LMPROVEMENTS IN PURIFYING SPIRITS OF TURPENTINE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, of the Firm of Brandon and
Morgan-Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings,
London, and 13, Rue Caillon, Paris, for the Invention of "LMPROVEMENTS IN
PURIFYING SPIRITS OF TURPENTINE." A communication from abroad by Louis
Joseph Duroux, of 49, Rue de la Chaussée d'Antin Paris.
ealed the 30th September 1876, and dated the 12th May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th May 1876.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 13, Rue Caillon,
Paris. IMPROVEMENTS IN PURIFYING SPIRITS OF TURPENTINE.”
My improvements in purifying spirits of turpentine consist in the use of alum,
which I employ,--
Firstly, by dissolving in a certain quantity of water about ten per cent. by weight
of alum; secondly, by charging a vessel with equal cubic quantities of the spirit of
turpentine, and such water containing alum; thirdly, by agitating this mixture for an
hour or more; fourthly, by allowing it to subside for a few hours or a few days
according to circumstances; and fifthly, by drawing off the alum water from below
with the impurities floating between the said water and the purified alum, or by
drawing off the spirits of turpentine from above, leaving the impurities and the
alum water in the vessel.
The same results are obtained by using the alum in a dry pulverised state
without the addition of water, in which case about three per cent. by weight of the
spirits of turpentine to be purified is sufficient.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th October
1876.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 13, Rue Gaillon,
Paris. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PURIFYING SPIRITS OF TURPENTINE." A communication
from abroad by Louis Joseph Duroux, of 49, Rue de la Chaussée d'Antin, Paris.
In order that the Invention be clearly understood and easily put into practical
[Price 2d.]

page_text: operation, I will now detail the best method I am acquainted with for purifying
spirits of turpentine by means of alum, the latter being either mixed with water or
used in a dry powdered state.
Wet Process. Firstly, I dissolve in a certain quantity of water, say one hundred
gallons, from five to ten per cent. by weight of alum; in order to facilitate or to
accelerate the dissolution it may be advantageous to heat this mixture gently.
Secondly, when cool I charge it in a vessel with an equal cubic quantity of spirits
of turpentine. Thirdly, I agitate the mixture from a few minutes to an hour.
Fourthly, I allow it to subside for a few hours. I repeat this agitation as often as
may be required according to the nature of the spirits to be purified or the strength
of alum water employed for its purification. Fifthly, I allow the mixture to
subside, whereon it will be found to be sub-divided in three strata, viz, the spirits
of turpentine above, the alum water below, and the impurities floating between the
two; and, sixthly, I separate the purified spirits from the other two strata in any
appropriate manner. By agitating three times a day during from three to four days
excellent results are produced.
Dry Process. The same results are obtained by replacing the alum water by
powdered alum in the proportion of two to three per cent. by weight of one hundred
gallons of spirits of turpentine.
Spirits of turpentine so treated as above stated are much purer than those in
ordinary use; their quality is easily ascertained. by mixing therewith eighty to
ninety per cent. by weight of dammara rosin produced by the agathis lorantifolia
and slightly agitating the same until the rosin is dissolved. The aluminous spirit
thus produced is exceedingly limpid and transparent compared to that in ordinary
use which is more or less milky or turbid.
Having thus explained the nature of the Invention as well as the best means that
I an acquainted with for putting it into practical operation, I claim the use and
application of alum to the purification of spirits of turpentine as above described
and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN. (LS.)