Improvements in Processes and Apparatus for Ageing Fluids Containing Alcohol.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 20th Ju y, 1895
Improvements in Processes and Apparatus for Ageing Fluids
Containing Alcohol.
A communication from GOTTLOB ROBERT BESSER, of 47 Georgen Street, Berlin,
Empire of Germany, Manufacturer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex.
Chartered 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 :-
It is axiomatic that alcoholic fluids, such as wine, cognac, rum, arrack, and the like
through long lying in the cask are more or less advantageously improved with time.
The change itself, however, is, in accordance with its causes, to be traced back to
the undernamed influences;-Change of temperature, air-pressure, and movement
of the particles of the mass. These involve molecular changes in the aromatic
compounds present in the spirits.
The changes of temperature follow on the daily variations in the warmth of the
air. These, in their turn, invoke expansion or contraction in the fluid mass; the
specific gravity of the same is therefore increased or diminished with the variations
in temperature and pressure, whence arise movement and change in the particles of
the mass.
With these progressive changes the absorption of acids stands in direct
relationship, for that absorption depends on the pressure and temperature of the
atmosphere. The air diffuses itself through the cask-staves and is absorbed by the
Huid contained in the cask.
The oscillations-molecular oscillations-of the particles of the liquid mass take
place, during storage, at a very slow rate; and moreover, the effect or result of
the storage is dependent on the nature of the means of storage. Deficiency of clean
tempered air, holding sufficient acid, materially affects the ageing process. On the
other hand, it is frequently remarked that prolonged transport, where molecular
oscillations, consequent upon the above specified causes, and upon enduring shocks
and commotion, are materially promoted and accelerated, greatly improve the
article.
In order to promote an acceleration in the ageing of alcohol-containing liquids,
various methods have been suggested, which however invariably more or less fail
from a want of comprehension of the subject-matter. The process of molecular
change is not so simple that it will suffice merely to force filtered, warmed air
through the liquid in question. Also nascent oxygen would not evoke any
considerable change. And similarly, the effect that would be produced by
subjecting the liquid to an extremely low temperature stands in no sort of relation
to the power that would be required.
My correspondent however, now proposes the following process, in order to
invoke molecular oscillations of considerable importance and effect in such a
liquid..
Oxygen, taken from a receptacle of oxygen gas in which it is stored, at a pressure
of about or an atmosphere in excess of atmospheric pressure, and at a temperature
of from 15° to 20° Centigrade, is conducted into the alcohol-containing fluid to be
treated.
Some of the oxygen is dissolved and absorbed in such fluid. The coefficient of

page_text: solution is known to be inconsiderable; its value, for water, is at 0° C. 0.04114,
at 20° C. 0.02838; for pure alcohol, it is constant, at these temperatures, viz.
0.28397.
When the fluid is saturated the valve of the oxygen bottle is closed. Thereupon,
by means of an induction coil or otherwise, alternate or reversed currents are passed
through the liquid. The instrument best adapted for that purpose is Lewandowski's
slide-induction apparatus; nevertheless any other inductorium can be used, at
pleasure, provided only that there is the means of making the change necessary to
evoke the alternate or reversed currents.
The influence of the current is expressed as follows:-While the absorbed
oxygen becomes active, molecular oscillation is simultaneously set up in the liquid.
These manifestations are accompanied by heat-developments, which must be kept
under control by the aid of an extremely sensitive thermometer. As is known the
ethyl-alcohol offers considerable resistance to the electric current; its chemical
constitution is not so easily disturbed.
Thus, the effect of the current, after the oxygen has become active, is chiefly
devoted, to the conversion of the aldehyde present. Acids present and formed will,
with the aldehyde-alcohol, as soon as the molecular oscillation is set up by the
current, generate composite ethers, in our case ethers of various constituents-
aromatic compounds.
The homologous alcohols viz.: butylic, propylic, and amylic alcohols (butyl-
alcohol, propyl-alcohol, and amyl-alcohol) are converted in the exact proportion of
their powers of attack; they are considerably more active and re-active agents than
ethyl-alcohol. They may be regarded as being held in the finest conceivable state
of division in the alcohol-containing liquid. The attack therefore takes place first
in this direction, and thus these homologous alcohols are altered in constitution.
The oxygen present, absorbed in the liquid, and rendered active by the electric
current, is utilized by entering directly into the molecular constitution of the
homologous alcohols. Considered collectively, the work is done on this principle
with the smallest possible expenditure of power; thus, oxygen is absorbed by the
fluid, because, being present in the free state it does not first need separation or
generation by electrical power, but is only rendered active thereby. The force
required for the absorbed oxygen is for this purpose extremely small. It is known
from recent researches, viz. that oxygen, which is absorbed by charcoal from wood
or bones (i.e. vegetable or animal charcoal) is directly active. Dyes or pigments
are oxidized by such charcoal. The charcoal alone does not possess this power:
the decolouring action was for some time, previously to that fact becoming known,
attributed to the specific action of the charcoal only.
In proportion to the degree of work done is heat given off by the effect of the
chemical energy as well as of the electric current, as is shown by the thermometer.
The rise of temperature serves to measure the working developed. As soon as,
after the commencement of operations, the rise of one degree (Centigrade) in the
liquid is indicated the electric current must be lowered and the liquid cooled down
by liquid carbonic acid, which is allowed to flow throughout the mass by means of
The cooling takes place at once, as the liquid carbonic acid absorbs heat
rapidly from the liquid through which it flows. The apparatus is to be protected
by insulation from all outward atmospheric changes of temperature.
a worm.
The spirituous liquors show a different standard, according to their quality, in
relation to the strength and duration of the electric current, as also the temperature
of the liquid. One is frequently compelled to allow the work to be done with a.
reduced current, for a longer period, and at a very low temperature.
The operation is generally commenced at from + 15° to 20° Centigrade.. Should
the fluid not have that temperature it is raised to it by stean. After working for
several hours, the current is slackened off and simultaneously the temperature is
reduced by cooling down, as above described, by carbonic acid, ammonia or the like,
passed into the worm f. The progress of the work is determined by taking samples.
After an hour's treatment a remarkable improvement is observable. Three or four

