IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF ALCOHOLIC SPIRITS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, ROBERT RATTRAY TATLOCK of Glasgow, in the county of Lanark, Analytical
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TREATMENT OF ALCOHOLIC SPIRITS," to be as follows :-
The object of this Invention is to improve alcoholic spirits, such as spirits of
of wine and whisky, by removing, altering or modifying the harsh smell and taste
or flavour which such spirits frequently possess, more particularly when new
or freshly distilled, and thereby to render them more fit for drinking or for manu-
facturing purposes, such as the preparation of methylated spirit.
I effect this purpose by a process of treatment which consists in adding to, or
dissolving in, the spirit to be improved, a small proportion of a caustic alkali, such
as caustic potash, caustic soda, or caustic ammonia, which removes the objectionable
smell or taste, and then adding an acid such as acetic acid, till the alkali is
neutralized or until the acid is in slight excess. The acetic acid is not necessary
to the removal of the smell, but is added to prevent the spirit from becoming
yellow or discolored, which it does effectually.
The proportion of caustic potash required will vary according to the harshness
or pungency of the spirit, and the proportion of acetic acid required will vary with
the amount of alkali used.
The alkali may be dissolved directly in the spirit, and the whole be thoroughly
mixed, but I prefer to dissolve it in a small portion of the spirit to be treated, and
then to mix this solution with the bulk of the spirit.
The acetic acid may either be the strongest, commonly known as glacial acetic
acid, or it may be a weaker acetic acid, in which case a proportionally larger
quantity is used. The acetic acid may be dispensed with altogether however, if
the discoloration of the spirit is not an objection. I have found that other acids
such as hydrochloric, tartaric, and citric, serve the purpose of the acetic acid, but
I prefer the latter.
I have found further that the alkaline earths, lime, baryta, strontis, and
magnesia, and the carbonates of these earths, as well as the carbonates of the
alkalis, and salts having an alkaline reaction, such as borax or phosphate of soda,
serve the same purpose as the caustic alkali, though in a minor degree. The
metals potassium and sodium either alone or in the form of an amalgam with
mercury will also serve the purpose.
DL:f Tum 1001
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
I ROBERT RATTRAY TATLOCK of Glasgow in the County of Lanark, Analytical
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TREATMENT OF ALCOHOLIC SPIRITS," and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
The object of this Invention is to improve alcoholic spirits, such as spirit of wine
and whisky, by removing, altering, or modifying the harsh smell and taste or
flavour which such spirits frequently possess, more particularly when new or
freshly distilled and thereby to render then moro fit for drinking, or for manufac-
turing purposes, such as the preparation of methylated spirit. I effect this purpose
by a process of treatment which consists in adding to, or dissolving in, the spirit
to be improved a small proportion of a caustic alkali, such as caustic potash, caustic
soda, or caustic ammonia, which removes the objectionable smell or taste, and then
adding an acid such as acetic acid, till the alkali is neutralized or until the acid is
in slight excess. The acetic acid is not necessary to the removal of the smell, but
is added to prevent the spirit from becoming yellow or discoloured which it does
effectually. The proportion of caustic potash required will vary according to the
harshness or pungency of the spirit, and the proportion of acetic acid required will
vary with the amount of alkali used. The alkali may be dissolved directly in the
spirit, and the whole be thoroughly mixed, but I prefer to dissolve it in a small
proportion of the spirit to be treated or in water, and then to mix this solution
with the bulk of the spirit. The acetic acid may either be the strongest commonly
known as glacial acetic acid, or it might be a weaker acetic acid, in which case a
proportionally larger quantity is used. The acetic acid may be dispensed with
altogether however, if the discolouration of the spirit is not an abjection. I have
found that other acids, such as hydrochloric, tartaric, and citric serve the purpose
of the acetic acid, but I prefer the latter. I have found further that the alkaline
earths, lime, baryta, strontia, and magnesia, and the Carbonates of these earths, as
well as the Carbonates of the alkalis, and salts having an alkaline re-action, such as
borax or phosphate of soda, serve the same purpose as the caustic alkali, though in
a minor degree. The metals potassium and sodium either alone or in the form of
an amalgam with mercury will also serve the purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The herein described process of treating alcoholic spirits by adding thereto
or dissolving therein a small proportion of a caustic alkali or of any of the
substances herein mentioned as serving the equivalent purpose of improving the
spirits.
2. The process of treating alcoholic spirits with a caustic alkali or its described
equivalent and then adding an acid such as acetic acid for the purpose setforth.
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