Process for the Defecation of Sugar Cane Juice.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 26th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 16th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM VALENTINE FRY, of Lambayeque,
Peru, Merchant.]
Process for the Defecation of Sugar Cane Juice.
I, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH, Fel. Inst. P.A., Assoc. M. Inst. C.E.,
practising as Phillips & Leigh at 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to improvements in process for the defecation of sugar
cane juice, previous to the extraction of sugar from it; and consists, more
particularly, in the use of the leaves, twigs, points, or other of the smaller growths
of the eucalyptus.
In carrying the invention into effect, 35 lbs. of the eucalyptus growths are cooked
or boiled in 55 gallons of water for 3 hours, or until the liquor measures 15° Cartier
when hot, or from 9° to 10° when cold. The loss during the boiling or cooking
stage will vary from 8 to 10 gallons, according to the strength of the fire.
After straining, the liquor is ready to be used in the defecators. The proper
proportion is from 1 to 2 gallons of liquor to 500 gallons of cane juice. The
liquor is to be fed into the defecator when there are from 40 to 50 gallons of juice
therein; and the whole should be well stirred. The temperature of the juice is
kept up to active ebullition; but the impurities will have collected on the surface
before this. The heat supply is then cut off'; and, after the ebullition has ceased,.
the juice can be passed on to the vacuum pans.
Charcoal filters are desirable for the production of fine white sugar; and bag
filters may, sometimes, be used with advantage.
The above proportions may be varied; but those given, yield, according to
experience, the best results.
Even a bag of leaves placed under the juice-spout has given good results when
the cane was old and slightly acid.
DL 10th
1001
H. H. LEIGH.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Process for the Defecation of Sugar Cane Juice.
I, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH, Fel. Inst. P.A., Assoc. M. Inst. C.E.,
practising as Phillips & Leigh, at 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, 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 improvements in process for the defecation of sugar
cane juice previous to the extraction of sugar from it, and consists in the use of the
leaves, twigs, points, or other small growths of the eucalyptus.
Numerous substances have been proposed as defecants, some of them having but
scant claim to rank as non-poisonous; and numerous processes also have been
published. Up to the present time the principal defecant used has been quick-
Lime. Sulphur has also been used as well as other chemical agents. Both quick-
lime and sulphur have their good points to recommend them, but they also have
their defects.
Lime tends to make the sugar dark, burning it and making the crystallization
PA

page_text: more difficult. At the same time it darkens the crystals, necessitating more
washing if whitened in the centrifugals and causing a considerable loss if purified
by the claying process.
As to sulphur, although it gives a beautiful brilliant crystal for the first sugar,
the seconds and thirds are very inferior, and the wash for the distillery almost
useless for making alcohol.
Now the present invention has these advantages over both the defecants above
mentioned. It does not darken the crystal, thereby effecting an economy in first
sugars; the seconds and thirds are far superior, and the wash for the distillery does
not suffer in any way.
The defecant which my invention proposes is easily obtained, and it is very
inexpensive. The benefit to the user of it in tropical climates or swampy countries
where it grows is beyond dispute. It has been proved beyond a doubt that it is
non-poisonous, a fact which is acknowledged by all chemists. The method of using
the said defecant is so simple that any one accustomed to boiling cane juice can
manage it.
In carrying the invention into effect 30 lbs. of the eucalyptus growths are cooked,
or boiled, in 55 gallons of water for 3 hours, or until the liquor measures 15° Cartier
when hot, or from 9° to 10° when cold. The loss during the boiling or cooking
stage will vary from 8 to 10 gallons, according to the strength of the fire.
After straining, the liquor is ready to be used in the defecators. The proper
proportion is from 1 to 2 gallons of liquor to 500 gallons of cane juice. The
liquor is to be fed into the defecator when there are from 20 to 40 gallons of juice
therein; and the whole should be well stirred.
A suitable time-about 10 or 12 minutes-is then allowed for the ebullition to
settle. The juice is then passed to the evaporators.
Charcoal filters may be used, and should be used, to produce very fine white
sugar, but their use can be dispensed with. No filters are used to produce the
grainy sugar of commerce.
Litmus paper may be used at all times to test for acidity, and after a short
experience the boiler will know, without using the paper, the proper proportion of
liquor, but it should not be less than 1 gallons nor more than 2 gallons to
500 gallons of juice.
A small bag of eucalyptus leaves placed under the juice spout has been success-
fully used when the cane has been old and slightly acid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is,
'
1. The use of small growths of the eucalyptus for the defecation of sugar cane
juice.
2. The hereinbefore described process for the defecation of sugar cane juice,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 26th day of March 1891.
HENRI H. LEIGH.