Improvements Relating to the Purification of Fatty or Oleaginous Substances, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements Relating to the Purification of Fatty or
Oleaginous Substances, and Apparatus therefor.
1, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE PURIFICATION OF FATTY
::
OR OLEAGINOUS SUBSTANCES, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR il communication from
Arthur François Le Myé of 58 Rue des Petites Ecuries, Paris, France, Civil
Engineer, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the treatment of fatty or oleaginous substances, parti-
cularly oils, and permits of effecting in a continuous operation, the complete
purification of the said substances.
I employ for this purpose apparatus which I shall describe below and by means
of which I eliminate in the first instance the odoriferous soap which has formed by
the previous action of alkali.
This condition of preliminary separation is of capital importance inasmuch as
the oil in prolonged contact with the soap, dissolves sufficient quantities thereof, in
order to change its flavour and odour.
This separation and the arrangement of my apparatus enable a product to be
obtained free from bad flavour.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure is a sectional view of the apparatus for the continuous separation.
Figure 2 is a similar view of the vaporizing column and
Figure is a similar view of the apparatus for the continuous decomposition of
the soapy solutions by acid.
In the apparatus shown in Figure 1 the first phase of the operation is carried
out:-
Into a small vessel A (figure 1) of a semi-cylindrical or any other suitable form
and provided with an agitator, are admitted, by two ball valves, oil and alkali
separately the mixing is suitably effected by the aid of an agitator. In this first
phase of the purification the fatty acids are neutralized by the alkali and an
IPS/1

page_text: emulsion forms which is composed of neutral oil and of soap. Then this mixture
is passed into a separating apparatus in which the oil which separates is collected
on one side, and the soapy water on the other. The mixture passes in a continuous
manner through the tube n into the separating apparatus which it enters through
the tubular ring D perforated on the underside, through which perforations the
mixture of oil and the soapy lye are emitted. Above this tubular ring is fixed a
diaphragm E pierced with numerous holes through which the neutral oil, liberated
in the lower part of the apparatus, passes floating at the upper portion and flowing
out through the tube N into a special vessel from which it is drawn in order to
undergo the second phase of the purification.
Above the diaphragm is arranged a tubular ring C perforated on the underside,
through which perforations the water is introduced.
Upon the shaft B is formed a helix
of sheet-iron pierced with holes enabling
A slow rotary
the separated oil to rise again to the upper part of the apparatus.
motion is imparted to this helix.
The water passing from the tube C, by causing the separation of the mixture of
oil and soapy lye, takes up the soap and flows out through the tube into the
cylindrical vessel G which enables the collection of the small quantities of oil
which may be carried away in the stream of water, to collect. Finally the soapy
solution flows into a vessel H from whence it is passed through the tube R to the
apparatus for the continuous decomposition.
Having obtained by the aid of the apparatus for attacking the neutral oil and
separating it entirely from the soap with which it was mixed, I subject it in a
column, in which a vacuum can be created and which in form and arrangement is
similar to distilling columns, to the action of a current of steam which removes
rapidly and entirely the odoriferous essential oils with which the oil was still
sullied after its treatment by the alkali.
This column which is shown in Figure 2 is arranged in such a manner that the
oil which has undergone the action of the alkali and which arrives continuously
through the tube A fakes a descending course in a direction contrary to that of a
current of steam which enters into the column through the tube C. The steam
removes from the fatty bodies the essential oils which impart to them bad flavours,
and these fatty bodies find egress from the column through the pipe D, being
entirely cleaned and ready to be put into barrels.
The steam which has arrived at the upper part of the column is saturated with
odoriferous oils and passes through the pipe E to be condensed either in a con-
denser acting by direct injection, or in a surface-condenser.
With the aid of a good vacuum-pump, a perfect vacuum is obtained in the
apparatus.
The withdrawal of the purified oil takes place at D in a continuous manner by
means of a pump or by barometrical discharge. Three steam-coils B B B serve to
prevent the condensation of the steam by maintaining the oil at a sufficient
temperature.
