THE MANU- FACTURE OF A SUBSTITUTE FOR ALBUMEN
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Archibald Brooman, of 166, Fleet Street,
in the City of. London, Patent Agent; for the. Invention of "THE MANU-
FACTURE OF A SUBSTITUTE FOR ALBUMEN."-A communication from abroad
by Charles Kestner, of Thann, France.
Sealed the 31st March 1865, and dated the 3rd. October 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Archibald Brooman
_ at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd October 1864. : :
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "THE MANUFACTURE OF A SUBSTITUTE FOR ALBUMEN," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the manufacture of a substitute for albumen,.
called by the Inventor "mixed albumen," because of the analogy existing
between it and albumen obtained from eggs, and because also it is composed
of gluten, prepared as hereafter described, mixed with albumen or other soluble
bodies such as gum.

page_text: To prepare gluten to be used in the preparation of this mixed albumen care
must be taken to remove the starch as much as possible, as success will
depend in a great measure upon its more or less complete removal. For this
purpose, and in order to impart to the gluten properties which will allow of its
being applied in various manufactures as a substitute for albumen obtained
from eggs, I ferment it in tepid or cold water of convenient temperature, say,
at from 60° to 80° Fahrenheit. 1 stop the fermentation when the paste of
-the-gluten-becomes-sticky-and-before-it-dissolves-in-the-water-;-I-then.draw
off the water, I saturate the fermented gluten with a solution of carbonate of
soda until litmus paper will no longer indicate any action, or until the mixture
becomes slightly alkaline; I then wash, the mixture.in cold water, and knead
or work the mass to remove all the soluble salts; I then again ferment it as
before; I afterwards saturate it, as before stated, with carbonate of soda,
after having drawn off the water; I next wash the product in pure water.
The glutinous mass separated from soluble salts has a clearer color; I dissolve
it in ammonia, the quantity of which will vary according to the quality of the
two substances, generally 3 ounces (96 grammes) of ammonia will be
sufficient for 2 pounds (one kilogramme) of gluten. If the water and
ammonia were removed by evaporation at a gentle temperature the gluten
would be sufficiently pure, but it would not have the property of redissolving
in pure water. To render it soluble it is necessary to add to the ammoniacal
mixture before its desiccation some bodies which dissolve easily; several
substances may be used for this purpose, but it is preferable to use those
which do not deprive the product of properties possessed by white of egg. I
prefer pure animal albumen or gum, or a mixture of these two substances; I
incorporate these substances in the form of aqueous solution with the
ammoniacal mixture of gluten prepared as before described, and I dry the
mixture into blocks or otherwise, as is the practice with albumen. The best
proportions are about one part of dry soluble substance to two parts of dry
gluten; some kinds of gluten require more and other kinds less soluble
substance.
The product obtained may be used as a substitute for albumen as employed
in manufactures and otherwise for photographic purposes; however, the mixture
should ha
he mode free from cum

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Archibald Brooman in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd April 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year.
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, Her special licence, that
I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors, administrators,.
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,"
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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 "THE MANUFACTURE OF. A SUBSTITUTE,
FOR ALBUMEN;" (communicated to me from abroad by Charles Kestner, of Thann,
France,) upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Richard Archibald,
Brooman,) executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Great Seal Patent
Office within. six, calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said; Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, 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, thereof, that is to say:
The object of this Invention is to treat gluten in order to give it the
property of albumen obtained from eggs, whereby it may be substituted for
albumen in manufactures and otherwise.
This product or substitute for albumen is called by the Inventor "mixed
albumen," because of the analogy existing between it and albumen obtained
from eggs, and because also it is composed of gluten, prepared as hereafter
described, mixed with albumen or other soluble bodies such as gum.
To prepare gluten to be used in the preparation of this mixed albumen,

page_text: care must be. taken to remove the starch as much as possible, as success will
depend in a great measure upon its more or less complete removal. For this
purpose and in order to impart to the gluten properties which will allow of
its being applied in various manufactures as a substitute for albumen obtained
from eggs; I ferment it in tepid or cold water of convenient temperature, say,
at from 60° to 80° Fahrenheit. I stop the fermentation when the paste of
the gluten becomes sticky, and before it dissolves in the water; I then draw off
the water. I saturate the fermented gluten with a solution of carbonate of
soda until litmus paper will no longer indicate any action, or until the mixture
becomes slightly alkaline. I then wash the mixture in cold water, and knead
or work the mass to remove all the soluble salts; I then again ferment it as
before. I afterwards saturate it, as before stated, with carbonate of soda
after having drawn off the water. I next wash the product in pure water.
The glutinous mass separated from soluble salts has a clearer color; I dissolve.
it in caustic ammonia, the quantity of which will vary according to the quality
of the two substances, generally three and half ounces (96. grammes) of
ammonia will be sufficient for 24 pounds (one kilogramme) of gluten; if
the water and ammonia were removed by evaporation at a gentle temperature
the gluten would be sufficiently pure, but it would not have the property
of redissolving in pure water. To render it soluble it is necessary to
add to the ammoniacal mixture before its disiccation some bodies which
dissolve easily. Several substances may be used for this purpose, but it is
preferable to use those which do not deprive the product of properties
similar to that possessed by white of egg. I prefer pure animal albumen or
gum, or a mixture of these two substances. I incorporate these substances
in the form of aqueous solution with the ammoniacal mixture of gluten
prepared as before described, and I dry the mixture into blocks or otherwise
as is the practice with albumen. The best proportions are about one part of
dry soluble substance to two parts of dry gluten; some kinds of gluten require
more and other kinds less soluble substance. The solution obtained is quite
uniform, and no part can be separated from the rest. It is run upon tinned
plates, and dried at 60° Fahrenheit at the highest. When the product is
well dried it becomes detached from the plate; it possesses a yellow color,
and can be easily redissolved. To redissolve it take equal quantities in weight
of the product, and water, and stir well.
The product obtained may be used as a substitute for albumen as employed
in manufactures and otherwise, especially for printing stuffs and clarifying
liquids for photographic purposes; however the mixture should be made free

page_text: 5
And having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim treating gluten,
substantially in manner herein-before described, in order to fit it for employ-
ment as a substitute for albumen.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Third day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-five.
R. A. BROOMAN. (L.S.)