IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING OILS AND OTHER FATS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Raymond Combret, of Boulevard Saint Denis, 1, at Paris,
Doctor in Medicine, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESS AND
APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING OILS AND OTHER FATS."
These parts of the apparatus, which are very important, serve to realise an entirely
new method of purification, the emission into the water, the washing with friction
into various solutions.
The fatty substances passing into these cylinders are divided into filaments,
which, by the multiplication of their surfaces, brighten the affinities, permitting of
very much diluting the chemical agents employed, and of operating surely without
altering the fatty substance itself, its impurities alone being attacked.
These washing purifiers are composed of sheet iron cylinders, each cylinder being
surmounted by a tub or vat of larger diameter, also made of sheet iron, and simply
closed by a cover.
The cylinder is filled with water, the tub or vat being designed for the reception
of the oils which arrive therein after having traversed the whole column of water
in the cylinder. A conducting pipe admits the oils to be operated upon at the.
bottom of the cylinder, and is provided thereat with a junction piece of brass or
tinned cast iron.

page_text: This junction picce is fixed under the cylinder, and is divided into four com-
municating tubes or branches, on one of which is fixed a pipe leading upwards to
the next cylinder, as hereaftor described. The opposite tube or branch receives a
steam pipe which permits of reheating the liquid purifier. The lower tube or
branch serves as a discharge for the junction piece. The three tubes or branches 5
aro provided with cocks.
Lastly, the upper tube or branch, also provided with a cock fixed under the
bottom of the cylinder is prolonged into the interior of the cylinder by a screwed
adjutage, on which is screwed a fringe or rose provided with a number of small
holes, and occupying about the of the internal diameter of the cylinder with a 1
height of about 0.40 metres above the bottom thereof.
By the use of this fringe or roso the oils are equally divided into the column of
water, the height of which should be regulated according to the requirements of the
operation by means of one or more gauge cocks on the cylinder.
Under the bottom of the tub or vat are placed two cocks, one serving for the 1
direct decantation of the oil from the tub or vat and the other for returning it in
caso of need into the next cylinder or purifier or into the filtering apparatus.
The level of the water in the cylinder should be strictly restored at a level with
the orifice of the cocks under the bottom of the tub or vat, either by a diminution
produced with one of the gauge cocks or by an elevation effected by a trißing 2
addition of water poured into a cup fixed on the upper end of a tube rising from
the upper part of the cylinder.
When several cylinders are combined, whether for the repetition of the purifica-
tion or for its production successively into special solutions, they should be arranged
in such a manner that the bottom of each tub or vat is on a level above the top of 2
the succeeding tub or vat. Then whatever bo the depth of the corresponding
washer cylinder the oils traverse them naturally by the force of gravity.
In the arrangement here described where three cylinders are combined the melted
oils or fats placed in a kettle above the first washer cylinder are run off into the
latter by a pipe, then from the corresponding tub or vat they pass into the second 3
washer cylinder by a second pipe, and so on, one after the other. Finally, the last
tub or vat is connected with the filtering apparatus by a suitable pipe.
It is advantageous to place on the pipes connecting the tubs or vats of the various
washer cylinders some small rotary pumps for accelerating or retarding at pleasure
the speed, and likewise, if necessary, cause to repass the liquid operated on into the 3
same cylinder by a suitablo pipo.
This process permits of conveniently applying all the chemical products in use
for the treatment of fatty substances, and especially to put into operation the
following reagents -Sulphuric acid associated with the hyprochlorite alkalines,
permanganates, sulphites, hyposulphites, and others. These agents will vary 4
according to the dimensions of the cylinders, and the effect which it is desired to
obtain
The system of filters which I propose combines all the desirable conditions of
easy, regular, and rapid working with great economy of time, hand labor, and 4
capital. It is based on two principles, the increase of pressure, and the division of
the labour.
