IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOAP
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Diego Jimenez, of Percy Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Merchant, for the-Invention of "IMPROVE-
THANIEL
Scaled the 23rd March 1853, and dated the 5th October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Diego Jimenez at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th October 1852.
I, DIEGO JIMENEZ, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOAP" to be as
follows:-
The object of this Invention is to obtain by the use of a given
quantity of oleaginous matter (which is the most expensive ingredient
of soap as at present manufactured) a greater quantity of soap than
has been heretofore produced. This I effect by the employment of a
larger proportion of alkali than it has heretofore been the practice to
use, mixing the same by a cold process instead of boiling. Ifeat is,
however, applied to bring the fat (when that grease is used) to a liquid
state, but when oil is the oleaginous matter no heat will be required
when the ley is once prepared. By this process, and in consequence

page_text: of combining a larger quantity of alkali than heretofore with the
oleaginous matter, with the use of 100 parts of this substance from
two to six hundred parts of pure soap may be produced. I am enabled
to effect this combination by reason of a method which I have dis-
covered of preparing the ley, by which means I am enabled to deprive
it of all extraneous matters. By the use of this, and by mixing it with
the oleaginous matter in certain definite proportions, I am enabled to
manufacture soap much more expeditiously than under the known
systems.
The soap this made may, if required, be combined (by boiling) with
any of the various rosins used in the manufacture of soap. The pre-
pared ley may be used in the ordinary hot process of soap making, as
well as in any new cold process, but not in all respects with an equally
favorable result.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Diego Jimenez in the Great Seal Patent Office, on
the 2nd April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
DIEGO JIMENEZ, of Percy Street, in the County of Middlesex, Merchant,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of October, Que thousand
eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Diego Jimenez, Her especial license that I, the said Diego Jimenez,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Diego Jimenez, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at a 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOAP,"

page_text: upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Diego Jimenez,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Diego Jimenez, do hereby declare
the nature of my said invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, (that is to say):
This Invention relates, firstly, to a mode of manufacturing from any
given quantity of grease or oleaginous matter a larger quantity of soap
than can be produced by the ordinary system of manufacturing soaps
by boiling; this result is effected by an improvement in the mode of
preparing the leys, in consequence of which preparation it is possible
to combine with the oil, grease, or fat used in producing the sapona-
ceous mixture a greater proportion of alkali than can be done in other
modes of soap making; the soaps thus obtained are likewise of a
superior quality, and an economy is effected in their cost of production;
they also possess great cleansing power, which renders the use of soda
with them unnecessary. In addition to these advantages the hard soaps
obtained by this process are harder than those made in the ordinary
manner, and they are not subject to so much loss of weight by keeping.
This Invention relates, secondly, to the making of soaps by a cold
process instead of by boiling (that is to say,) in consequence of the
prepared leys and the oleose or fatty matter being put in reaction at
certain fixed quantities, in being able to mix, combine, and convert them
into soap at a temperature not exceeding thirty-three degrees to
thirty-five degrees centigrade (ninety-one degrees to ninety-five degrees
Fahrenheit), the soap being immediately formed by admixture of the
components, thus giving a great economy in labor and time.
This Invention relates, thirdly, to a mode of obtaining by the com-
bination of the prepared leys and the oleose or fatty matter by a cold
process, or at a heat not exceeding thirty-three degrees to thirty-five de-
grees centigrade (ninety-one degrees to ninety-five degrees Fahrenheit),

