IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF MAIZE AND OTHER LIKE GRAIN FOR THE PRODUCTION OF STARCH THEREFROM, AND IN THE UTILIZATION OF THE WASTE PRODUCTS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARDBOARD AND PAPER, AND FOR THE PREPARATION OF SOAPS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF MAIZE AND OTHER LIKE GRAIN
FOR THE PRODUCTION OF STARCH THEREFROM, AND IN THE UTILIZATION OF THE
WASTE PRODUCTS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARDBOARD AND PAPER, AND
FOR THE PREPARATION OF SOAPS."-A communication from abroad by
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 30th December 1872.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF MAIZE AND OTHER LIKE
GRAIN FOR THE PRODUCTION OF STARCH THEREFROM, AND IN THE UTILIZATION OF
THE WASTE PRODUCTS FOR THE Manufacture OF CARDBOARD AND PAPER, AND FOR

page_text: THE PREPARATION OF SOAPS," a communication, to me from abroad by
Eugène Leconte, of Paris, in the Republic of France, to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to an economical and expeditious process for
the production of starch from maize or Indian corn or other grain con-
taining the same clements, the operation being effected mechanically,
and the whole of the resulting product utilized. In preparing the starch
the grain is first steeped in a solution of caustic soda contained in
wooden cisterns, or in tanks constructed of masonry. After complete
saturation the grain is introduced into a cylinder of wire cloth submerged
or partly submerged in water in order to wash the same. The grain is
then to be bruized by means of mill stones, over which a stream of either
pure water or of water containing caustic soda is caused to flow to
facilitate the separation of the material.
The liquid which flows from the mill stones is diluted with fresh
water and passed into a sieve which retains the germs and woody
and fibrous portions of the grain, whilst the starch as well as the
uzotised fatty matters on the contrary pass through the sieve and
flow over inclined surfaces of large area. The deposition of the starch
by reason of its greater density naturally takes place upon these
inclined tables, whilst the fatty uzotised matters of the maize are
collected in tanks or cisterns. The starch is collected from tlie tables
and introduced into a receptacle fitted with an agitator, and into which
fresh water is run to neutralize any soda which it may still contain,
and to remove the small quantity of gluten mixed with the starch.
The washing having been completed the liquid is caused to pass
through a sieve and falls into a cistern where deposition takes place;
in twenty-four hours afterwards this starch is fit for use, but if it be
intended for export or required to be sent long distances it should be
dried, which may be accomplished by placing it in perforated wooden
receptacles lined with wire cloth, which retain the starch which becomes
hard and may be cut up into blocks for exposure in any drying chamber
or stove. Or the drying may be accomplished by causing the moist
starch to fall on to endless wire cloths travelling slowly over a series of
steam-heated hollow copper tables, the starch falling from the first table :
to the second, then to the third, and so on, when it is ready for the
market, the entire process of its manufacture being accomplished in not
more than forty-eight hours.

page_text: The whole of the clements of the grain are obtained by the hercin-
before described process in a perfect state of separation, the one from
the other, and it is this separation that constitutes the essential feature
of the new process, as it enables after the starch has been extracted
the other clements to be rendered commercially available.
Of course
other grain containing the same elements as maize may be treated in
like manner.
The residues are of two kinds, namely, first, the germ, the ligneous or
woody, and the fibrous portions; second the fatty matters. If desired,
the residues may be used as food for cattle by introducing a little
sulphuric acid in the tanks in order to neutralize the small amount of
caustic soda which may remain in the said residues.
In applying the ligneous and fibrous residues to the manufacture of
cardboard, pasteboard, and paper, the acid residues are collected from
the surface of the sieve, herein-before mentioned, and mixed with other
substances containing longer fibres, such for example as tan, straw,
wood, old paper, and the like, disintegrated by any known process. A
pulp of excellent quality is thus obtained from which paper or paste-
board may be manufactured in the usual manner.
The fatty uzotised matters before referred to are utilized for the produc-
tion of a hard or a soft soap of a good quality and perfect purity. For
this purpose the liquid before referred to, which falls from the inclined
tables and is collected in cisterns where deposition takes place, is strained
or filtered by presses or otherwise to separate therefrom the fatty uzotised
matter. An ordinary soap is first prepared, after which the mass is
reheated and about 50 per cent. of the fatty matter obtained from the
maize is added thereto by pouring it gently therein, care being taken to
maintain the temperature at the melting point, the thorough admixture
being ensured by stirring or agitating the mass at the same time, after
which a sufficient amount of a solution of caustic soda is added to
completely saturate the new product.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 27th June 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
36th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special
license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Jolinson,
my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thercafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF MAIZE AND OTHER LIKE GRAIN FOR THE
PRODUCTION OF STARCH THEREFROM, AND IN THE UTILIZATION OF THE WASTe Pro-
DUCTS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARDBOARD AND PAPER, AND FOR THE PREPARATION
OF SOAPS," a communication to me from abroad by Eugene Leconte, of
Paris, in the Republic of France, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Gerat Scal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Lotters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, that is to say:

page_text: The said Invention relates to an economical and expeditious process
for the production of starch from maize or Indian corn or other grain
containing the same elements, the operation being effected mechanically
and the whole of the resulting products utilized.
The improved process for the manufacture of maize starch presents
this distinctive character, that it realizes the successive division of
the products obtained, and admits of the separation in an isolated
condition of-

