Improvements in or in connection with the Extraction of Oil by Volatile Solvents, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 11th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 19th May, 1894
Improvements in or in connection with the Extraction of Oil by
Volatile Solvents, and Apparatus therefor.
We, ALFRED WILLIAM MACILWAINE, Managing Director of The Hull Oil
Manufacturing Company, Limited, of Stoneferry, Hull, in the County of York,
and GEORGE GATTON MELHUISH HARDINGHAM, Civil Engineer, of 191, Fleet
Street, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the extraction of oil by volatile solvents, and has special
reference to means whereby loss of the volatile solvent in a vaporous or gaseous
state is prevented or diminished.
In effecting the extraction of oil from rape and other seeds or materials by
means of benzoline or other suitable volatile solvent, a certain quantity of air
escapes from the vessels in which the process is carried out; this air being
highly charged with benzoline (or other volatile solvent employed) in a vaporous
or gaseous state. The solvent thus held in suspension in the air, or a large
proportion thereof, is carried away with the air and lost, even although the latter
may be cooled down to a low temperature.
According to our improved method of treatment, the mixture of air and solvent
is passed in a finely divided state through some suitable liquid-for convenience,
the rape or other oil in course of extraction or manufacture. The solvent, whether
in the form of vapour or gas, is absorbed by the oil or other liquid, and the air is
discharged in a comparatively pure state. By heating the oil or other liquid,
the solvent may be volatilised, and having been condensed may be recovered
for re-use.
For subjecting the mixture of air and solvent to the absorbent action of the oil
or other liquid, we prefer to introduce the said mixture through a perforated pipe
arranged at the bottom of the oil-tank and covered by a finely-perforated plate, or
by a grating furnished with fine wire gauze, minute subdivision of the gaseous
mixture and its thorough exposure to the liquid being thereby assured.
In some instances, instead of passing the mixture of air and solvent through oil
or other liquid, we cause same to traverse a sufficiently thick body of the seed
about to be treated, subsequently to its being crushed but prior to its being mixed
with the main charge of benzoline or other volatile solvent for the extraction of the
oil contained. This mode of procedure is more particularly adapted for use with
seed of an exceptionally oleaginous character; as for example, copra or castor.
Dated the 10th day of July 1893.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.

page_text: Improvements in or in connection with the Extraction of Oil by
Volatile Solvents, and Apparatus therefor.
We, ALFRED WILLIAM MACILWAINE, Managing Director of The Hull Oil
Manufacturing Company, Limited, of Stoueferry, Hull, in the County of York,
and GEORGE GATTON MELHUISH HARDINGHAM, Civil Engineer, of 191, Fleet
Street, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
This invention relates to the extraction of oil by volatile solvents, and has
special reference to means whereby loss of the volatile solvent in a vaporous or
gaseous state is prevented or diminished.
In effecting the extraction of oil from rape and other seeds or materials by
means of benzoline or other suitable volatile solvent, a certain quantity of air
escapes from the vessels in which the process is carried out; this air being highly
charged with benzoline (or other volatile solvent employed) in a vaporous or
The solvent thus held in suspension in the air, or a large proportion
thereof, is carried away with the air and lost, even although the latter may be
cooled down to a low temperature.
gaseous state.
According to our improved method of treatment, the mixture of air and solvent
is passed in a finely divided state through some suitable liquid-for convenience,
the rape or other oil in course of extraction or manufacture. The solvent, whether
in the form of vapour or gas, is absorbed by the oil or other liquid, and the air is
discharged in a comparatively pure state. By heating the oil or other liquid, the
solvent may be volatilised, and having been condensed may be recovered for re-use.
The accompanying diagram represents, partly in vertical section and partly in
side elevation, apparatus adapted for enabling the mixture of air and solvent to be
subjected to the absorbent action of the oil or other liquid A; the said mixture
being introduced through a perforated pipe B arranged at the bottom of an oil-
tank C and covered by a finely perforated plate D, or by a grating furnished with
fine wire gauze. The pipe C₁ communicates with the oil-well. The mixture of
air and solvent may be conducted to the pipe B through an elbow-pipe B₁ leading
from a point above the level of the oil or other liquid A; such mixture following
the path indicated by the arrows. Owing to the presence of the plate D (or
grating), minute subdivision of the gaseous mixture and its thorough exposure to
the liquid is assured.
In some instances, instead of passing the mixture of air and solvent through oil
or other liquid, we cause the same to traverse a sufficiently thick body of the seed
about to be treated, subsequently to its being crushed but prior to its being mixed
with the main charge of benzoline or other volatile solvent for the extraction of the
oil contained. This mode of procedure is more particularly adapted for use
with seed of an exceptionally oleaginous character; as for example copra or
castor seed.
For causing the solvent to be absorbed by the crushed seed, apparatus of the
kind herein before described for use with oil or other liquid may be employed;
the crushed seed being placed in an even layer of the requisite thickness on the
perforated plate D or grating. The solvent-charged air escaping from the pipe B
would fill the space below the perforated plate or grating and eventually find its
way through that plate or grating into the crushed seed; any solvent deposited in
liquid form in, or any oil escaping from the solvent-charged crushed seed into, the
the space beneath the said plate or grating being drawn off through the pipe C¹.
It will be obvious that the amount of solvent required in the treatment of a given

page_text: quantity of seed will be reduced by an amount of solvent corresponding with that
absorbed by the seed while in the vessel C.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the saine is to be performed, we claim :-
1. In the extraction of oil by volatile solvents, causing solvent-charged air to
pass through oil or other liquid or through crushed seed, whereby the volatile
solvent which would otherwise escape to the atmosphere is condensed and rendered
available for re-use.
2. In the extraction of oil by volatile solvents, the employment of apparatus
arranged or operating substantially as described with reference to the accompanying
diagram and for the purpose set forth.
Dated the 5th day of April 1894.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.