page_text: from two hundred up to six hundred parts of soap for every one hundred
parts of grease or oil employed; also in obtaining the same large pro-
portions of soap by boiling, if required; which quantities cannot be
obtained by the usual methods of soap making or boiling, excepting
the leys be purified and prepared in the manner herein stated.
HARD SOAPS.
The leys are formed by extracting them from natural barillas, or
from artificial carbonate of soda; these substances give the leys for the
formation of hard soaps (the. leys for soft soaps being obtained by
dissolving in water the alkaline salts contained in the ashes of non-
marine vegetables).. Both the natural barillas and the artificial car-
bonate of soda are triturated until they are reduced to small particles,
and when in this state a certain quantity of quick lime is mixed with
the mass in proportion to the quantity of carbonated alkali contained
in the barilla or artificial carbonate of soda (or in the solution from the
ashes mentioned above). The quantity of alkali contained in the
barilla or carbonate of soda, or in the solution from the ashes, is to be
previously ascertained by an ordinary alkalimetrical experiment, and
the proportion of lime to be added to the mass is then to be calculated
according to the chemical equivalents of the carbonate of soda (or
potash if the alkali has been obtained from wood ashes).
The mixture having been prepared as stated, all the salt contained
in the ashes, soda, or barilla is completely extracted from them in
water, and the leys so obtained are concentrated by heat in iron boilers
of any shape until the solutions of caustic alkali mark thirty-seven
degrees on Beaumé's areometer. The leys which are obtained from the
ashes of non-marine plants or vegetables are only to be. concentrated
until they mark thirty-one degrees on the areometer. In this state the
leys are taken from the boilers, and left to settle and cool. As in the
process of soap making now treated on I make use of carbonated leys;
I obtain these from barilla or artificial carbonate of soda by the same
operations or means as the preceding ones, with the only difference that
no lime is put to the barilla or artificial soda, and that the leys are
concentrated until they..mark only twenty-nine degrees on the said

page_text: areometer of Beaumé. The carbonated leys in this state are fit for usc;
but with regard to the caustic leys it. is necessary to prove and examine
them, and be fully convinced of their perfect causticity; as if it should
be found that they contain any carbonic acid, more lime must be added
from time to time in certain proportions until the decomposition of the
alkaline carbonate be fully effected. If in the preparation of leys from
soda use is made of the salts extracted by the makers of artificial soda,
such salts being true carbonates, lime is added in accordance with
what is already stated, in order to obtain completely caustic ley.
I combine the leys from soda prepared in the way stated with the
greases or oleose matter in three different proportions; but it must
be understood that the leys at thirty-seven degrees on the areometer
of Beaumé which are obtained from natural barilla contain about
23-31 per cent. of oxide of sodium, whilst those obtained from arti-
ficial soda with the same arcometric weight contain only about twenty
per cent., for which reason we have two distinct series or proportions
of combinations.
The proportions in which the first series, or the leys extracted from
natural barilla, are to be used are: First proportion, 46.48, of the
caustic alkaline solution at thirty-seven degrees to one hundred of grease
or oil. Second proportion, 92-96 of the ley to one hundred of grease or
oil. Third proportion, 139.44 of the ley to one hundred of grease or oil.
The proportions of the second series, or those in which the leys
extracted from artificial soda are to be used, are: First proportion, 54.17
of caustic ley at thirty-seven degrees to one hundred of grease or oil.
Second proportion, 108-35 of the ley to one hundred of grease or oil.
Third proportion, 162.52 of ley to one hundred of grease or oil.
Comparing the two classes of leys or caustic solutions of soda
obtained from natural and artificial soda, the same quantities of oxide
of sodium will be found contained in 46.48, 92.96, 139.44 of the
leys which proceed from natural barilla as in 54.17, 108.35, 162.52
respectively of the leys which are obtained from artificial soda.
I make the said three classes or proportions of soap in a cold state,
or at thirty-three degrees to thirty-five degrees centigrade thermometer.
The process employ is as follows:-I bring the oils or greases

