IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND TREATMENT OF SOAPS AND APPARATUS FOR • EFFECTING THE SAME
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Green commonly called William Vincent Green
of St. Lawrence Thanet in the County of Kent for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND TREATMENT OF SOAPS AND APPARATUS FOR
• EFFECTING THE SAME."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Green commonly
called William Vincent Green at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
on the 5th September 1882.
WILLIAM GREEN commonly called WILLIAM VINCENT GREEN of St. Lawrence
Thanet, in the County of Kent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND
TREATMENT OF SOAPS AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING THE SAME
"
This Invention relates to one for which I received Letters Patent N° 2682 dated
the 18th June 1881 and consists primarily in a certain process or certain processes
whereby a large percentage of petroleum, shale oil or other mineral oil grease or
fat may be made to enter into the composition of soaps.
First. Soap or a sponaceous compound is produced from petroleum, or other
mineral oil grease or fat, by causing a strong alkaline lye, with or without other
saponifying agents as for example, a saturated alcobolic solution of submuriate of
potash and caustic soda to act upon such mineral oils first in a cold, then in a
boiling state, and again in a cold state until a saponaceous compound results and
the free oil present therein separates.
The process is continued by removing such free oil, reboiling the saponaceous
compound again allowing it to cool and separating any other free oil or grease
which comes to the surface. Thereby a hard mass of soap is obtained; then in a
similar manner the oil and greasy matter which had separated is acted upon until
the whole or nearly the whole of the oil under treatment is converted into a soap
or saponaceous compound. Also the oils treated or to be treated as herein before
described are subjected to the action of the fumes of acid or of an acid direct as
for example Tincal or borate of soda.

page_text: Second. Mineral soaps or saponaceous compounds, made as hereinbefore
described are used in the manner and for the purposes herein after to be described.
Third. The lathering properties of mineral oil soaps is improved by combining
them with other soap made from animal or vegetable fats or oils in the manner
hereinafter to be described.
Fourth. Certain apparatus is adapted for carrying out the above objects and for
utilizing the vapours thrown off from the mineral oils in the before mentioned
operations.
Fifth. Petroleum or other mineral oil grease or fat is subjected to the action of
a comparatively large percentage say ten to thirty per cent of a saturated
alcoholic solution of submuriate of potash and caustic soda, then recovering the
spirit by distillation. The mineral oil thus treated is then to be further saponified
and converted into soap or into a saponaceous compound in the manner and for the
purposes herein before described.
In carrying out the Invention I proceed as follows:-
To each ton of petroleum or other mineral oil grease or fat under treatment I by
preference add eight to ten gallons of a saturated alcoholic solution of submuriate
of potash and caustic soda and well agitate. A lye composed of two and a half
hundred weight of double refined 98 per cent caustic soda and three to four times
its weight of water is then added and steam is blown into the pan. To the above
is then added two hundred weight of tallow or other animal or vegetable fat,
grease or oil and the whole is brought to a sharp boil which is continued for several
hours. It is then allowed to cool either in the pan or in cooling tanks but if in
the latter I prefer to bring it to a boil or nearly so in such tanks before allowing it
to cool. On cooling there will be a crust of soap or saponaceous compound on the
surface then a layer of free oil, next a cake of soap, then some lye and at the
bottom another layer of soap or saponaceous compound. The lye and oil are then
run off and the solid portions reboiled when more lye will separate and a further
portion of oil or greasy matter come to the surface. The whole of the oil and lye
are then to be boiled and reboiled as herein before described until the whole or
nearly the whole of the mineral oil is converted into a soap or saponaceous
compound. The said results will be improved by adding to the oily matters which
separate a further portion of animal or vegetable oil or fat, and also of caustic soda
but in less proportions than hereinbefore named.
Soap or saponaceous compounds produced by the mode or system of submitting
mineral oils together with saponifying agents, to repeated boilings may be used.
1st. In connection with other soap stuff or ingredients in the making of soap.
2nd. It may be combined with ordinary soap while in a semi-fluid or platic state.
3rd. It may be combined with remelted soap. 4th. It may be combined by grinding
with other soap. It may be first ground with edge runners, then heated to bring
it to a semi-fluid state, then reground with the soap with which it is desired to
combine it, and finally pressed into bars or tablets. 5th. Larger proportions of
animal or vegetable oil together with silicate of soda resin salt and other ordinary
soap making ingredients may be added during the final stages of the before
mentioned mode or process of converting mineral oils into a soap or saponaceous
compound, whereby a soap suitable for domestic and other uses may be made.
