IMPROVEMENTS IN THE EXTRACTION AND PURIFICATION OF FAT FROM ANIMAL MATTER, AND IN THE UTILISATION OF THE RESIDUES THEREFROM
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Humphries Allen at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st January 1880.
WILLIAM HUMPHRIES ALLEN, of Reedworth Street, Kennington, in the County
of Surrey, Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE EXTRACTION AND PURIFICATION
OF FAT FROM ANIMAL MATTER, AND IN THE UTILISATION OF THE RESIDUES
THEREFROM."
My Invention relates to improvements in the extraction and purification of fat
from animal matter, and in the utilisation of the residues therefrom, and consists
in the employment of glycerine heated to a temperature of about 212° Fahrenheit,,
in which is placed the animal matter to be acted upon, thereby causing a break up
of the cellular tissues of the animal matter and the liberation of the fat, which
rises to the surface.
The heating of the glycerine and animal matter may be accomplished by
superheated steam passed directly into the vessel containing them, care being taken
that the temperature of the superheated steam is kept below a point at which
the fats would be decomposed, or the glycerine volatilized, the operation being
continued until all the fat is extracted.
The fat is then drawn off, and separated from any traces of animal matter by
filtration, or any of the well known methods for accomplishing this object; and
should there be any traces of water left in the fat so extracted I employ dehydrated
sulphate of calcium for its removal, and again filter.
After the fat has been drawn off the glycerine and the residues are removed
from the vessel and separated from each other by straining.
The residues are pressed (and washed if necessary) to free them from glycerine,
and afterwards dried for the purpose of manure.
The glycerine, which now contains the water extracted from the animal matter
treated as above, is first filtered, and afterwards subjected to a temperature
sufficient to vaporize the water it may contain, whereby the glycerine may be
used again and again, and it having the property of not only purifying fat, but of
also taking up all or nearly all the water that was originally contained in the fats,
the same process can be employed for the purification of animal fats previously
extracted, in which case there will be little or no residues to be treated.
The animal matter to be acted upon may be first subjected to the action of
saturated steam, the water being drawn therefrom previous to treating the matter
with glycerine.

page_text: Before adding the glycerine it is advisable to heat it to a temperature of about
212°, the whole being then subjected to superheated steam, as above stated, until
the operation is complete. It is necessary during the operation to keep both the
animal matter and the glycerine in motion, which can be accomplished by any of
the well known methods; or in lieu of treating the animal matter by passing
superheated steam directly into the vessel containing it and the glycerine, steam at
a high temperature, or superheated steam, or heated caloric may be employed for
heating the vessel containing the said animal matter and glycerine, and the same
results obtained.
The vessel used in the operation may be either open or partially closed, if the
latter, and superheated steam is passed directly into the matter acted upon, the
vessel may be in connection with a condensing apparatus.