AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR REFINING CRUDE OZOKERIT
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carl Maria Pielsticker, of No. 5, Sydney Terrace, Kilburn,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR
REFINING CRUDE OZOKERIT."
Sealed the 19th April 1876, and dated the 25th February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Car] Maria Pielsticker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th February 1876.
CARL MARIA PIELSTICKER, of No. 5, Sidney Terrace, Kilburn, in the County of
Middlesex. "AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR REFINING CRUDE OZOKERIT."
My Invention relates to an improved process of refining crude ozokerit without
distillation and without pressure, whereby I propose to obtain a larger yield of
refined product with great economy of production, and a refined wax of a higher
melting point than paraffine or stearine obtained by the ordinary process of dis-
tillation.
I propose to melt the crude ozokerit, keeping it while melted at a temperature
somewhat above the boiling point of water in any suitable agitator, in which I add
to it about 12 per cent. of strong sulphuric acid. I find it advantageous to add this
acid in four equal quantities and keep it agitated with the ozokerit. I keep up the
agitation until a drawn sample freed from impurities and from the formed
carbonaceous particles presents a yellow colour.
I then wash the mixture with hot
water, allow it to settle, and draw off the settled water and impurities which have
been deposited at the bottom of the agitator. I now add to and agitate with the
partially treated ozokerit about 5 per cent. of carbonate of baryta, to which I add
further a strong solution of caustic soda in water, say about 5 per cent. in order to
fully neutralize the acid and to assist the carbonaceous particles formed by the
action of the acid on the ozokerit in settling from the liquid ozokerit at the bottom
of the agitator from which they are drawn off and removed. During this latter
agitation I allow steam to pass freely through the melted ozokerit.
If the carbonaceous particles and impurities have not been sufficiently precipitated
it will be advantageous to add to the melted ozokerit in the agitator a quantity of
any saponifiable oil or fat, or soap, rosin, or crude turpentine, which should be well
agitated with the melted ozokerit, caustic soda in solution should then be added
thereto in quantity sufficient to saponifiy the oil, fat, rosin, or crude turpentine,
473

page_text: and the mass be kept well agitated. The soap formed by the combination of the
oil, fat, rosin, or crude turpentine with the soda, will after the agitation has ceased
settle at the bottom of the agitator, carrying with it most of the impurities, which
are then drawn off, and the ozokerit remaining in the agitator is again agitated with
hot water and steam, until all soapy matter and most of the impurities are removed,
and until the last particles of odour are eliminated.
In order to remove the last particles of impurities the melted ozokerit is then
drawn off and passed through a filter closely packed with finely granulated or
powdered and dried clay or clay and charcoal combined which will retain all solid
impurities.
The ozokerit so far purified presents a yellowish colour, and in order to remove
this colour still further, and to obtain a whitish wax-like substance I melt the
ozokerit in a second clean agitator, and agitate it with a sufficient quantity of
finely granulated or powdered animal charcoal, using increased quantities of charcoal
when necessary until the ozokerit has obtained the desired degree of whitness.
In order to remove the particles of charcoal that may be mechanically suspended
in the so purified ozokerit, I draw off the contents of the second agitator and pass
them through any suitable filtering material which will retain these particles of
charcoal, and I thus obtain a whitish wax-like material, which I propose to term
"ceraffin" suitable for candle making and for most purposes for which beeswax,
paraffin, stearine, and other similar substances are now in use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Carl Maria Pielsticker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th August 1876.
CARL MARIA PIELSTICKER, of No. 5, Sydney Terrace, Kilburn, in the County of
Middlesex. "AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR REFINING CRUDE OZOKERIT."
My Invention relates to an improved process of refining crude ozokerit without
distillation and without pressure, whereby I obtain a larger yield of refined
product with great economy of production, and a refined wax of a higher melting
point than paraffine or stearine obtained by the ordinary process of distillation.
I melt the crude ozokerit, keeping it while melted at a temperature somewhat
above the boiling point of water in any suitable agitator, in which I add to it
about 12 per cent. of strong sulphuric acid; 1 find it advantageous to add this acid
in four equal quantities and keep it agitated with the ozokerit. I keep up the
agitation until a drawn sample freed from impurities, and from the formed
carbonaceous particles presents a yellow colour. I then wash the mixture with hot
water, allow it to settle and draw off the settled water and impurities which have
been deposited at the bottom of the agitator. I now add to, and agitate with, the
partially treated ozokerit about 5 per cent. of carbonate of baryta, to which I add
further a strong solution of caustic soda in water, say about 5 per cent., in order to
fully neutralize the acid and to assist the carbonaceous particles formed by the
action of the acid on the ozokerit, in settling from the liquid ozokerit at the bottom
of the agitator, from which they are drawn off and removed. During this latter
agitation I allow steam to pass freely through the melted ozokerit.
If the carbonaceous particles and impurities have not been sufficiently precipitated
it will be advantageous to add to the melted ozokerit in the agitator a quantity of
any saponifiable oil or fat, or soap, rosin, or crude turpentine, which should be well
agitated with the melted ozokerit; caustic soda in solution should then be added
thereto in quantity sufficient to saponify the oil, fat, rosin, or crudo turpentine, and
the mass be kept well agitated. The soap formed by the combination of the oil,
fat, rosin, or crude turpentine with the soda, will after the agitation has ceased
settle at the bottom of the agitator, carrying with it most of the impurities, which
are then drawn off, and the ozokerit remaining in the agitator is again agitated

page_text: with hot water and steam, until all soapy matter and most of the impurities are
removed, and until the last particles of odour are eliminated.
In order to remove the last particles of impurities the melted ozokerit is then
drawn off and passed through a filter, closely packed with finely granulated or
powdered and dried clay, or clay and charcoal combined, which will retain all solid
impurities.
The ozokerit so far purified presents a yellowish colour, and in order to remove
this colour still further, and to obtain a whitish wax-like substance, I melt the
ozokerit in a second clean agitator and agitate it with a sufficient quantity of
finely granulated or powdered animal charcoal, using increased quantities of
charcoal when necessary, until the ozokerit has obtained the desired degree of
whiteness.
In order to remove the particles of charcoal that may be mechanically suspended
in the so purified ozokerit, I draw off the contents of the second agitator and
pass them through any suitable filtering material which will retain these particles of
charcoal, and I thus obtain a whitish wax-like material which I propose to term
"ceraffin" suitable for candle making, and for most purposes for which beeswax,
paraffin, stearine, and other similar substances are now in use.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention and in
what manner the same is or may be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim
as of my Invention, and as secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The process of refining crude ozokerit without distillation and without
pressure, carbonate of baryta being used, and the process carried on substantially as
herein-before described.
Secondly. The use of the saponification process substantially as herein-before
described for precipitating the carbonaceous particles and impurities and removal of
colouring matter, and whether it be used in conjunction with carbonate of baryta or
in any other analogous process wherein ozokerit is refined without distillation and
without pressure.
In witness whereof, I, the said Carl Maria Pielsticker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
CARL MARIA PIELSTICKER. (L.S.)