page_text: hours treatment usually suffices, but six hours will be necessary if the electric
current be weak or if strong fluids rich in homologous alcohols are treated. The
temperature plays its part in the development inasmuch as the chemical affinity of
the combination developed by the electrolysis is concerned. The temperature.
ought not to be below
20 or above +20 Centigrade, and varies with the fluid
treated. Speaking generally, the lower the temperature the better, within said
limits.
-
The apparatus serving for the carrying out of the process is represented in the.
accompanying drawing;-
The oxygen flask A is provided with a reducer E, in order to reduce the pressure
of the gas. The gas is led through a valve IV and a communicating pipe a into
the hermetically closed receptacle C filled with the liquid to be treated. The
filling thereof takes place through d its emptying by c. For the purpose of
regulating the temperature, the cylinder (or receptacle) C contains the worm f
which is in communication, at its upper end with the bottle B charged with liquid
carbonic acid, so as to admit of the temperature being lowered to any desired
degree. The exit of the liquid carbonic acid takes place at valve III. Through
valve II steam is admitted in case of heat being required. The condensed water
from the steam is drawn off through valve I; during this period valves III and IV
are, of course kept closed. When the heating is finished, valve III is opened, in.
order to let off the remaining condensed water in the worm.
For the insulation of the apparatus the cylinder C is fitted with a jacket D; and
the space intervening between C and D is filled with silicious earth (kieselguhr) or
the like.
On the cover of the cylinder C is the thermometer which dips down as far as
possible inside the cylinder. The conducting wires el ell (from the poles of the
inductorium) pass through insulators in the cylinder-cover which are made of thick
porcelain or glass tubes. The tubes are made with a central metallic casing of
about 20 millimetres in length, whereon a copper ring is formed or deposited by
electrolysis. This being workable, enables the pipe to be soldered to the cylinder-
cover.
The pole-conductors passing through the tubes are enamelled thereto. By
reason of this construction there is no counection between the wires and the metal
of the cylinder, so that the current must flow directly through the liquid. The
wires enamelled to the insulators are formed of platinum, and are placed in com-
munication with the inductorium by screw connections or binding-clamps. The
connection of these platinum-wires with the conductors which dip into the liquid is
made in the customary well-known manner. These conductors are constructed
with a number of lateral branches projecting from them; and in order to protect
them from oxidation they are constructed of one of the nobler metals preferably
silver.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven--
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A process for ageing alcohol-containing liquids characterized by the impreg-
nation with oxygen of the liquid to be aged and by setting up molecular oscillations
or changes in its constitution.
-
2. In a process such as described in Claim 1 maintaining the temperature of the
liquid between 20° and +20° Centigrade the molecular oscillations or changes
being advantageously generated by electric currents from an inductorium
substantially as described.
3. In a process such as described in Claim 2 keeping the liquid cool by the
evaporation of liquid carbonic acid ammonia and the like substantially as described.
4. An apparatus for carrying out the process described in Claims 1, 2 and 3.
characterized by a receptacle such as C with pipe-system or worm which for the
purpose of cooling can be connected with a receptacle such as B containing the

page_text: cooling medium and for the purpose of heating can be connected with a source of
steam or hot-air while the receptacle C is hermetically closed and fitted with
electrodes e¹ and ell substantially as described.
Dated this 18th day of April 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.