IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING OR OPERATING UPON A CERTAIN UNCTUOUS SUBSTANCE IN ORDER TO OBTAIN PRODUCTS THEREFROM FOR THE MANU- FACTURE OF CANDLES AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1842

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
COLEY JONES, of Vauxhall Walk, in the Parish of Lambeth, in the County of
Surrey, Practical Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Eighth day of November, in the sixth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Coley Jones, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her
especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said
William Coley Jones, my executors, administrators, or assigns, or such others
as I, the said William Coley Jones, my executors, administrators, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark,
and Man, and also in all Her said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad,
my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING OR OPERATING UPON A CERTAIN
UNCTUOUS SUBSTANCE IN ORDER TO OBTAIN PRODUCTS THEREFROM FOR THE MANU-
FACTURE OF CANDLES AND OTHER PURPOSES;" in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso, requiring me, the said William Coley Jones, particularly
to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery, within six
calendar months next, and immediately after the date of the said in part

page_text: recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had,
will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Coley Jones, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to treating or operating upon that substance which is
extracted from the kernel of the cocoa-nut, and is known in commerce by the
name of "cocoa-nut oil." The cocoa-nut oil which has been brought to this
country has bitherto been treated by mechanical means for separating by pres-
sure the more solid part from the more liquid part, by which means certain
products have been obtained which are respectively called the "stearine of
cocoa-nut" and "elaine of cocoa-nut," and there is another product of an
intermediate consistence which is sold to the soap makers or subjected to a
repetition of the process. The first product is used in the manufacture of
candles, for which purpose it is to some extent applied alone, but it is found
more advantageous to mix such stearine with the stearic acid of tallow, and the
compound candles so formed are now extensively used under the name of
composite candles." The second product, the "elaine of cocoa-nut," though
useful, is liable to congeal at comparatively high temperatures. Now by my
Invention I am enabled to obtain other products from cocoa-nut oil, which I
will proceed to describe; first, remarking that I am aware that chemists have
discovered that cocoa-nut oil may by certain expensive processes be obtained
in the form of or converted into acids, such processes being published in
chemical works. These processes consist of saponifying cocoa-nut oil by
boiling with an alkali, then decomposing the soap with a mineral acid, the
concrete acid being separated by pressure when placed between blotting paper
and repeatedly dissolved in alcohol to crystallize it; and the more solid product
thus obtained has been distilled. And different chemists appear to have in
some degree varied these processes, repeating the saponification several times.
And I mention these matters in order to state, that although parts of my
Invention relate to obtaining cocoa-nut oil in the state of acids of cocoa-nut oil
and distilling those acids, I do not claim the obtaining or distilling the acid of
cocoa-nut oil generally, but only the means hereafter described, whereby
among other advantages I am enabled to dispense with that expensive process
heretofore considered essential, whereby the concrete acid of cocoa-nut was
dissolved in alcohol.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to explain the means pursued by me;
.

page_text: and, first, in respect of the parts of my Invention which relate to obtaining
the acids of cocoa-nut oil by saponification and decomposition of the soap
so obtained, and to distilling and separating the acids of cocoa-nut oil. I
place a ton of cocoa-nut oil in a vessel provided with a wrought-iron
worm or other suitable arrangement of perforated iron pipes, placed upon
the bottom of its inside, by means of which free steam is caused to pass into
the matter under process until the steam begins to pass off through the melted
matter. The vessels and steam pipes used are similar to those employed in
the manufacture of the stearic acid of tallow, and being well known and
in common use, need not be further described. I then run into the vessel
a quantity of cream of lime, (by which I mean quicklime, slacked until
it becomes of the consistence of a cream, and which is a material well
known, and in the manufacture of the stearic acid of tallow ;) and I then
continue the boiling by means of steam pipes, as above mentioned, until
the substance is well saponified or converted into a hard solid soap. The
admission of steam is continued while the lime is being added; but care
should be taken so to regulate the steam as to prevent boiling over.
Alkalies may be used for saponifying cocoa-nut oil, but I prefer to use
lime. I find it desirable usually to continue the process of boiling from six
to eight hours after the cream of lime has been run in. I find that the pro-
portion of cream of lime used in manufacturing the acids of cocoa-nut oil
should be larger than that commonly used in the manufacture of the stearic
acid of tallow; and I have observed that the saponification is better effected
by using the cream at the rate of about twenty pounds of the quicklime to
each hundredweight of cocoa-nut oil, but so large a quantity is not absolutely
necessary. I generally use from sixteen pounds to twenty pounds of the
quicklime to the hundredweight. The soap formed as above is then dug out
and thrown into a suitable vessel provided with steam pipes, in order to be
decomposed by a suitable acid in a similar manner to that practised in the
manufacture of the stearic acid of tallow; but I would observe that the
utensils should be formed of or covered with a material which is not subject
to be much affected by the acid. I prefer a wooden vessel lined with lead
and copper steam pipes. The acid which I use for the purpose of decom-
posing the soap is sulphuric acid of about 1.8 specific gravity, which I dilute
I would here remark that this is
with twenty times its weight of water.
a larger proportion of water than is used in the manufacture of the stearic
acid of tallow; but I have observed that the harder acid product of cocoa-nut
oil emits an unpleasant vapour if a candle made of it be carelessly put out,
and I have also observed that this effect is diminished by dilating the acid,