When combining mineral oil soap with ordinary soap by the action of steam or
other heat any excess of water introduced thereby may be removed by pressure, by
centrifugal force or by evaporation. If by the latter mode I prefer to use for such
purpose a vacuum pan, or to submit the soap in thin layers in shallow vessels.to
hot air.
To produce a more emolient soap from soaps made as herein before described
they are to be cut into thin slices or shreds, soaked in a jelly obtained by steeping
sea-weed in water, dried and then converted into tablets or bars by grinding,
compression or otherwise.
The vapour which is thrown off from the mineral oils under treatment as herein
before described, may be utilized by being forced by means of a fan or otherwise

page_text: into the furnaces of steam boilers or other heat producing apparatus, and made to
combine with fuel, gas or other heat producing medium therein.
Petroleum being a "basic" material that is to say something which combines
with acids instead of tallow, as herein before described, any other fatty acid may
be combined with the mineral oil.
Instead of boiling by themselves the oil and greasy matter which separates from
the saponaceous compound made as herein before described, they may be mixed with
a fresh boiling of mineral oil and other ingredients.
The various proportions and modes of treatment herein before described will
admit of considerable modifications without departing from the principle or main
features of the Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Green commonly called William Vincent Green in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd March 1883.
WILLIAM GREEN, commonly called WILLIAM VINCENT GREEN of St. Lawrence
Thanet in the County of Kent "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND
TREATMENT OF SOAPS AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING THE SAME 53
The Invention relates to one for which I received Letters Patent N° 2682 dated
the 18th June 1881 and consists primarily in a certain process or processes whereby
a large percentage of petroleum, schale oil or other mineral oil grease or fat may
be made to enter into the composition of soaps or saponaceous compounds
In my Patent of 18th June 1881 I claimed among other things, "The treatment
of petroleum schale oil, or other mineral oil grease or fat with a saturated alcoholic
solution of submuriate of potash and caustic soda, and also combining therewith
animal or vegetable oil grease or fat, or resin and alkali or lye, thereby obtaining
a saponaceous compound as also a soap suitable for use as such and for admixture
with ordinary soap and also a valuable oil, substantially as described." By this
Invention and mode of treatment of mineral oils grease or fat (that is to say, the
solid or semi-solid matters obtainable from mineral oils) in combination with other
matters I obtain in addition to soaps and oil as aforesaid a valuable grease
or fat
In carrying into effect this Invention I prefer to use a still or other suitable
apparatus whereby the vapours or the spirit used and then thrown off may be
recovered or utilized. The petroleum, or other mineral oil is put into the still, to
each ton thereof adding from eight to ten gallons of a saturated alcoholic solution
of submuriate of potash and caustic soda; also about 3 to 4 times the same per-
centage of mineral grease or fat, as for example paraffin scales or wax, and in
some cases a small percentage-say 5%-of borate of soda or tincal. Heat is
then applied until the greater part of the spirit used is recovered-To each ton of
the mineral oil and other matters thus treated, I next add about half a ton of
strong lye and again boil; or instead of lye, about two and a half hundred weight
of caustic soda may be added and the whole be then boiled by means of a free jet
of steam. On cooling a free oil or fat will separate and rise to the surface. The
process is continued by removing such free oil, grease or fat, reboiling the
saponaceous compound produced, again allowing it to cool and seperating any free
oil or fat. Thereby a hard mass of soap is obtained, as also a portion of the lye
used. To these latter are added two hundred weight of tallow or other animal
or vegetable fat or grease and-by preference-about the same proportion of
resin, and the whole is brought to a sharp boil which is continued for several hours,
whereby much of the unpleasant smell peculiar to mineral oils will be thrown off.
It is then allowed to cool either in the pan or in tanks or frames, but if in the
latter, it is well to bring the soap to a boil, or nearly so, before allowing it to cool.
The lye is then run off for further use and any free oil or grease that may have
come to the surface seperated. In some cases the animal or vegetable oil or fat
may be put in the still with the mineral oil and other matters instead of being
afterwards added as hereinbefore lastly described. The whole of the oil grease or
fat removed, as also the lye may be boiled and reboiled until the whole, or nearly
the whole of the mineral oil is converted into a soap or a saponaceous compound.
The said results will be improved by adding to the oily or fatty matters which
seperate, a further portion of animal or vegetable oil or fat, and also of caustic
soda but in less proportions than herein before named. Instead of boiling by

page_text: themselves the oily and fatty matters which seperate from the saponaceous
compound, they may be mixed with a fresh boiling of mineral oil and other matters,
as herein before described. Petroleum being a "basic" material, that is, to say
something which combines with acids, instead of tallow as herein before described,
other fatty acids may be combined with the mineral oil.
