Improvements in and connected with the Saponification of Fatty Matters, and in the Manufacture of Glycerine.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 30th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 19th Feb., 1898
Improvements in and connected with the Saponification of Fatty
Matters, and in the Manufacture of Glycerine.
I, ERNEST GEORGE SCOTT, of 67, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the saponification of fatty matters and
in obtaining glycerine therefrom.
When fats are decomposed by boiling with lime, lime soap is formed, whilst the
glycerine contained in the fats is dissolved in the water used in the operation.
Hitherto the glycerine waters have been run from this lime soap as far as possible
but a very considerable quantity (more than half) of the glycerine waters remains
in small cavities in the lime soap itself. The lime soap has then been treated with
sulphuric acid which liberated the fat from the lime, by combining with the
latter and forming sulphate of lime, and the weak acid has been taken for con-
centration for glycerine. This concentration has been a very difficult operation,
however, by reason of the presence of sulphate of lime and a large quantity of
glycerine is lost by being mixed with the solid sulphate.
According to my invention I run off the sweet or glycerine waters as before to
obtain the lime soap, then grind the latter between suitable rollers, and then put
the ground material into a centrifugal machine where the remaining waters will
be driven off. The lime soap is then washed with water to remove the last trace
of glycerine.
By the use of my invention I obviate the difficulties of concentration due to the
presence of acid water and lime.
Improvements in and connected with the Saponification of Fatty
Matters, and in the Manufacture of Glycerine.
I, ERNEST GEORGE SCOTT, of 67, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, 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:―
My invention relates to improvements in the saponification of fatty matters and
in obtaining glycerine therefrom.

page_text: When fats are
boiled with lime, lime soap is formed, whilst the
glycerine contained in the fats is dissolved in the water used in the operation.
Hitherto the glycerine waters have been run from this lime soap as far as possible
(a very considerable quantity (more than half) of the glycerine waters remaining
in small cavities in the lime itself) and then the lime soap has been treated
with dilute sulphuric acid, which liberated the fat from the lime, by combining
with the latter and forming sulphate of lime, and also took up the glycerine. This
weak acid has then been concentrated for obtaining the glycerine, but the concen-
tration has been a very difficult operation by reason of the presence of sulphate of
lime, and a large quantity of glycerine is lost by being mixed with the solid
sulphate.
According to my invention I provide for removing the whole of the glycerine
waters from the lime soap preparatory to the treatment of the latter with acid,
whereby the difficulties of concentration and the loss of glycerine hereinbefore
referred to are avoided, whilst at the same time the decomposition of the fat under
the action of the acid is facilitated.
In carrying out my invention I run off from the saponified mass, or lime soap,
as much of the sweet or glycerine waters. as is free and I then introduce the
remaining mass into a roller mill or cutting machine or other appliance for
thoroughly breaking up the lumps of soap. If the soap is soft a roller mill with
plain rollers is preferable but if it be hard a roller mill with toothed rollers or a
cutting machine is necessary. After the breaking up in this mill or machine,
during which a further large quantity of the sweet water is separated and caught,
the lime soap is put into a centrifugal machine or a vacuum filter and, if necessary,
washed with water in order to remove the last traces of sweet water.
The lime soap thus freed from glycerine is treated with acid in the usual manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
-
1. The treatment of fatty matters consisting in saponifying them by boiling with
lime, running off the free waters containing glycerine, breaking up the lumps of
saponified fat, subjecting the broken mass to the action of a centrifugal machine
or vacuum filter or similar device to remove the remaining glycerine waters and
subsequently treating the mass with acid, substantially as, and for the purpose,
described.
2. In the manufacture of glycerine separating the glycerine waters from the
lime soap prior to the treatment of the latter with acid, substantially as, and for
the purpose,
described.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.