The proportion of the fatty acids converted into soap being, in general, rather
large, I have been led to adopt a third apparatus which enables the decomposition
of the soapy solutions by mineral acid in a continuous manner.
The fatty acids thus liberated enable the original weight of the fatty bodies
subjected to the purification to be reconstituted, whereby the loss of fatty bodies
becomes insignificant.
This apparatus (Figure 3) is composed like the apparatus for the continuous
separation, of a vertical cylinder in which an agitator revolves.
Into the small vessel A is admitted in a continuous manner, by means of two ball
valves, the soapy solution (which passes from the separating apparatus) and diluted
sulphuric or hydrochloric acid.
The two mixed liquids pass to the lower part of the cylinder through the tube N,
where they are raised to a sufficient temperature by the coil R through which
steam passes. The decomposition, which is very rapid, takes place in a complete

page_text: manner and the liberated fatty acids rise to the upper part of the apparatus where
they are discharged through the tube B into the cylindrical vessel C. The lighter
fatty acids float and flow out through the tube D; the water is discharged through
the tube E. entirely freed from fatty acids.
The agitator by its movement facilitates the decomposition of the soap and
permits the more complete utilization of the mineral acid.
Having thus described my apparatus and the mode of operation, it is understood
that modifications of details of construction can be made without departing from
the nature of the invention which is based in principle upon arrangements
enabling the purification of fatty bodies in a continuous operation and their
vaporization in a vacuum, in the absence of the soap, thus enabling fatty bodies of
a perfect degree of purity to be obtained.
Datel this 25th day of Tavambar 1001
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements relating to the Purification of Fatty or
Oleaginous Substances, and Apparatus therefor.
**
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE PURIFICATION OF FATTY
OR OLEAGINOUS SUBSTANCES, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR," 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 the
treatment of fatty or oleaginous substances
particularly oils, and permits of effecting in a continuous operation the complete
purification of the said substances.
I employ for this purpose apparatus which I shall describe hereinafter and by
means of which I eliminate in the first instance the odoriferous soap which has
been formed by the previous action of alkali.
This preliminary separation is of primary importance, inasmuch as the oil, in
prolonged contact with the soap, dissolves sufficient quantities thereof, to change its
flavour and odour.
By means of this separation, and of the apparatus hereinafter described, I am
enabled to obtain a product free from bad flavour.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of apparatus for the continuous separation of
the soap.
Figure 2 is a similar view of the vaporizing column and
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus for the continuous decomposition
of the soapy solutions by acid.
In the apparatus shown in Figure 1 the first step of the operation is carried out.
A, Figure 1 is a vessel of semi-cylindrical or other desirable form, into which the
fatty substance to be purified, and alkali, are admitted separately, through suitable
cocks or valves. The mixing of these substances is effected by the aid of an
agitator arranged in the vessel A. In this first stage of the purification the fatty
acids are neutralized by the alkali and an emulsion forms which is composed of
neutral oil and of soap. This mixture is next passed into a separating apparatus B
wherein the oil is collected at one part and the soapy water at the other.
The mixture passes in a continuous manner from the mixing vessel A through
the tube to the separating apparatus B which it enters through the tubular
ring D perforated on the underside, through which perforations the mixture of
fatty substance and the soapy lye are emitted.
Above this tubular ring is fixed a diaphragm E provided with numerous holes,
through which the neutral oil, separated in the lower part of the apparatus B.
passes, as it rises to the surface of the liquid in the said apparatus. At the upper
portion of the apparatus B is a tube N through which the oil passes into a vessel
from which it is afterwards drawn in order to undergo the second step of the
purification.

page_text: Above the diaphragm E is arranged a tubular ring C perforated on the underside,
through which perforations water is introduced.
Upon the shaft B₁ of the separating apparatus is formed a helix ab of sheet-iron
pierced with holes for enabling the separated oil to rise to the upper part of the
apparatus. A slow rotary motion is imparted to this helix.