Soap or saponaceous compounds produced by the node or system of submitting
mineral oils and matters obtainable therefrom to repeated operations and boilings
as herein before described may be used,-1st In connection with other soap stuff or
ingredients in the making of soap. 2nd It may be combined with ordinary soap
while in a semi-fluid or plastic state. 3rd It may be combined with remelted soap.
4th It may be combined by grinding with other soap. It may be first ground with
edge runners or otherwise, then heated to bring it to a semi-fluid state, then
reground with the soap with which it is desired to combine it, and finally be
pressed into bars or tablets. 5th Larger proportious of animal or vegetable oil or
fat, together with silicate of soda, resin salt and other ordinary soap making
ingredients may be added during the final stages of the before-mentioned, mode or
process of converting nineral oils, and other mineral matters into soap or
saponaceous compounds whereby a soap suitable for domestic and other uses may
be made.
When combining mineral oil soap with ordinary soap by the action of steam or
heat, either alone or in connection with the other modes of treatment herein before
described, any excess of water introduced thereby may be removed by pressure, by
centrifugal force or by evaporation. If by the latter mode I prefer to use for
such purpose a vacuum pan or to submit the soap in thin layers in shallow vessels
to hot air. Saponaceous compounds made according to this Invention and con-
taining an excess of water may be treated in like manner.
To produce a more emollient soap suitable for cleaning and treating wools and
other purposes from soaps made as herein before described, they are to be cut into
thin slices or shreds, soaked in a jelly obtained by steeping seaweed in water, dried
and then converted into tablets or bars by grinding, compression, melting, or
otherwise.
The vapour which is thrown off from the mineral oils under treatment according
to this Invention may be utilized by being forced or drawn, by means of a fan or
otherwise, into the furnaces of steam boilers, or other heat producing apparatus,
and made to combine with fuel, gas or other heat producing media therein. This
part of my Invention does not apply to the spirit or vapour obtained by distillation
as herein described and to be described but merely to the steam or vapour thrown
off in the after processes.
Petroleum or other mineral oils, together with mineral grease or fat, as, for example,
paraffin scales or any other solid or semi-solid matter obtainable from mineral oils
found native and also from those that are obtained from coal, schist, asphalt and
other minerals, are subjected to the action of a comparatively large percentage-
say ten to thirty per cent, or even more of a saturated alcoholic solution of sub-
muriate of potash and caustic soda. These ingredients, in any desired proportions,
are put into a still and upon heat being applied a large percentage of the spirit
employed will be recovered and a valuable saponaceous compound will remain.
The proportions that I have found to answer well are one hundred parts petroleum
or other mineral oil, thirty parts saturated alcoholic solution of submuriate of
potash and caustic soda, thirty parts scales or other solid or semi-solid matter
obtainable from mineral oils. A saponaceous compound suitable, after certain other
treatment, for mixing with candle stuffs for lubricating and various other uses is
thus obtained; but this may be further saponified and converted into a soap suitable
for cleansing purposes in the manner herein before described.
The various proportions and modes of treatinent herein before described will
admit of considerable modifications without departing from the principle or main
features of the Invention.
Having now set forth the nature and object of my said Invention and explained

page_text: the manner of carrying the same into effect I wish it to be understood that under
the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,―
First. The treatment of Petroleum schale oil or other mineral oils and the solid
or semi-solid matters, as scales, paraffin, wax, grease or fat obtained therefrom with
a saturated alcoholic solution of submuriate of potash and caustic soda and also
combining therewith animal or vegetable grease oil or fat, or resinous matters and
alkali or lye, thereby obtaining a saponaceous compound suitable after certain other
treatment for mixing with candle stuffs, for lubricating and other uses and a soap
suitable for use as such and for admixture with ordinary soap, and also a valuable
grease or fat substantially as described.
Second. The treatment of mineral oils found native as petroleum as also those
that are obtained from coal, schist, asphalt and other minerals, as also the solid or
semi-solid matters obtained therefrom, as scales, paraffin, wax grease or fat with a
spirit or a saturated alcoholic solution of submuriate of potash and caustic soda and
recovering the spirit used or a part thereof by distillation substantially as
described.
Third. The treatment of soaps and saponaceous compounds made wholly or in
part from mineral oil whether found native as petroleum or those that are obtained
from coal, schist, asphalt and other minerals, and matters obtained from mineral oils,
with seaweed in the manner and for the purposes substantially as described.
Fourth. The treatment of soaps and saponaceous compounds made according to
this Invention by combining them with ordinary soap, with candle stuffs and
otherwise substantially as described.
Fifth. The method of utilizing vapours thrown off in the several processes
of converting mineral oils into soap, or saponaceous compounds substantially as
described.
In Witness whereof I the said William Green have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Second day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
WILLIAM GREEN (L.S.)