Improvements in the Manufacture of Vinegar.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Dec., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 11th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 12th Oct., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Vinegar.
We, JESSE HOLT, of 3 Mornington Villas, Wanstead Park, in the County of
Essex, Malt Vinegar Brewer, and JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, of Norfolk House,
Norfolk Street, Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of vinegar by which certain advantages
are obtained.
As ordinarily carried out the process of manufacturing malt vinegar is extremely
slow and this disadvantage entails other disadvantages.
In carrying this invention into effect electrodes are placed in contact with or are
immersed in the wort or solution which it is intended to convert into vinegar.
These electrodes are placed in electrical connection with a dynamo or other source
of electrical energy so that when the current is turned on the water of the solution
between the electrodes is acted upon and decomposition takes place. When it is not
desired to save the escaping gases the two electrodes may be placed so that the one is
vertically above the other, the anode being preferably as near the bottom of the
vessel or conduit containing the solution as possible and the cathode at some distance
above it.
When it is desired to save one or both of the gases the two electrodes may
be placed side by side and when desired with a porous septum between them.
The
hydrogen given off at the cathode and such part of the oxygen given off at the
anode as does not combine with the oxidisable matter in the solution may be
collected in any known way.
The solution is acetified or oxidised by the oxygen given off at the anode.
When desired a body may be added to the solution for the purpose of increasing
the electrical conductivity thereof.
100
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
1
Improvements in the Manufacture of Vinegar.
We, JESSE HOLT, of 3. Mornington, Villas, Wanstead Park, in the County of
Essex, Malt Vinegar Brewer, and JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, of Norfolk House,
Norfolk Street, Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertaiued in and by the following
statement :-
This invention relates to the manufacture of vinegar by which certain advantages
are obtained.
As ordinarily carried out the process of manufacturing malt vinegar is extremely
slow and this disadvantage entails other disadvantages.
In carrying this invention into effect electrodes are placed in contact
with or are immersed in the wort or solution which it is intended to convert
Price R71

page_text: into vinegar. These electrodes are placed in electrical connection with a
dynamo or other source of electrical energy so that when the current is turned
on the water of the solution between the electrodes is acted upon and decomposition
takes place. When it is not desired to save the escaping gases the two electrodes
may be placed so that the one is vertically above the other, the anode being
preferably as near the bottom of the vessel or conduit containing the solution as
possible and the cathode at the surface. In practice we find it convenient to attach
the cathode to a float so as to maintain it at the surface of the solution.
The depth
below the cathode at which the anode is placed will depend (as will be readily
understood) mainly upon the electromotive force of the electrolysing current
employed.
When it is desired to save one or both of the gases the two electrodes may be
placed side by side and when desired with a porous septum between them. The
hydrogen given off at the cathode and such part of the oxygen given off at the
anode as does not combine with the oxidisable matter in the solution may be collected
in any known way.
The solution is acetified or in other words the alcohol of the solution is oxydised
by the oxygen given off at the anode.
When desired a body may be added to the solution for the purpose of increasing
the electrical conductivity thereof. We find that a small quantity of acetic acid
answers the purpose well.
We have found by practice that from 75 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit is a
convenient temperature at which to carry on the process.
We have obtained our best results by placing the cathode vertically above the
anode, the cathode being of platinum wire gauze, and the anode of platinum foil
punctured with a pointed tool so as to cause the punctured edges to project
upwards, the two electrodes lying in horizontal planes. By this means accumulation
of gases on the under side of the cathode is avoided and the bubbles of oxygen
formed at the anode come away therefrom freely instead of adhering as might be
the case if the platinum foil were not punctured.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inveṇ-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The new or improved manufacture of vinegar, substantially as described.
2. As a new commercial product vinegar manufactured substantially as
described.
Dated this 11th 1
JESSE HOLT,
Per J. G. L.
J. G. LORRAIN.