The water passing from the tube C, by causing the separation of the mixture of
oil and soapy lye, takes up the soap, and flows through the tube F into the
cylindrical vessel G, thereby enabling the small quantities of oil which may be
carried with the stream of water to be collected. The soapy solution next flows
into a vessel H from whence it is passed through the tube R to the apparatus for
the continuous decomposition hereinafter described.
Having obtained by means of the apparatus just described the neutral oil
entirely free from the soap with which it was mixed, I subject it, in a columu,
termed a vaporizing column, in which a vacuum can be created and which in form
and arrangement is similar to a distilling column, to the action of a current of
steam, which rapidly and entirely removes the odoriferous essential oils which the
fatty substance still retains after its treatment with alkali.
This column, which is shown in Figure 2, is arranged in such a manner that the
oil which has undergone the action of the alkali and which enters continuously
through the tube A, passes in a direction contrary to that of a current of steam
which enters the column through the tube 0.
The steam removes from the fatty substances the essential oils which impart to
them bad flavours so that the said fatty substances leave the column through the
pipe D entirely purified and ready to be put into barrels.
When the steam reaches the upper part of the column it is saturated withi
odoriferous oils, and passes through the pipe E to be condensed either in
condenser acting by the direct injection of water, or in a surface-condenser.
With the aid of a good vacuum-pump a perfect vacuum is obtained in the
apparatus.
The withdrawal of the purified oil takes place at D in a continuous mauner
either by means of a pump or by barometrical discharge.
Three steam coils B BB serve to prevent the condensation of the steam by
maintaining the oil at a sufficient temperature.
The proportion of the fatty acids converted into soap being in general rather
large I have been led to adopt a third apparatus which enables the decomposition
of the soapy solutions by a mineral acid in a continuous manner.
The fatty acids thus liberated enable the original weight of the fatty substances
subjected to the purification to be reconstituted, whereby the loss of fatty substances
becomes insignificant.
This apparatus shown in Figure 3 is composed, like the apparatus for the
continuous separation shown in Figure 1, of a vertical cylinder in which an agitator
revolves.
Into the vessel A the soapy solution (which passes from the separating apparatus)
and diluted sulphuric or hydrochloric acid are admitted through suitable valves.
The two liquids, when mixed, pass to the lower part of the cylinder B through the
tube N, in which cylinder they are raised to a sufficient temperature by the coil R
through which steam passes. The decomposition, which is very rapid, takes place
in a thorough manner, and the liberated fatty acids rise to the upper part of the
apparatus, where they are discharged through the tube B into the cylindrical
vessel C. In the vessel C the lighter fatty acids float and flow out through the
tube D; the water is discharged through the tube E, entirely freed from fatty
arids.
The agitator, by its movement, facilitates the decomposition of the soap and
permits the more complete utilization of the acid with which the substance is
treated.
It is to be understood that modifications of details of construction can be made
without departing from the nature of the invention, which is based upon the

page_text: purification of fatty bodies in a continuous operation and their vaporization in a
vacuum without the presence of the soap, thus enabling fatty bodies of a perfect
degree of purity to be obtained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is
First. The apparatus herein before described for the continuous treatment of fatty
or oleaginous substances, the said apparatus being characterized by the combination
of a vessel A provided with an agitator and in which an intimate mingling of the
substance to be purified and of an alkali takes place; a vessel B separated into two
portions by a perforated partition E, the upper portion receiving water through the
perforated tube C, and the lower portion the mixture passing from the vessel A
through the tube D; and a perforated helix arranged in the lower portion of the
vessel B and enabling the fatty or oleaginous substance to ascend into the upper
portion of the said vessel, all substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Second. The combination with the apparatus referred to in the preceding
claiming clause of a vaporizing column, and an apparatus for the continuous
decomposition of the soapy solutions by an acid, substantially as described.
Third. The process herein described for effecting the complete purification of
fatty or oleaginous substances, consisting in the elimination of the odorous fatty
acids and the vaporization in a vacuum, the said substances having previously been
neutralized by alkalies, as described above, and for the specified purpose.
Dated this 24th day of August, 1885.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.