A Method for Producing Artificial Citric Acid.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Nov., 1893-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Method for Producing Artificial Citric Acid.
I, CARL WEHMER, of 154 Cellerstrasse Hanover, in the Empire of Germany,
Ph. Dr. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
The object of this invention is the production of citric acid by means of hydrates
of carbon, sugar, starch, glycerol and other analogous substances under the
influence of certain mushrooms (champignons) particularly of two hyphimycetes,
discovered by myself and called citronycetes.
The spores of the mushroom, which are generally present in the air, develop
themselves with special facility on sugar-like substances in presence of small
quantities of acid. I have isolated two species in a state of purity. All these
mushrooms produce in sugar solution an intense citric fermentation and their
separation is not absolutely necessary for industrial
purposes.
To prepare these mushrooms, I put in a sugar solution a small quantity--from 2
to 5% of citric acid and I allow the same to stand for a few days. I collect the
fungus formed on this solution and I introduce it in a sterilized sugar solution where
it developes.
The pure culture prepared in this way is then introduced in large vessels, con-
taining a sugar solution and a small quantity of mineral salts, (NH. NO, K,HPO,
Mg SO), and the liquid is allowed to stand at the ordinary temperature from
8 to 14 days.
After this time the liquid contains a certain amount of citric acid so that it can
be directly employed like lemon juice. The acid can be isolated by evaporation or
better in the form of a salt. For the latter purpose, it is neutralized with lime or
carbonate of lime, or the latter or other convenient salts are added previously
to the culture liquid, so that the citric acid is separated as lime salt as soon as it is
formed. With citrate of lime, citric acid is prepared in the ordinary way.
Dated this 15th day of March 1893.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Method for Producing Artificial Citric Acid.
I, CARL WEHMER, of 154 Cellerstrasse Hanover, in the Empire of Germany,
Ph. Dr. 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 object of this invention is the production of citric acid by means of hydrates
of carbon, sugar, starch, glycerol and other analogous substances under the influence
of certain fungi (champignons) particularly of two hyphimycetes, discovered by
myself and called citronycetes.
The spores of these fungi, which are generally present in the air, develop them-
selves with special facility on sugar-like substances in presence of small quantities
of acid. I have isolated two species in a state of purity. All these fungi produce
in sugar solution an intense citric fermentation and their separation is not absolutely
necessary for industrial purposes.
To prepare these fungi I put in a sugar solution a small quantity from 2 to 5%
of citric acid and I allow the same to stand for a few days. I collect the fungus

page_text: formed on this solution and I introduce it in a sterilized sugar solution where it
developes.
The pure culture prepared in this way is then introduced in large vessels, con-
taining a sugar solution and a small quantity of mineral salts (NH, NO,; K,HPO₁;
Mg SO;) and the liquid is allowed to stand at the ordinary temperature from 8
to 14 days.
2
After this time the liquid contains a certain amount of citric acid so that it can
be directly employed like lemon juice. The acid can be isolated by evaporation or
better in the form of a salt. For the latter purpose, it is neutralized with lime or
carbonate of lime, or the latter or other convenient salts are added previously to
the culture liquid, so that the citric acid is separated as lime salt as soon as it is
formed. From the citrate of lime thus obtained, citric acid is prepared in the
ordinary way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A manufacture of citric acid produced by fermentation of sugar or analogous
substances, substantially as herein described.
2. The herein described method of producing artificial citric acid from sugar or
analogous substances by fermentation under the influence of fungi.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1893.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.