page_text: and the leys to the indicated temperature of thirty-three degrees to
thirty-five degrees, and in this state I mix them completely together.
As soon as the two bodies or substances are brought into intimate
combination, the saponification is effected. The result of this operation
is, a not very firm and consistent mass of soap, which in this state may
be passed to the moulds or frames in a stove room at the temperature
of twenty degrees to twenty-five degrees centigrade, and it goes on
progressively increasing in hardness or solidity, so that in ten days it is
in a fit state for use. This mode of proceeding comprehends the three
classes or distinct proportions of soap I have mentioned; but my im-
proved system or method is not limited to the employment of the leys
with the oils and greases in the proportions mentioned only, as after the
mixture has obtained a certain consistency I sometimes add thereto
carbonated ley at thirty-one degrees arconicter (Beauné) in the
manner following:-I put together the caustic ley and oil in either of
the three proportions already given, and I keep them in motion by
beating or stirring together for the space of fifteen minutes, by which
time, more or less, the substances which were in a liquid state will have
arrived at or taken a consistency similar to a thin jelly, and whilst in
this state I add of carbonated ley a quantity equal to the half of the oil
employed, and then again I put the whole in motion by beating or
stirring it for fifteen minutes more, by which time the soapy mass will
again acquire the consistency it had before, and I repeat the additions
of ley in the same order until the whole is composed of six hundred
parts, (that is to say,) one hundred of oil and five hundred of caustic
and carbonated ley.. I then put it in a stove room at twenty degrees
to twenty-five degrees centigrade, if the temperature is low, but in
summer the atmospheric heat alone will be sufficient, and in ten or
twelve days it is fit for use. It must be borne in mind that the oil, in
order that it may combine with the above-mentioned quantity of leys,
must not be oxygenized; but tallows and solid fats, even if they are not
oxygenized, will not admit in combination so large a quantity of leys as
we have just said. The soaps thus made in a cold state, with these large
proportions of alkali, I employ after they have become hard for making
soaps with a mixture of rosin. To effect this I divide the soap into

page_text: geneous by boiling, and it is apparent that all the water that was added
has been evaporated off, it is taken from the fire and put into moulds
in a cool place, and when cold it is fit for use.
In order that sufficient heat may penetrate the masses when in the
stove room the moulds for hard soaps should not be more than ninety-
six inches long, twenty-four inches wide, and eighteen inches deep,
more or less, which size will give approximatively fifteen hundredweight
of soap. If the moulds be of less proportions than above mentioned it
would cause much inconvenience in dividing the soap into bars, &c.
SOFT SOAPS.
For the formation of these soaps the caustic leys are obtained from
the ashes of non-marine vegetables in the usual way. I concentrate
these leys until they mark thirty-one degrees on Beaumé's areometer,
as already stated. Of this solution of caustic potassa I form soft soap
by mixing it with the oils or greases in the manner following:-I put
one hundred parts of oil, tallow, or solid fat to one hundred parts of
the said ley, and keep the mixture in motion until the two substances
are perfectly mingled together; I then let them remain quiet for an
hour, after which I again stir them up several times, and then leave
them till the following day; by that time the soapy mass will have
attained suflicient solidity or firmness; a second quantity of ley equal
to that of the previous day is then added, and the same operations gone.
through. These additions, with the same process of beating or stirring
together, are repeated in the same order until the mass consists of five
hundred parts or more by weight. I also produce a similar effect to
that just described by using, in the place of the caustic ley, the car-
bonated ley at thirty-one degrees Beaumé, such as I add to the hard
soaps, with this difference, that I concentrate them to thirty-two
degrees, or the degree of crystallization, thus obtaining soft soaps as
with the solution of caustic potassa, following out in the whole the
method or process already given. These operations are carried on in a
stove room leated to from thirty-three degrees to thirty-five degrees
centigrade.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my Invention of improvements
in manufacturing soap, I wish it to be understood that I claim under
the above in part recited Letters Patent,-
First, the mode herein described of preparing the leys, and the com-
bination of such prepared leys, in the proportions above set forth, with
oils and fatty matters."
Second, the production of a neutral compound by the admixture of
caustic and carbonated leys with the greases, as stated.
Third, the making of soaps by the cold process, or at a temperature
of from thirty-three degrees to thirty-five degrees centigrade, as herein-
before described.
Fourth, the application of the specified improvements to boiled soaps,
produced by the usual method of soap making, or by boiling the soaps
made by the cold process, and the addition of rosin thereto as may be
required; and, .
Fifth, the application of the specified improvements to hard, white,
mottled, and yellow soaps, and soft soaps.
In witness whereof, I, the said Diego Jimenez, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-three.
Witness,
A. V. NEWTON.
DIEGO JIMENEZ. (L.S.)