IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SOAP LYES FOR THE SEPARATION OF GLYCERINE THEREFROM
Year: 1881

page_text: "6
LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Versmann, Ph.D., Consulting Chemist, of New
Charlton, in the County of Kent, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TREATMENT OF SOAP LYES FOR THE SEPARATION OF GLYCERINE
THEREFROM."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Versmann at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th July 1881.
FREDERICK VERSMANN, Ph.D., Consulting Chemist, of New Charlton, in the
County of Kent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SOAP LYES FOR THE
SEPARATION OF GLYCERINE THEREFROM."
The object of this Invention is the recovery of glycerine from soap lyes, and
its more or less complete separation from the accompanying salts, chiefly chloride
of sodium, carbonate of soda, and caustic soda. I separate a large percentage of
these salts by simply boiling down the soap lye and raking out the salts as they
become insoluble; I then allow the concentrated solution to cool, after which I pass
carbonic acid gas through it till the whole of the carbonate and caustic soda is
converted into bicarbonate of soda; this is much less soluble in glycerine than
either the carbonate of soda or the caustic soda, and may readily be removed by
filtration or other convenient means.
I may also begin by passing carbonic acid gas through the original soap lye, but
I find it more convenient to first reduce the bulk of the liquid by boiling down,
thereby separating large quantities of the salts, and then to treat the liquid with
carbonic acid. The liquid from which the bi-carbonate of soda has been removed
is very rich in glycerine, but it still retains sensible quantities of chloride of sodium
and other salts, the presence of which may act injuriously in the subsequent
application of the glycerine to certain purposes. These salts I separate by
submitting the liquid either hot or cold to the process of "Osmose" in an apparatus
known as the "Osmogene," such as is used in the separation of saline compounds
from solutions of beet root sugar; by this process nearly all the salts are separated
from the glycerine; but as the latter becomes diluted with water, if desired, I
concentrate it by evaporation, when it will be ready for the market as crude
glycerine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frederick Versmann in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th January 1882.
FREDERICK VERSMANN, Ph.D., Consulting Chemist, of New Charlton, in the
County of Kent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SOAP LYES FOR THE
SEPARATION OF GLYCERINE THEREFROM."
The object of this Invention is the recovery of glycerine from soap lyes, and its
more or less complete separation from the accompanying salts, chiefly chloride of
sodium, carbonate of soda, and caustic soda. I separate a large percentage of
these salts by simply boiling down the soap lye and raking out the salts as they
become insoluble; I then allow the concentrated solution to cool, after which I
pass carbonic acid gas through it till the whole of the carbonate and caustic soda
is converted into bicarbonate of soda; this is much less soluble in glycerine than
either the carbonate of soda or the caustic soda, and may readily be removed by
filtration or other convenient means.
The liquid from which the bicarbonate of soda has been removed is very rich in
glycerine, but it still retains sensible quantities of chloride of sodium and other
salts, the presence of which may act injuriously in the subsequent application of
the glycerine to certain purposes. These salts I separate by submitting the liquid
either hot or cold to the process of "Osmose" in an apparatus known as the
"Osmogene," such as is used in the separation of saline compounds from solutions
of beet root sugar; by this process nearly all the salts are separated from the
glycerine; but as the latter becomes diluted with water, if desired, I concentrate it
by evaporation, when it will be ready for the market as crude glycerine.
Instead of commencing the treatment by boiling down the lye I may begin by
passing carbonic acid gas through the original soap lye, or, if preferred, the use of
carbonic acid gas may be dispensed with, but I find the most convenient and
economical way is to first reduce the bulk of the liquid by boiling down so as to
separate large quantities of the salts, and then to treat the liquid with carbouic
acid; the subsequent treatment in the Osmogene is essential in-all-cases.-
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Versmann, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of January, One thousand eight hundred
and eighty two.
FRED VERSMANN. (L.S.)