Improvements in the Manufacture of Vanilline.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1895
.
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Oct., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Vanilline.
I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of
London Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has
been communicated to me from abroad by Dr. F. von Heyden Nachfolger of
Radebeul near Dresden in the Empire of Germany) to be as follows:
This invention relates to an extremely simple method of manufacture of
vanilline consisting in submitting iso-eugeuol to the action of the electrical current
the result being that the iso-eugenol is by oxydation converted into vanilline at
the anode. Preferably iso-eugenol alkaline salts should be used and the electrolysis
should be performed in a double cell, so that the anode dips into the iso-eugenol
salt while any fluid which is a good conductor and an alkaline reagent may be
used as electrolyte preferably a solution of hydrate of sodium or potassium or
carbonate of sodium or potassium.
Whilst electrolysis is taking place the alkaline metal travels from the anode to
the cathode, and it is advisable to replace this alkaline metal by an addition of
alkali either before or during the electrolytic process.
EXAMPLE.
The anode cell is filled with a fluid containing about 15 per cent. of iso-eugenol
in an excess of soda-lye. 'The cathode cell is filled with lye containing from 10
to 20 per cent. of soda. Through the cell an electric current of about 5 volts and
6 ampéres is passed but the current may vary within wide limits. During the
electrolysis the substances under treatment should preferably be gently heated and
raised say to 60° Centigrade. By sampling and testing the anode-liquid and
thereby approximately ascertaining the proportions of vanilline and iso-eugenol
it contains, or by filtering the liquid at the cathode the progress of the electrolysis
may be controlled. By interrupting the electrolysis at any suitable period the
conversion of iso-eugenol into vanilline may be carried to a greater or lesser extent
or made more or less complete. After interrupting the operation it is possible by
the addition of iso-eugenol to the cathode liquid to obtain fresh anode liquid while
the anode liquid is acidulated and treated with ether. The solution of ether will'
be found to contain vanilline and in some cases also unaltered iso-eugenol. By
agitating in the presence of bisulphite the vanilline is extracted from the ether
solution. The bisulphite-vanilline solution thus obtained is then further treated in
the well-known manner.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1895.
+
:
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, Agents.

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Vanilline.
I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON, of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has
been communicated to me from abroad by Dr. F. von Heyden, Nachfolger, of
Radebeul, near Dresden, in the Empire of Germany) 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 extremely simple method of manufacturing vanilline,
consisting in submitting iso-eugenol to the action of the electrical current, the
result being that the iso-eugenol is, by oxydation, converted into vanilline at the
anode. Preferably iso-eugenol alkaline salts should be used, and the electrolysis
should be performed in a double cell, so that the anode dips into the iso-eugenol
salt, while any fluid which is a good conductor, and an alkaline reagent, may be
used as the cathode liquid, that is the electrolyte in which the cathode is placed ; a
solution of hydrate of sodium, or potassium, or carbonate of sodium, or potassium,
being preferably used.
Whilst electrolysis is taking place the alkaline metal travels from the anode to
the cathode and it is advisable to replace this alkaline metal by an addition of
alkali either before, or during, the electrolytic process. The following is an
example of the manner in which the invention may be performed.
EXAMPLE.
The anode cell is filled with a fluid containing say about 15 per cent. of iso-
eugenol in an excess of soda lye. The cathode cell is filled with lye containing
from 10 to 20 per cent. of soda. Through the cell an electric current, of say
about 5 volts, and 6 ampères, is passed, but the current may vary within wide
limits. During the electrolysis the substances under treatment should preferably
be gently heated, and raised to a temperature of say 60° Centigrade. By sampling
and testing the anode-liquid, and thereby approximately ascertaining the pro-
portions of vanilline and iso-eugenol it contains, or by filtering the cathode liquid
the progress of the electrolysis may be controlled. By interrupting the electrolysis
at any suitable period the conversion of iso-eugenol into vanilline may be carried
to a greater, or lesser, extent, or made more, or less, complete. After interrupting
the operation it is possible, by the addition of iso-eugenol to the cathode liquid, to
obtain fresh anode liquid while the anode liquid is acidulated and treated with
ether. The solution of ether will be found to contain vanilline, and in some
cases also unaltered iso-eugenol. By agitating, in the presence of bisulphite, the
vanilline is extracted from the ether solution. The bisulphite vanilline solution,
thus obtained, is then further treated which may be done in the well known
manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The manufacture of vanilline by subjecting iso-eugenol, or an alkaline salt
thereof, to electrolysis.
2. The manufacture of vanilline by submitting iso-eugenol, or an alkaline salt
thereof, to electrolysis, using a double cell, the anode being placed in the iso-
eugenol, or its salt, and the cathode being placed in an alkaline electrolyte ; as
described.

page_text: 3. The manufacture of vanilline in the manner described in the preceding
example.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1895.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.