An Improved Process for the Production of Alkali Compounds of Albuminous Substances.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1898-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process for the Production of Alkali Compounds of
Albuminous Substances.
11
I, CHRISTIAN ALBERT JENSEN, of No. 77, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion (a communication to me from abroad by Julius Maemecke, of No. 23, Lessing
Strasse, Berlin, in the German Empire, Merchant), and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an improved process for the production of alkali
compounds of albuminous substances, and has for its object more especially
to produce such compounds in a condition in which the pure taste of the same
is retained and preserved.
It has hitherto been attempted in various ways to produce soluble alkali
compounds of albuminous matter in a condition in which the above mentioned
object is attained, the albumen in the said compounds playing the part of an
acid.
The difficulty of this problem consists in the fact, that in the neutralization
or dissolving of the acid-like precipitated albumen, every excess of alkali pro-
duces decomposition even at ordinary temperature, but especially when heated,
thus rendering the product absolutely useless more especially for purposes of
food.
It has furthermore been recognized that not only a very slight excess of free
alkali produces this decomposing effect, but experiments have proved that also
the neutral alkaline carbonates in this respect influence the albuminous matter
in just the same manner as the free alkalies, i.c. these substances transformed
into brown unpleasantly tasting and smelling substances.
It has been attempted in various ways to remove the above mentioned diffi-
culties in the neutralization of "acid albuminous matter," that is to say of such
albuminous matter or substances, which with bases produce salt-like com-
pounds, or which are separated by acids from alkaline solutions.
As instances of the method adopted to remove these difficulties I mention
a known process in which the correct degree for neutralization was ascertained
by the use of a suitable indicator, and thus any excess of alkali avoided.
This process however does not fully solve the problem. On the one hand
because the carrying through of the work by means of indicators does not see
possible on a large scale, in view of the difficulties in mixing, and on the other
hand, when employing neutral alkaline carbonates as well as other neutralizing
agents local decomposition is unavoidable at the moment of the mixing, as the
decomposition of the albuminous matter by the alkali, takes place more quickly
than it is possible to mix the rapidly soluble neutralizing agents with the albu-
minous substances, the latter being in the form of a moist ball or lump. The
product now on the market and produced according to this process confirms
by its unpleasant taste that which has been above stated, with regard to decom-
position.
This difficulty which is no doubt caused by a possible, even though momen-

page_text: tary excess of alkali, or caustic alkali, has been solved, by endeavouring to pro-
duce the salt-like compounds of caseine with ammonia. In this case a volatile
base is employed, which on the one hand even when used in excess, has the
quality that it produces no decomposition of the albuminous matter, and on the
other hand that any excess of ammonia in consequence of its volatility, is easily
removable.
The preparations however, which were made or prepared according to this
last mentioned process, are, for instance, for purposes of food, as good as
excluded, for clearly according to their chemical and physiological character
they are salts of ammonium.
This improved process hereinafter more fully described gives a new solution
of this frequently attempted problem, viz. the combining of acid albuminous
matter with alkalies in a condition entirely free from or not liable to decom-
position, so that my improved preparations, besides of their use for technical
purposes, are, on account of their pure taste entirely suitable, and can with
advantage be employed for purposes of food.
My process is based upon the fact, that whilst as herein before indicated, the
neutral alkaline carbonates are almost of equal influence as the free alkalies, with
regard to the decomposition of aluminious matter the "bicarbonates" or acid car-
bonates of the alkalies have an entirely different effect, and even if employed
in excess and also at a higher temperature, produce no decomposition of the
albuminous bodies which would cause any unpleasant taste, whilst the said
bodies at the same time, when treated with the bicarbonates can with ease be
brought again into a soluble state or condition.
This said property is based upon the retarding action of the free carbonic
acid largely generated in the process from the bicarbonates or acid carbonates.
In consequence of the manner in which the bicarbonates are employed, or in
other words, in consequence of the conditions under which my improved process
is carried out, the carbonic acid is prevented from escaping. The presence of
such free carbonic acid, prevents, as is experimentally easily capable of proof,
the decomposition of the albuminous matter by the alkali, whilst it nevertheless
permits the combining of the acid albuminous matter with the base of the
bicarbonate.
The action of the carbonic acid is a retarding one, and allows time for the
influence of the alkalies upon the albuminous matter while preventing or
retarding all violent reaction.
My improved process consists in separating the albuminous substance from
their solutions, said substances having been first cleansed by repeated dissolv-
ing and reprecipitating, subsequently by straining or in other manner, suit-
ably removing as far as possible all the water, and mechanically treating the
so obtained albumen ball with bi-carbonate of soda.
This mixture of albuminous matter and bicarbonate is then transformed
into a glassy, swollen or thick slimy ductile condition. The process can be
accelerated by the employment of heat, without the risk of a decomposition of
the albuminous matter setting in, which might cause an unpleasant taste. Dur-
ing the mixing, it may be observed, that a large number of carbonic acid
bubbles are generated, that these permeate and somewhat loosen the mass but
that in consequence of the tough consistency of the same the said bubbles are
retained within the said mass. The so obtained mass is then dried at ordinary
or suitably increased temperature, the film formed during the drying process
having the effect of still further keeping the carbonic acid distributed within
the mixture in the form of froth.
For the present process it is not a necessary condition, that the quantities of
the neutralizing agents employed, be accurately measured, for as already stated,
the bicarbonates or acid carbonates even if present in excess do not produce
a decomposition of the albumen. One important condition for my process is
however, that by or during the mixing of the albuminous matter with the