page_text: When
as above mentioned. The diluted acid is run into the vessel containing the
soap, and the two are boiled together by free steam admitted through the
steam pipes, as above mentioned, until the sulphuric acid combines with the
lime. The proportion of sulphuric acid which I use is about two pounds of
the concentrated acid (1·8) to each pound of quicklime employed; and I
continue the last-mentioned process of boiling for about four hours.
the decomposition of the soap has been properly effected the steam is shut
off. The sulphuric acid and lime will then gradually settle to the bottom of
the vessel in a combined form, and the cocoa-nut oil will have been converted
into an acid state, and which I call "the acid mixture." The acid mixture
is drawn or pumped into another vessel, also provided with steam pipes. I
run in about one hundred gallons of water, and boil the mixture by means of
free steam, admitted through steam pipes as above, for about an hour, after
which the steam is shut off, and the mixture is again allowed to settle. The
water, (which will have settled to the bottom of the vessel,) is then drawn off,
and the acid mixture is then again boiled up for about an hour with about one
hundred gallons of fresh water, by means of free steam, as above mentioned.
The acid mixture of cocoa-nut oil, obtained by the above mentioned or other
suitable processes, is formed into a further product by being well stirred up
with a suitable oxide, till a perfect mixture is effected, in order, by the subse-
quent distillation of the product so formed, to obtain a material for the manufac
ture of candles of a higher melting point than has yet been obtained from cocoa-
nut oil. I prefer to use for the purpose a thick cream of lime. The use of
steam in this part of the process is not necessary. The proportion of lime which
I recommend is twenty pounds of the quicklime to one hundred pounds of acid
mixture, but this proportion may be varied. The soap or combination of
matters formed as above mentioned is distilled in a retort or vessel, for which
purpose I use common D retorts, such as are employed in the manufacture of
gas. The fatty product distilled over is condensed by means of a metal tin
worm set in a tub of water, or by some other suitable refrigerator. But I
would observe that if metal tin be used, care should be taken to keep the
whole of the worm completely immersed in the water, to prevent its being
injured by the heat. In the course of this process I have admitted steam into
the retort, in a manner similar to that hereinafter described, but I have not
found any considerable advantage in doing so. The more volatile products of
the distillation can, if desired, be condensed by means of a separate refrigerator.
The fatty product of the distillation should be boiled for six or eight hours by
means of free steam, with water slightly acidulated with oxalic or sulphuric
acid, preferring the former. It is then allowed to cool very gradually in a

