, a solution of sulphate of copper is added until the zinc in suspension which
had assumed a black colour, begins to turn brown. It is now allowed to stand, then
decanted and washed two or three times with water, the matter is then introduced
into the magmas in the proportion of about 40 to 50 grams of pure zinc per hectolitre,
the mass is stirred several times, and after a space of time, dependant on each kind of
magma, about 70 to 85 grams of commercial chlorido of lime, diluted in a sufficien
quantity of water, are added; the mass is now allowed to stand and is distilled.

page_text: It should be remarked that the magmas should be very slightly acid at the time
these various substances are introduced.
The novelty in the present process consists, not only in the simultaneous employment
of substances, the isolated usige of which only gives incomplete and even disagreeable
results; but also in the idea that has led to this employment: the disinfection of the
magmas of industry by a chemical hydrogenizing mixture.
The principal results obtained in practice are:-
1. The almost complete destruction of poisonous products of the head.
2. An increased yield with good taste:
3. A notable improvement of the alcohol.
4. Simplification in the rectification by the fact that there is obtained at first a
larger quantity with a perfectly pure good taste, whilst the lower products to be
repassed diminish very much.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is :-
1. A method of purifying magmas of industry which consists in treating these
magmas with a mixture of powder of zinc and chloride of lime, substantially as herein
described.
2. In the aforesaid method, the employment and use of powder of zinc, which has
received a coating of copper.