page_text: portions of the grain. The starch as well as the azotised fatty matters
on the contrary pass through the sieve and flow over inclined surfaces
of large area. The deposition of the starch by reason of its density
naturally takes place upon these inclined surfaces, whilst the fatty
azotised matters of the maize are collected in a diluted state in tanks or
cisterns. The starch collected from the tables is afterwards thrown into
a receptacle fitted with an agitator, and into which fresh water is run to
neutralize any soda which it may still contain, and to remove the small
quantity of gluten mixed with the starch. The washing having been
completed the liquid is caused to pass through a sieve and falls into a
cistern, where it is allowed to settle. In about 24 hours afterwards this
starch is fit for use, but if it be intended for export or required to be
sent long distances, it should be dried, which may be accomplished by
placing it in perforated wooden receptacles lined with wire cloth which
retain the starch which becomes hard and may be cut up into blocks for
exposure in any drying chamber or stove; or the drying may be accom-
plished by causing the moist starch to fall on to endless wire cloths
travelling slowly over a series of steam heated hollow copper tables, the
starch falling from the first table to the second, then to the third, and, so
on, when it is ready for the market.
This mode of manufacture is extremely economical, since all the
operations are effected mechanically, and it admits of the utilization of
the whole of the constituents of the maize; it morcover is very expe-
ditious as the whole of the work may be accomplished in 48 hours. It
admits of the employment of all kinds of maize lacking dryness, or
even slightly heated, mouldy or damaged, the whole of the damaged
parts being removed by the water, the starch alone is deposited upon
the tables.
As already stated the whole of the constituent elements of the grain
are obtained by the herein-before described process in a perfect state of
separation, the one from the other, and it is this methodical separation
that constitutes the essential feature of the new process, as it enables
after the starch has been extracted the other elements to be rendered
commercially and industrially available. Of course other grain con-
taining the same elements as maize may be treated in like manner.
The residues are of two kinds, namely, first, the germ, the ligneous or
woody and the fibrous portions; second, the fatty matters. If desired
these residues may be used as food for cattle by introducing a little

page_text: sulphuric acid into the tanks in order to neutralize the small amount of
caustic soda which may remain in the said residues.
These residues thus obtained in a separated condition may be further
utilized in certain industries and thus form novel applications which
constitutes one of the essential features of this Invention. It is in fact
proposed to apply the woody and fibrous residues to the manufacture of
paper and cardboard.
In applying the ligneous and fibrous residues to the manufacture of
cardboard and paper, the said residues are collected from the surface of
the sieve herein-before mentioned, and mixed with other substances
containing longer fibres, such for example as tan, straw, wood, waste
paper, and the like, disintegrated by any known process, a pulp of
excellent quality is thus obtained from which paper or cardboard may be
manufactured in the usual manner.
The fatty azotised matters before referred to are utilized for the pro-
duction of a hard or a soft soap of good quality, perfect purity, and low
price. For this purpose the liquid before referred to which drips from
the depositing tables is collected in cisterns where a further deposition -
of the more tenuous matters takes place, and which is separated by
straining or filtering or by presses or otherwise, such residue containing
the fatty azotised matter to be utilized. In this state and if it be desired
to manufacture a soap by introducing into its composition say fifty per
cent. of the said azotised fatty matter of the maize, the process is con-
ducted as follows:-An ordinary soap is first prepared from suct, oils, or
other well known fatty matters, after which the mass is re-heated in
order that the addition of fifty per cent. of the fatty matters of the maize
shall not tend to form clots in the mass or render it sticky. About fifty
per cent. of the fatty matter obtained from the maize is now added to
the soap already prepared by pouring it gently therein, care being
taken to maintain the temperature at the melting point, the thorough
admixture being ensured by stirring or agitating the mass at the same
time, after which a sufficient amount of a solution of caustic soda is
added to completely saturate the new product. The result being
obtained the saponification of the mass is complete, and an excellent
soap is obtained which may be sold at a cheap rate, and which is
infinitely superior in quality to many soaps which are adulterated with
talc and other foreign matters. It will thus be seen that by this process
a double and valuable utilization is obtained of the residues of maize,

page_text: hence the starch may be manufactured at a cost so low as to admit of
its general use, and that it may be supplied not only directly to dressers,
laundresses, and others, but may also be employed in a very advantageous
manner as an excellent substitute for malt in breweries and distilleries.
The products thus manufactured or produced being pure and free from 5
empyreumatic oils which are found in farina or starch prepared from
the potatoc, heretofore generally employed, will admit of a perfect
and economical manufacture of beer, alcohol, gin, vinegar, glucose, and
the like.
In conclusion, I claim as novel and original the complete mode of 1
treatment of maize and analagous grain herein-before described, which
is principally characterised by the following features:-
First. The novel process herein-before described for mechanically manu-
facturing in an expeditious and economical manner starch from maize
or other like grain, the leading features of such process consisting in 1
the successive division or separation of the various products with a view
to the subsequent utilization of the residue of this manufacture.
Second. The application of the woody and fibrous residues of the grain
treated as above described to the manufacture of paper and cardboard,
substantially as herein-before specified.
Third. The application of the azotised fatty matter obtained from
maize or other like grain when treated, substantially as above described
to the preparation of soaps, substantially as herein-before specified.
2
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to
this my Specification set my band and seal, this Nineteenth 2
day of June One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
TAR WAR