Improvements relating to the Refining of Sugar and to the Treatment of Syrup Obtained there
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements relating to the Refining of Sugar and to the
Treatment of Syrup Obtained therefrom
1, FEDERICO BAUDER, of 95 Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris, France, 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 an improved process of refining sugar by producing ozone
by the joint application of steam and electricity, so as to permit the purification
bleaching and refining of the sugar in a rapid and economical manner: The operations
which were heretofore used in refining sugar were of a slow difficult and expensive
nature. Whatever chemical or mechanical processes may be employed, the following
operations have to be performed. First, the dissolving or inelting of the sugar;
Second, clarifying of the same, Third, the filtering and discoloring; Fourth, boiling;
Filth, cleaning; Sixth, bleaching; and Seventh the drying of the same.
My invention consists in its general outlines in a process of refining sugar by
subjecting the mass in dry state to the action of steam, so as to moisten the same and
the action of ozone generated by electric sparks passed through the moistened mass,
while the sugar is simultaneously rotated by the centrifugal machine so as to drain
off the syrup. After the bleaching action is completed, the mass is crushed and then
bolted and moistened and then pressed into suitable shape.
In carrying out my improved process of refining sugar, the sugar is taken in its
crystallized condition as it is delivered by the planter and thoroughly ventilated by
forcing air through the same and removing thereby adhering dust and other impurities.
If the crystals in the sugar are of medium size they are left as the yare, if the crystals
are of larger size they are crushed so as to reduce them to a smaller size. For this
purpose an ordinary crusher is used without reference to the larger or smaller size of
the crystals or of the powder in the same. The sugar is next transferred into a
centrifugal apparatus which is so constructed that steam can be injected into the interior
of the same. The steain maybe high or lowpressure. If the pressure does not exceed six
atmospheres the sugar is put into the centrifugal machine in a perfectly dry state, as
the moisture produced by the steam is sufficient for the bleaching operation.

page_text: If steam of greater pressure be used the mass of sugar may be moistened to the
required degree by an atomizer so as to compensate for the more or less dry condition
of the steam. The centrifugal machine is closed by a hermetically-fitting cover which
is provided with terininals for holding the conducting wires, which connect the
centrifugal machine with a suitable source of electricity. The cover carries the poles
by which the electric current is introduced into the interior of the machine. The
poles are arranged at greater or smaller distance from each other according to the
intensity of the current employed, so as to obtain a constant spark between the poles.
The cover also serves to maintain the high temperature imparted by the steam to the
interior of the centrifugal machine. After the sugar has been placed into the
centrifugal machine the same is subjected for about ten minutes to the action of steam
which has for its object not only to purify the sugar to a certain extent, but also to
place it by the heat and moisture in the proper condition for being acted upon by the
electric current. The moisture present in the centrifugal machine favors the effect of
the electricity on the mass of sugar, as it produces ozone which exercises an effective
bleaching action on the sugar. The joint action of the heat and moisture place the
crystallized sugar in a better condition to be acted upon by the electric current,
making the mass a good conductor of electricity, while before, when in its dry state
it was only a very indifferent conductor of the same. This is one of the essential
points of iny process. The electric current is then permitted to pass to the interior of
the centrifugal machine in which it is maintained for about forty minutes either
continuously or intermittently according to the intensity of the electric current and
the quality of the sugar to be treated. The admission of steam may be kept up
continuously or intermittently for a longer or shorter time according to the pressure
of the steam, but it is always to be stopped at least ten ininutes before interrupting
the current and stopping the rotation of the centrifugal machine. The strength of
the electric current varies according to the quality to be treated and the speed with
which the operation is to be carried out. When the centrifugal action is complete the
sugar is obtained in refined state, while the syrup has been drained off. This syrup
undergoes separate treatment which will be hereinafter described.
The refined sugar is taken from the centrifugal machine and submitted to a
crushing action by means of a crushing mill of any improved construction. A
crusher which produces the siuallest quantity of powdered sugar is to be preferred.
As by the crushing action some pulverized sugar is produced the sugar is passed
through a bolting machine having a silk bolting cloth or metallic gauze of well known
construction. The crushed and bolted sugar is then moistened moderately with
filtering water by means of an atomizer and then submitted to pressure whereby it
retains the condition of the ordinary fine sugar. In this manner the mass of sugar
can be moulded in various sizes and shapes so as to forin either blocks or cones or
small cubes like the ordinary lumps in use. The sugar is next subjected to heat for a
greater or less length of time according to the size of the moulds which imparts to the
sugar the dryness and hardness of ordinary fine sugar. The sugar can also be sold
directly after being crushed and bolted, in which case the buyer can afterwards
subject it to the moistening compressing and moulding action.
After completing the foregoing operations there remains the syrup and the powder
obtained by the same for further treatment. These two substances inay be united in
such proportions as to obtain a thick mass composed of unrefined proportions (syrup)
and refined parts (powder). This mass is transferred to the centrifugal machine and
subjected to the same operations as before described, which will be continued until
the syrup is exhausted. The syrup and the powder can also be added to a new
quantity of sugar provided the syrup does not contain more moisture than would be
supplied by the action of the steam. If after passing through different operations,
the residue of the syrup should contain impurities it may be submitted to clarification
by the process employed by refiners. The thus clarified syrup is then converted into
crystals in a centrifugal machine by mixing it with powdered sugar or crushed sugar.
The crystals thus obtained will then be again submitted to the operation before
described. The different steps which together form my process can also be applied

page_text: directly (instead of to sugar already crystallized) to the mass of sugar before
crystallization,by introducing the same into the centrifugal machine and subjecting it
to the different steps of the process. In this manner the only operation which is now
performed twice namely, the centrifugal operation which is first done by the inanu-
facturer and then over again in refining can be performed in one operation.
The advantages of my improved process are that instead of employing the wet
process and the many complicated operations which it requires, the sugar is refined by
a dry process which requires but three or four operations of great simplicity. The
sugar being refined without destroying the crystals is treated and refined while in
this state whereby the plant required is greatly simplified and rendered much less
costly. The time required by my process is reduced to a few hours, while heretofore
it has taken from fifteen to twenty days. The refining operation can also be
accomplished directly by the planter without being sent to special refining establish-
ments.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
First. The process herein described of refining sugar which consists in subjecting
the same to the joint action of centrifugal force, moisture, heat and the electric
current, substantially as set forth.
Second. The process herein described of refining sugar, which consists in subjecting
the same in a dry state to centrifugal action in the presence of moisture, heat and
ozone, generated by the electric current substantially as set forth.
Third. The process herein described of refining sugar, which consists in subjecting
the crystallized sugar to the joint action of centrifugal force moisture, heat and
electricity then drying the sugar, crushing it bolting it and pressing it into suitable
shapes substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The process herein described of treating the syrup obtained by centrifugal
force from crystallized sugar, which consists in mixing it with pulverized sugar,
separated by bolting crushed sugar, and subjecting the mixture to the joint action of
centrifugal force, moisture, heat, and electric current substantially as set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.