The oils arriving by the pipe connecting the filters with the tub or vat of the
last washer cylinder are sucked by a pump, and forced into a closed receiver which
is furnished with a level and safety valve. The pump is double acting, and 5
analogous to those used for forcing gaseous drinks. It accumulates above the level
of the oil in the receiver a volume of air or carbonic acid compressed to 3 or 4
atmospheres and forming an elastic cushion.
The compressed liquid passes into a pipe which dips down into it for distributing

page_text: it by pipes of communication into several filters of small volumes, and movable,
which can be worked simultaneously; each filter is furnished with a cock
permitting of isolating them in case of repair. The filtered liquid is collected into
a trough or gutter of discharge; the accumulator receiver is furnished with a cock
for emptying. These small filters are easily taken to pieces, and can be easily
cleaned, repaired, or changed when operating on tallows or fats, solid at the
ordinary temperature; these filters are grouped around the accumulator receiver,
and the whole plunged in a trough or tank containing water hented by steam.
These filters should be able to make use of any known filtering medium, but I
prefer to use a bed of fine sand (siliceous and non-calcareous), of granulated
vegetable charcoal, then of a disc of flannel or swanskin, or again of a layer of
plastic porous charcoal.
3. SPECIAL PROCESS FOR THE EXTRACTION OF ESSENTIAL OILS AND OTHER
VOLATILE IMPURITIES.
Many oils contain in solution hydrocarbonic, oxygenated, or sulphuric essences
which render them unfit for delicate uses. These various essences enter into
ebullition at variable temperatures below 180°, whilst the fatty substances can be
raised without boiling well above 250°; but there is the great inconvenience for
the quality of the oils in carrying them to a temperature also raised, and till now
there has been an inability to sufficiently disengage the oils from these odoriferous
matters, of which the chemical fixity is in other respects great enough.
A rational application of the laws of ebullition enables me to solve the problem
of utilising all these differences of volatility by working constant by above 100°.
It is known that the temperature of ebullition decreases with the external psessure.
I use therefore special stills for distilling in vacuum similar to those employed for
the concentration of pharmaceutical extracts. The vacuum may be made by any
means whatever, such as by the condensation of steam or aspiration by the action
of water.
The worm is strongly refrigerated, and the cucurbite, to the contrary, is heated
with precaution in a continuous manner to suffice for the latent heat of evaporation,
and maintain the fatty substances in a fluid condition.
These are besides put in motion by agitators increasing the useful surfaces. This
moderate heating should not exercise any troublesome influence on the fatty
substances, especially if they are left to be refrigerated under cover from the air
or plunged quickly into the fresh water of a washor charged with hyposulphites.
This process permits of obtaining in a short time, without trouble and with little
expense, the complete separation of the volatile impurities, the whole constituting
therefore a complete assemblage of rational processes of great industrial importance
for the purification of the fatty substances. By them there can be treated
advantageously:-1, vegetable oils. Complete treatment of the gross oils; washing
and purification of oils purified by other processes (Thenard); improvement of the
inferior qualities, oils of 2° and 3° pressure, earth nuts, olives, Spanish, Tunis, and
other oils. 2, animal oils. Fats of horse, from feet of oxen, filtration of gelatinous
kinds; purification of tallows and fats from beyond the sea, small tallows, tallows
of bone, treatment of oils from tishes and others.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Raymond Combret in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 12th
August 1880.
RAYMOND COMBRET, of Boulevard Saint Denis, 1, at Paris, Doctor in Medecine.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING OILS AND OTHER
FATS."
This Invention relates to improvements in the method of and apparatus for
purifying oils and other fats, and comprises, 1, combination of washing purifier
cylinders; 2, combination of improved filters; 3, special process for extracting the
essential oils and other odoriferous matters. The apparatus which I have combined
for the application of my purifying process is shewn on the accompanying Drawing,
and consists :-
1. Washing Purifier Cylinders.-These parts of the apparatus, which are very
important, serve to realise an entirely new method of purification, the emission
into the water, the washing with friction into various solutions. The fatty
substances passing into these cylinders are divided into filaments which, by the
multiplication of their surfaces, brighten the affinities, permitting of very much
diluting the chemical agents employed, and of operating surely without altering
the fatty substance itself, its impurities alone being attacked.