page_text: suitable vessel, into which it is run off in order that it may become crystallized,
after which it is submitted to pressure, as I now proceed to describe. I
prefer to use a powerful hydraulic press of the inch ram, provided with a
suitable number of wrought-iron plates, each about twenty-six inches square,
and about one-fourth of an inch thick. The plates are a little curved, that
the fluid acid may run the more readily off, and the bottom of the press frame
is made convex, and the top of it concave, to correspond with this curvature
of the plates. When the product is cooled into a solid state, I take a portion
of it of about the weight of fourteen pounds, and enclose or place it between
surfaces of a suitable woven fabric; I prefer to use for this purpose the
matting called "coir matting," which is employed in the present manufacture.
of the stearine and elaine of cocoa-nut; I spread the above portion of the
distilled product all over one side of one of the coir mats, but leaving about an
inch and a half uncovered all round the outside of the mat. A wooden frame-
may be used to facilitate the spreading; another mat is then placed above the
former, the matter being thus between the two. The mats thus charged
(each pair of which then contains what I call a "cake,") are piled in heaps,
and are left for from six to twelve hours to harden, in a temperature of about
fifty-two degrees of Fahrenheit's thermometer, as near as it can be conveniently
obtained. They are then placed in the press in layers with a plate between
each pair till the press is full. The pressure is then applied very slowly for
about twenty-four hours, at a temperature of about fifty-eight degrees of
Fahrenheit's thermometer, as near as it can be conveniently obtained. The
mats with their cakes are then transferred to another similar press, and are
pressed in a similar manner, but still more slowly, for about forty-eight hours
more, at a temperature gradually rising to about one hundred and ten degrees
of Fahrenheit's thermometer. The pressure should be carefully regulated, in
order to prevent any of the solid matter being pressed out at the edges of the
mats. I find it usually advantageous to subject the fluid expressed to a second
purification with oxalic or sulphuric acid, as above explained, after which it
can be used for burning, or mixing with other oils. The concrete product,
after a similar purification, is valuable for the making of candles. Another
method of performing this part of my Invention is to distill the cocoa-nut oil
in a retort or vessel, as above explained, after its first saponification, and
without the intermediate processes of decomposing the soap and combining
the acid mixture with lime. In this case I commend the use of a larger
proportion of lime in the process of saponifying than that which is above
directed, the proportion which I prefer being thirty pounds of the quicklime to
the hundredweight of the cocoa-nut oil, but this proportion may be varied.

page_text: The soap or combination of matters so formed should be broken into small
pieces, and in that state washed once with water in a vessel provided with
steam pipes, in a manner similar to that above described in the process of
washing the acid mixture. It is then placed in a retort, and distilled as above
described. As far as my experience has hitherto gone, I have found the
process first above described produce the better effects, but the latter is the
less expensive process. The acid mixture of cocoa-nut oil obtained by the
above mentioned or other suitable processes, may also be submitted to
distillation without the above mentioned addition of lime.
For this pur-
pose I use a cast iron or other suitable still, provided with a metal tin
worm or other suitable refrigerator, as above explained. I recommend
the construction of the still to be such that its diameter will be about
equal to its height; and in order to prevent accidents it is desirable to
immerse the lower part of the still in an iron pot of corresponding
dimensions with a space of about an inch between the two filled with sand.
The top and sides of the still may also be advantageously surrounded with
sand in order to keep in the heat; I have found a still adapted for distilling
about half a ton of acid mixture to be one of a convenient size. I admit a
jet of steam into the still through a suitable pipe during the continuance of the
distillation. I have also in the course of my experiments tried the admission
of water by causing it to run very slowly into the still, but I prefer
a jet of steam as above. I find that the product distils over at a much
lower temperature than most of the other fatty substances which have been
submitted to similar processes. The distillation should be continued as long
as any product continues to flow from the worms, and the heat should be
regulated according to the quickness or slowness of the stream which flows
from it. I find it desirable to receive the products of the distillation of the
acid mixture in several vessels of a moderate size, which may contain about
forty pounds each, as it will be found that the products vary considerably in
consistence at different stages of the process. I may here observe that towards
the end of the process of distilling with lime herein-before described, I separate
the products in like manner according to their varieties of color. The more
liquid of the products of the process now under description are boiled for six
or eight hours with diluted oxalic or sulphuric acid, as above explained,
and then submitted to a process of gradual cooling, as also above explained; a
considerable proportion of liquid oil may then be separated by a process of
bagging or filtration similar to that employed in the manufacture of sperm oil,
and some of the first products may be used as liquid oil, even without bagging.
And it is obvious that the oil obtained by the above respective processes may

