Improvements in Processes for Purifying and Deodorising Butter and other Solid Fats and Oils.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Processes for Purifying and Deodorising Butter
and other Solid Fats and Oils.
We JOSEPH GEORGE HARGRAVE, Produce Merchant, and ALFRED
HARGRAVE, Manager, both of The Larches, Heaton Mersey, near Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, 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 :-
Our said invention relates to certain improvements in the methods of and means
for purifying, cleansing and deodorising butter and other solid fats and oils.
The invention is however principally intended to be used in the treatment of
butter which may, by defects in manufacture or by deterioration in storage, or
from other causes, have developed strong or rancid flavours or have become
otherwise more or less repugnant to taste or smell. Apart from this however our
invention may be used to improve the quality of butters or fats so as to make them
command higher prices.
In treating butter for example according to our invention it is necessary first to
disintegrate or break up the butter into small separate particles or atoms, and then to
subject the same to the action of sprays, or showers or currents of water so as
to thoroughly cleanse, permeate and purify the disintegrated mass of particles.
The first stage viz. that of disintegration is effected in the following manner.
The butter to be treated is melted in a suitable vessel, and when reduced to the
condition of an oily fluid, we run it down an inclined conduit or trough and in the
said conduit or trough we cause it to be met by a stream or streams of cold water,
which may be artificially refrigerated to have the greater effect. The consequence
of the sudden contact between the hot melted butter and the cold water is that the
melted butter is broken up and transformed immediately into a granulated or
atomised mass of separate particles which are carried by the current of water into
a vat or pan where the granulated or disintegrated butter floats on the surface of
the water. We now subject this floating mass of granulated or disintegrated
butter to the second stage in our process.
The most convenient method of doing so is to arrange above the vat or pan
containing the floating butter, a series of water sprays or perforated roses through
which cold water is forced or allowed to fall in a spray or shower upon the floating
butter. This treatment is kept up for a number of hours the time varying
according to the quality or nature of the butter being treated. When sufficiently
purified, the butter is removed from the vat and will then be found to be perfectly
sweet and odourless. The purified granular mass may then be worked, churned or
otherwise suitably treated so as to restore it to a marketable condition.
Instead of spraying or showering the water upon the floating disintegrated
butter particles as described we might subject the same to agitation in the water
in the vat by suitable means such for instance as paddles or jets or we might direct
a current or currents of water or it might be air blasts into the vat either from
beneath or at the sides, the vat being constructed with suitable overflows to carry
off excess water.
In all such modifications the object is the same viz. to bring the separate
particles of butter into intimate and repeated contact with the water.

page_text: Our experience however teaches us that the falling spray or shower is the
preferable method.
The method of breaking up and disintegrating the hot melted butter might also
be modified to some extent but in all cases we consider it essential that it should be
brought into sudden contact with cold or refrigerated water so as to separate the
liquid fat into independent small particles.
We have not thought it necessary to give illustrations of any of the apparatuses
we use to carry our invention into effect. The construction and arrangements of
such apparatus might greatly vary and involve no invention, as is self evident to
any intelligent person.
Although we have particularly referred to butter as the material treated, our
invention is also applicable to the treatment of butter substitutes, such as margarine
and to other solid fats and oils.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is.
1. The improved process or treatment of butter and other solid fats and oils
for the purposes and substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In the treatment of butter and other solid fats and oils for the purpose of
purifying and deodorising the same, breaking up, granulating or disintegrating the
material, substantially in the manner described and thereafter subjecting it in its
disintegrated state to the action of water sprays, showers, currents or to agitation
in water so as to bring the fatty particles into intimate and repeated contact with
the water, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. As an improved process for purifying and deodorising butter and other solid
fats and oils, melting the material in a vessel and bringing the melted matter into
contact with cold water whereby disintegration and granulation is effected and
thereafter subjecting the said disintegrated and granulated material while floating
in water to the action of water sprays, currents or agitators so as to effect intimate
and repeated contact between the said particles and the water, substantially as
hereinbefore set forth.
4. As means for furthering or effecting the purifying treatment of butter and
other solid fats and oils, splitting up or granulating the said materials by melting
and afterwards subjecting the same to contact with cold water, substantially as
herein before described.
5. Purifying, cleansing and deodorising butter and other solid fats and oils by
subjecting the same in a granulated and disintegrated condition to the action of
water sprays, showers, currents, or to agitation in water, substantially as herein before
set forth.