IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF DEXTRINE, SUGAR, AND THE LIKE, FROM CELLULOSE OR LIGNEOUS MATERIALS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Frederick Nast, of St. Louis, Missouri, United
States of America, now of Paris, France, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF DEXTRINE, SUGAR, AND THE LIKE, FROM CELLULOSE
OR LIGNEOUS MATERIALS." A communication from Auguste Charles Dominique
Pochez of St. Amand les Eaux. France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Frederick Nast at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th November 1880.
WILLIAM FREDERICK NAST, of St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America,
now of Paris, France. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF DEXTRINE,
SUGAR, AND THE LIKE, FROM CELLULOSE OR LIGNEOUS MATERIALS." [A com-
munication from Auguste Charles Dominique Pochez, of St. Amand les Eaux,
France.]
This Invention relates to the manufacture of a class of substances including
dextrine and gum, and ligneous, glucose, or other sugar, and similar materials by
a novel process or method of treating fibrous matter containing cellulose or lignine,
and is based upon the discovery of M. Braconnot, the well known chemist, that
cellulose or ligneous materials are convertible, by treatment with sulphuric acid,
first into gum or dextrine, and afterwards into glucose or other sugar.
I may use as raw material any cellulose or ligneous substances for the purpose
of my Invention, but the raw material most easily and cheaply obtained to be
This
transformed into dextrine and glucose is the vegetable portion of manure.
substance has in its original condition but little value, and as the operations to
which I subject it for the above purposes also result in the recovery of various
bye-products therefrom without additional cost, it may be estimated that the raw
material will cost very little, therefore it would be impossible to have better
conditions for working economically.
In treating the fibrous portions of manure or other like cellulose or ligneous
matter for the purpose of my Invention, the same is subjected under high pressure
to the action of milk of lime, the solubility and decolorizing effect of which can be
C

page_text: augmented when necessary by the addition of glucose, molasses, or marine (bay)
salt or the like. The fibrous mass under treatment is then freely washed in water,
and is then slightly acidulated and washed a second time. The fibrous mass is
then lixiviated in any suitable alkaline solution or lye which will dissolve the
pectates and leave the fibres almost pure. These fibres may, if desired, be slightly
bleached by any ordinary process. The cellulose matter is then treated with
concentrated sulphuric acid, the result being the formation of dextrine which is
dissolved in water.
If glucose is to be obtained this solution is boiled for about ten (10) hours, then
the excess of sulphuric acid is taken up by chalk, and the glucose is refined by the
ordinary process.
By these means the above products are obtained at a very slight cost, in some
instances with a saving of from 30 to 40% upon the processes ordinarily employed
for the manufacture of the same.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Frederick Nast in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th May 1881.
WILLIAM FREDERICK NAST, of St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America,
now of Paris, France. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF DEXTRINE,
SUGAR, AND THE LIKE, FROM CELLULOSE OR LIGNEOUS MATERIALS."
A com-
munication from Auguste Charles Dominique Pochez, of St. Amand les Eaux,
France.
This Invention relates to the manufacture of a class of substances including
dextrine, gum, and ligneous, glucose, or other sugar, and similar materials, by a
novel process or method of treating fibrous matter containing cellulose or lignine,
and is based upon the discovery of M. Braconnot, the well known chemist, that
cellulose or ligneous materials are convertible, by treatment with sulphuric acid,
first into gum or dextrine, and afterwards into glucose or other sugar.
This
I may use as raw material any cellulose or ligneous substances for the purpose
of this Invention, but the raw material most easily and cheaply obtained to be
transformed into dextrine and glucose is the vegetable portion of manure.
substance or material has in its original condition but little value, and as the
operations to which I subject it for the above purposes also result in the recovery
of various bye-products therefrom without additional cost, it may be estimated
that the manufacture will cost very little, therefore it would be impossible to have
better conditions for working economically.
In treating the fibrous portion of manure or other like cellulose or ligneous
matter for the purpose of my Invention, the same is subjected under high pressure
to the action of milk of lime, the solubility and decolorizing effect of which
can be augmented when necessary by the addition of glucose, molasses, or marine
(bay) salt or the like. The fibrous mass under treatment is then freely washed in
water, and is then slightly acidulated and washed a second time. The fibrous mass
is then lixiviated in any suitable alkaline solution or lye, which will dissolve the
pectates and leave the fibres almost pure. These fibres may, if desired, be slightly
bleached by any ordinary process. The cellulose matter is then treated with
concentrated sulphuric acid, the result being the formation of dextrine which is
dissolved in water.
Or I may modify the above described part of my process as follows, that is to
say:The fibrous materials are subjected under high pressure when heated to a feeble
lixivium of any suitable alkali to cause the mass to undergo a complete chemical
disaggregation; the fibrous mass is then passed through a suitable apparatus or
mill to assist the chemical disaggregation by mechanical action, and after well
washing the cellulose obtained will be almost pure; this cellulose is then dried,
and a solution of sulphuric acid is added thereto.
The process is continued for the production of glucose by placing the pasty mass
thus formed in any suitable vessel, and subjecting it therein to boiling under
pressure for about ten hours more or less to transform it into a glucic syrup; it is
then treated with chalk to take up any excess of sulphuric acid, is filtered or
clarified and condensed by the ordinary means according to the quality of the
glucose desired to be produced.
By these means the above products are obtained at, a very slight cost, in some
instances with a saving of from 30 to 40% as compared with the process ordinarily.
employed for the manufacture of the same.
°

page_text: Having thus fully described the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
The improved process or method of treating fibrous materials containing cellulose
or lignine for obtaining dextrine, sugar, and the like, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Frederick Nast, have hereunto sct
my hand and seal, this Second day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
WILLIAM FREDERICK NAST. (L.S.)