page_text: be repeatedly bagged to remove any remaining admixture of solid matter.
The more solid of the products of distillation after being also boiled for six or
cight hours with diluted oxalic or sulphuric acid as before explained, and also
the more solid of the products of the above process of bagging, are submitted
to pressure either together or separately in the manner above explained, except
that I have not found it desirable in this case to raise the temperature above
seventy-five or eighty degrees of Fahrenheit. The more liquid product of the
above processes may be applied with or without further bagging to the purposes
of burning in lamp and mixing with other oils, and the more solid pro-,
duct may be applied to the manufacture of candles. I may observe, how-
ever, that I have found it desirable again to boil up the separated acids of
cocoa-nut oil with diluted oxalic or sulphuric acid, as above explained, to
remove any impurity which may have been contracted during the process of.
pressing. The above respective distillations may be combined by drawing over
about one half or other suitable portion of the acid mixture placed in the
still or vessel above mentioned for the purpose of being distilled, (without the
addition of lime,) and afterwards transferring the residue into another vessel
and combining it with lime and distilling the combined matters as above.
described. I would here observe that the last-mentioned processes of gradual
cooling and pressure may be applied to acids of cocoa-nut oil without distillation,
but I prefer to use distillation as above described: I would observe further,
that in boiling with oxalic or sulphuric acid, for the several purposes of puri-
fying, above explained, I find it advisable to use about forty ounces of oxalic
or five pounds of sulphuric acid, diluted with about fifty gallons of water to
a ton of fat or oil. I would also observe, that although for the sake of
convenience I have used the term "cocoa-nut oil" throughout this
my Speci-
fication, I do not mean to confine myself to treating the crude cocoa-nut oil of
commerce, but on the contrary, my Invention can be also applied to the elaine or
stearine of cocoa-nut or the intermediate product above-mentioned ; and it will
be found that by so operating upon the elaine or intermediate product, much
valuable matter to be used in the making of candles may be obtained from those
products of cocoa-nut oil which are now of comparatively small value.
The last part of my Invention relates to the distillation of cocoa-nut oil, in
order to obtain the same in the form of acids. This process is effected in a still
similar to that herein-before mentioned, and I prefer to use a jet of steam as before
explained, and the product of this distillation is treated in a manner similar
to that herein-before directed; but I prefer to use the method of obtaining
the acids of cocoa-nut oil by saponification and decomposition of the soap
as herein-before described. I would observe, that fatty substances can be

page_text: puaified by being distilled in vacuo, and I make this remark in order to
observe that I do not claim the distillation in vacuo of the crude cocoa-nut
oil, or or its elaine or stearine unless the same be thereby converted into acids.
But my experiments have led me to believe that the vacuum may be usefully
introduced into the above described process of distilling the acids of cocoa-nut
oil without lime, and distilling in vacuo may also be used as a means of
purifying the several products above mentioned; I would also remark that
the several products above mentioned may be redistilled either in vacuo or
otherwise.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the best means
I am acquainted with for performing the same, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details, provided the peculiar
character of either part of my Invention be retained; and I would further
wish it to be understood that I do not claim the saponifying cocoa-nut
oil generally, nor do I claim the decomposing saponified nut oil by acids
generally, nor the use of sulphuric acid unless diluted; nor do I claim the
distillation of the acids of cocoa-nut oil generally if the same be performed on
such acids after being dissolved and crystallized in alchol; nor do I claim the
processes of bagging or filtration above-mentioned. And I would state that I
am aware that woven fabrics of coir and other fibrous material have been used
with hydraulic and other presses when treating tallow and other fatty matters
with and without artificial heat, I therefore do not claim coir or other woven
fabrics, or hydraulic or other presses, or heat used threwith, nor do I claim
the retort or still, or other apparatus mentioned herein, or the use of steam or
water in distilling. But what I claim is, first, the mode of obtaining pro-
ducts of cocoa-nut oil by submitting the acids thereof or their products to
pressure between surfaces of woven fabrics.
Secondly, I claim the combining of lime with cocoa-nut oil when such
combination is subsequently either decomposed by acid or distilled. And I
claim the using of diluted sulphuric acid to decompose saponified cocoa-nut oil
as a means of obtaining acids of cocoa-nut oil. And I claim the distilling of
saponified cocoa-nut oil.
Thirdly, I claim the mode of treating acids of cocoa-nut oil by combining
lime therewith.
Fourthly, I claim the distilling of acids of cocoa-nut oil and their products
without first submitting them to be dissolved in alcohol. And I also claim the
application of metal retorts, stills, or vessels for the distillation of acids of
cocoa-nut oil and their products.
Fifthly, I claim the pressing of acids of cocoa-nut oil and their products in

page_text: separate layers when subjected to artificial heat in order more readily and
completely to separate the same.
Sixthly, I claim the combining of steam with cocoa-nut oil when saponifying
the same, or when decomposing the soap.
And, seventhly, I claim the distilling of cocoa-nut oil, in order to obtain
the same in the form of acids.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Coley Jones, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Eighth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-three
WILLIAM COLEY (L.S.) JONES.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Eighth day of May, in the sixth
year of reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the said William Coley
Jones came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknow-
ledged the instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained
and specified, in form above written. And also the instrument aforesaid
was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the fifty-fifth year
of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third.