These washing
purifiers (Fig. 2) are composed of sheet iron cylinders G, each of which is surmounted
by a tub G or vat of larger diameter, also made of sheet iron, and simply
closed by a cover. The cylinder G is filled with water, the tub or vat G¹
being designed for the reception of the oils, which arrive therein after having
traversed the whole column of water in the cylinder G. A conducting pipe & admits
the oils to be operated upon at the bottom of the cylinder G, and is provided
thereat with a junction piece b of brass or tinned cast iron. This junction piece b
is fixed under the cylinder G and is divided into four communicating tubes or
branches, on one of which is fixed a pipe leading upwards to the next cylinder, as
hereafter described; the opposite tube or branch receives a steam pipe c which
permits of relieating the liquid purifier. The lower tube or branch serves as a
discharge for the junction piece. The three tubes or branches are provided with
cocks. Lastly, the upper tube or branch t², also provided with a cock fixed under
the bottom of the cylinder G, is prolonged into the interior of the cylinder by a
screwed adjutage, on which is screwed a fringe or rose a provided with a number of
small holes, and occupying about /, of the internal diameter of the cylinder G, with
a height of about 0-40 metres above the bottom thereof. By the use of this fringe
or rose the oils are equally divided into the column of water, the height of which
should be regulated according to the requirements of the operation by means of one
or more gauge cocks on the cylinder. Under the bottom of the tub or vat are
placed two cocks 71, 71, one serving for the direct decantation of the oil from the
tub or vat, and the other for returning it in case of need into the next cylinder
or purifier, or into the filtering apparatus. The level of the water in the cylinder
should be strictly restored at a level with the orifice of the cocks 71, 71, under the
bottom of the tub or vat, either by a diminution produced with one of the gauge
cocks r, or by an elevation effected by a trifling addition of water, poured into a
cup fixed on the upper end of a tube a rising from the upper part of the cylinder G.
The emptying of the cylinder is effected by the cock v fixed in the bottom. When
several cylinders are combined, whether for the repitition of the purification, or for
its production successively into special solutions, they should be arranged in such a
manner that the bottom of each tub or vat is on a level above the top of the
succeeding tub or vat. Then, whatever be the depth of the corresponding washer
cylinders, the oils traverse them naturally by the force of gravity. In the arrange-
ment here described, where three cylinders are combined, the melted oils or fats

page_text: placed in a kettle B above the first washer cylinder G' are run off into the latter
by a pipe t', then from the corresponding tub or vat they pass into the second
washer cylinder G by a second pipe, and so on one after the other. Finally, the
last tub or vat is connected with the filtering apparatus by a suitable pipe b. It
is advantageous to place on the pipes t, t, connecting the tubs or vats of the
various washer cylinders some small rotary pumps p', 12, for accelerating or
retarding at pleasure the speed, and likewise cause, if necessary to repass the liquid
operated on, into the same cylinder by a suitable pipe b. This process permits of
conveniently applying all the chemical products in use for the treatment of fatty
substances, and especially to put into operation the following reagents:-Sulphuric
acid associated with the hypochlorite alkalines, permanganates, sulphites, hypo-
sulphites, and others. These agents will vary according to the dimensions of the
cylinders and the effect which it is desired to obtain.
2. Improved Filters. The system of filters which I propose combines all the
desirable conditions of easy, regular, and rapid working, with great economy of
time, hand labour, and capital. It is based on two principles, the increase of
pressure, and the division of the labour. The oils arriving by the pipe b' connecting
the filters with the tub or vat of the last washer cylinder are sucked by a pump P
and forced into a closed receiver R, which is furnished with a level and safety valve.
