AN IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF PARAFFINE OIL AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES BY EXTRACTING THE SAME FROM PEAT
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"
'AN IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF PARAFFINE OIL AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES
BY EXTRACTING THE SAME FROM PEAT." A communication from abroad by
René Charles Marie de Molon, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 4th November 1879, and dated the 22nd May 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd May 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF PARAFFINE
OIL AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES BY EXTRACTING THE SAME FROM PEAT." [A com-
munication from abroad by René Charles Marie de Molon, of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to the extraction of paraffine oil and similar substances
from peat.
It is well known that some kinds of peat, and particularly certain lignites, give
by distillation a greater or less quantity of tar which contains a certain proportion,
generally small, of paraffine, but previous to the said Invention completely formed
paraffine had not been found in peat.
This Invention is based upon the discovery that paraffine in a condition to be
readily melted does exist in peat of various kinds; this paraffine is analogous to
that in ozokerite.
The object of the present Invention is to manufacture (by extracting it directly
from peat) paraffine oil, and any similar substances (such, for example, as
anthracene and its derivatives which are used for the manufacture of colors) con-
tained therein.
Various processes and apparatus may be employed for this purpose, and the
following will be found advantageous, that is to say,-
First. The displacement or dissolution in a hot or cold state of the paraffine oil
and other accompanying pre-existent substances in a displacing or lixiviating
apparatus of any suitable construction, either simple or otherwise, by means of
sulphuret of carbon, ether, the various benzines, light and heavy coal, schist, and

page_text: petroleum oils, amylic and other alcohol, or any other dissolvent of the paraffine oil,
and similar substances pre-existent in peat.
Secondly. The distillation with steam or other fluid, superheated or not, acting
at the same time to vaporize the paraffine and other pre-existent substances and to
lead off the formed vapours.
Thirdly. Simple distillation in a vacuum without reaching the temperature of
igneous distillation, ordinarily called dry distillation. This latter operation produces
tar, gas, and coke, while simple distillation in a vacuum does not, cause either
decomposition or new formations.
Distillation in a vacuum is effected at variable temperatures with or without
the help of air, steam, or other fluids, superheated or not, and with or without
pressure.
The decomposition of the pre-existent substances being as much less as the
pressure in the apparatus is slight I may employ a vacuum in either dry or
igneous distillation.
I may also employ the above described processes for the rectification of the raw
or crude products which result from the first distillation.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd November 1879..
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. AN IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF PARAFFINE
OIL AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES BY EXTRACTING THE SAME FROM PEAT." A com-
munication from abroad by René Charles Marie de Molon, of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to the extraction of paraffine oil and similar substances
from peat.
It is well known that some kinds of peat, and particularly certain lignites, will
yield by distillation a greater or less quantity of tar which contains a certain
proportion, generally small, of paraffine; hitherto however paraffine has not been
found existing in peat.
But this Invention is based upon the discovery that in peat of various kinds
there exists paraffine at a high melting point analogous to that in ozokerite.
The object of the present Invention is the utilization of this discovery by the
direct extraction from peat of paraffine oil and similar substances contained therein,
and the said Invention comprises the obtaining of such products by any mode or
process and apparatus suitable for this purpose; the following processes will however
be found advantageous, that is to say,-
-
First. The displacement or dissolution in a hot or cold state of the paraffine oil
and other accompanying pre-existent substances in a displacing or lixiviating
apparatus of any suitable construction, either simple or otherwise, by means of
sulphuret of carbon, ether, benzine, light and heavy coal, or schist oil, or petroleum
oil, amylic and other alcohol, or any other solvent of the paraffine oil and similar
substances existing in the peat.
Secondly. The distillation with steam or other fluid, superheated or not, acting
at the same time to vaporize the paraffine and other existing substances, and to
carry off the vapours generated therefrom.
Thirdly. Simple distillation in a vacuum without raising the temperature to
that required for igneous distillation, ordinarily called dry distillation. This latter
operation produces tar, gas, and coke, while simple distillation in a vacuum does
not cause either decomposition or new formations.
Distillation in a vacuum is effected at variable temperatures with or without
the aid of air, steam, or other fluids, superheated or not, and with or without
pressure.
The decomposition of the pre-existent substances is slight in proportion to the
slight pressure in the apparatus, and one important feature of my Invention is that
I may employ a vacuum in dry or igneous distillation.
Another important feature is that I may employ the above described processes
for the rectification of the raw or crude products which result from a first
distillation.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,—
The extraction by any suitable process of paraffine, or oil, or other products
existing in peat, such, for example, as anthracine and its derivatives, and other
matters suitable for the manufacture of colors, and particularly the employment of

page_text: the above described or other suitable processes for utilizing the discovery of the
existence of paraffine oil and other products in peat by the direct extraction of the
same, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have bereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty second day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
TTM DORT TATT
Gol