page_text: bicarbonate, it should assume the form of a tough swollen substance, whereby
the escape of the carbonic acid is prevented.
In order, when employing my process on a large scale, to avoid the loss of
the carbonic acid, which is of such great value for the process, a current of
carbonic acid or a current containing carbonic acid, can be conducted over or
across the articles to be dried. A carbonic acid atmosphere of this description
would tend to still further increase the difficulty of the escape or loss, or of the
diffusion into the air of the carbonic acid, even more, than does the process
itself. My process possesses also the advantage, that these intermediate pro-
ducts viz. the aforesaid tough swollen mass contains only a small percentage of
water I thus avoid in a very simple manner, the decomposition which usually
takes place with the various albuminous substances, when the same are heated
for a more or less prolonged period, in a moist atmosphere, or in consequence
of the evaporation of the solution.
As especial examples of the above mentioned process I will proceed to
describe the preparation of a soluble albumen from caseine according to my
improved process, and secondly from fish.
1. The production of the caseine preparation may be effected as follows:--
The caseine separated by precipitation or when necessary cleansed by redis-
solving and precipitation as described is further separated to the greatest possible
extent from the watery fluid by straining, pressing or centrifugal action. The
caseine in this form is then made into a dry powder by the addition of bi-car-
bonate of soda or by the addition of a mixture of bi-carbonate of soda and
bi-carbonate of potash, and in suitable machines thoroughly mixed by mechani-
cally stirring and working the same together. For each hundred parts of the
pressed albumen' ball or lump about 3-4 parts of bicarbonate of soda are
employed. As soon as the mixture during the stirring has reached a uniform
slimy glassy and ductile condition, the same is spread out into suitable flat
plates, and in this form with or without the aid of heat is dried in an atmos-
phere of carbonic acid or in an atmosphere containing carbonic acid.
2. The preparation of the albumen compound from fish, I will illustrate by
the following example:
"
The muscle portion of the fish, for instance" cod is cut into small pieces
and heated with thinly diluted alkaline lye or with ammonia. After several
hours of digesting the undissolved portion is separated from the liquid by strain-
ing. Hereupon the liquid is treated with acids, and the resulting precipitate
washed with cold water, the water being subsequently removed by pressing or
centrifugal action. As described with reference to the previous example the
mass is now treated with bicarbonate and thoroughly mixed together. The
quantities of the alkali bicarbonate necessary for this purpose are the same as
mentioned in the first example. When employing heat while mixing and
drying, the most favorable temperature for the mixing of the precipitated albu-
minous bodies with the bicarbonate is 40 to 50° C, at which temperature in con-
sequence of the albuminous matter combining with the alkali of the bicarbonate,
very small carbonic acid bubbles form in the mixture, the said bubbles by
permeating the mass preparing it for the subsequent drying. The tempera-
ture could however be increased even to 100 degrees, without a decomposition
of the albuminous matter taking place, care only being necessary that the con-
sistency of the mass be such, that the mechanically held carbonic acid does
not escape.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. An improved process for the production of soluble neutral albumen salts
from albuminous bodies reacting as acids, in which process the precipitated
and still moist albuminous matter is treated with a bicarbonate or acid carbonate

page_text: until a glassy swollen tough consistency of the liquid results, the so obtained
product being subsequently dried, substantially as described.
2. An improved process for the production of soluble neutral albumen salts
from albuminous bodies reacting as acids, in which process the precipitated and
still moist albumen is treated with bicarbonate or acid carbonate said treatment
being accelerated by heat until a glassy, swollen or tough consistency of the
liquid results, the so obtained product being subsequently dried, substantially
as described.
3. An improved process for the production of soluble neutral albumen salts
from albuminous bodies reacting as acids, in which process any of the described
operations or steps may be carried out in an atmosphere containing carbonic
acid, substantially as described.
10:1
1000
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agents.