The pump is double acting and analogous to those used for forcing gaseous drinks. It
accumulates above the level of the oil in the receiver a volume of air or carbonic acid
compressed to 3 or 4 atmospheres and forming an elastic cushion. The compressed
liquid passes into a pipe which dips down into it for distributing it by pipes of com-
munication h', h, h³, into several filters ƒ³, ƒ ƒ³, f, of small volumes and inovable,
which can be worked simultaneously; each filter is furnished with cock h¹, h², h³,
or ', permitting of isolating them in case of repair. The filtered liquid is collected
into a trough or gutter of discharge i; the accumulator receiver is furnished with a
cock for emptying. These small filters are easily taken to pieces and can be
easily cleaned, repaired, and changed. When operating on tallows or fats, solid at
the ordinary temperature, these filters are grouped around the accumulator receiver R
and the whole plunged in a through or tank K containing water heated by steam.
These filters should be able to make use of any known filtering medium, but I
prefer to use a bed of fine sand (siliceous and non-calcareous), of granulated
vegetable charcoal, then of a disc of flannel or swanskin, or again of a layer of
plastic porous charcoal.
3. Special Process for the Extraction of Essential Oils and other Volatile
Impurities. Many oils contain in solution hydrocarbonic, oxygenated, or sulphuric
essences, which rendor them unfit for delicate uses. These various essences enter into
ebullition at variable temperatures below 180°, whilst the fatty substances can be
raised without boiling well above 250°, but there is the great inconvenience for the
quality of the oils in carrying them to a temperature also raised, and till now there
has been, an inability to sufficiently disengage the oils from these odoriferous
matters of which the chemical fixity is in other respects great enough. A rational
application of the laws of ebullition enable me to resolve the problem of utilising
all these differences of volatility by working constantly above 100°. It is known
that the temperature of ebullition decreases with the external pressure; I use
therefore special stills for distilling in vacuum similar to those employed for the
concentration of pharmaceutical extracts. The vacuum may be made by any means
whatever, such as by the condensation of steam or aspiration by the action of water.
The worm is strongly refrigerated, and the cucurbite. to the contrary, is heated with
precaution in a continuous manner, to suffice for the latent heat of evaporation and
maintain the fatty substances in a fluid condition. These are besides put in motion
by agitators increasing the useful surfaces. This moderate heating should not
exercise any troublesome influence on the fatty substances, especially if they are
left to be refrigerated under cover from the air, or plunged quickly into the fresh
water of a washer charged with hyposulphites. This process permits of obtaining
in a short time without trouble and with little expense, the complete separation

page_text: of the volatile impurities, the whole constituting therefore a complete assemblage of
rational processes of great industrial importance for the purification of the fatty
substances. By them there can be treated advantageously:-1, vegetable oils.
Complete treatment of the gross oils; washing and purification of oils purified by
other processes (Thenard); improvement of the inferior qualities, oils of 2° and 3°
pressure, earth nuts, olives, Spanish, Tunis, and other oils. 2, animal oils. Fats
of horse, from feet of oxen, filtration of gelatinous kinds, purification of tallows and
fats from beyond the sea, small tallows, tallows of bone, treatment of oils from fishes,
and others.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I claim as my Invention is,—
1. The combination of the washing purifier cylinders with the tubs or vats for
collectively realising the purification by friction of the divided matters traversing
the various solutions, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
accompanying Drawing.
2. The special arrangement of multiple and communicating washing cylinders,
substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
3. The combination of the improved filters divided and communicating with
an accumulator receiver of pressure, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the accompanying Drawing.
4. The special process for the extraction of the essential oils and other odoriferous
matters, substantially as herein before described.
5. The application and use of my system for the purification of all oils or
fatty substances, animal or vegetable, substantially as hercinbefore described and
illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Raymond Combret, have hereunto set my
hand and this, this First day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
ALBERT CANEN,
Civil Engineer,
of Boulevard Saint Denis, 1,
at Paris.
RAYMOND COMBRET. (L.S.)
dmp.