An Improved Method of Separating Fats.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Separating Fats.
I, MARTIN EKENBERG, of No. 3 Agnegatan, Stockholm, in the Kingdom of
Sweden, Chemical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
Neutral wool fat free from glycerides consists, as is well known, of a mixture
of several ethers of different fatty acids and cholesterin together with free
cholesterin.
Its melting point varies between 38° and 46° centigrade being generally above
40° centigrade. If such wool fat is melted, cooled and submitted to pressure at
varying temperatures, the fats of different melting points contained therein may be
separated.
In this way three fats having different properties may be produced from the wool
fat by causing the melted fat to cool slowly to 35° centigrade in moulds so as to
form thin tablets or cakes, which are then pressed at 30 to 35° centigrade either in
hot presses or by centrifugal action in an air bath at the said temperatures.
During this operation the part of the fat, which is still in the molten state at
the said temperature flows out. If the same proceeding is repeated at 40° to
45° centigrade another part of the wool fat is pressed out. The fats obtained in
this manner are:-
Cholaine, a fat melting at 25°-20° centigrade, cholepalmine, a fat melting at
37° 38° centigrade, and cholecerine, constituting the residue after the cholepalmine
has been pressed out.
This last resembles bees wax and has a colour varying from a light yellow-green
to white with a melting-point of 49°-55° centigrade.
The common wool fat contains all the said fats and also cholesterine, of which
the main part in the said treatment remains in the cholecerine.
As technical products the said fats produced from wool fat have the following
characteristics.
The cholaine melts at 26°-35° centigrade and contains more than 60% of
cholaine melting at 25°-29° centigrade.
The cholepalmine obtained melts at 35° to 45° centigrade and contains more than
60% of cholepalmine melting at 37°-38° centigrade.
The cholecerine or residue melts at 45°-55° centigrade and contains 60% of
cholecerine melting at 49°-55° centigrade.
The cholecerine is of the same consistency as bees' wax and can be used as a
substitute for the same, the cholepalmine yields on saponification fatty acids and is
suitable for use in the manufacture of candles or soap, and the cholaine is a grease
of good consistency for the lubrication of machines.
The production of the three fats may be facilitated by adding to the wool fat a
solvent or fat dissolving agent or mixtures of such solvents the treatment being the
same as above stated.
If the proportions between the fat and the dissolving agent are well chosen the
cholesterides may be separated in the above mentioned fats which can be clearly
distinguished one from another. As a solvent I may in this case use volatile agents,
such as for instance, hydrocarbons, and also such agents as fat oils and fatty acids
which are not volatile.
By adding fatty oils the dissolving agent is separated, together with the cholaine
by pressure from the fats melting at a higher temperature, and the dissolving agent
is separated in its turn from the cholaine by saponification with alkali and diluting
with water.

page_text: If fatty acids are added, for instance, stearic acid and palmitic acid the crystalliza-
tion of the fats melting at a higher temperature is greatly facilitated and the
cholaine may be easily pressed out.
From the fats which melt at a higher temperature the fatty acids may be likewise
separated by means of saponification or mixtures of these fats and fatty acids may
be employed without being separated as raw material in candle making.
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 method of separating fats of different melting points contained in wool
fat by means of fractional pressure at temperatures at which one or more of
the said fats are melted, while the others remain in a solid state, substantially as
described.
2. The method of separating wool fat into one, two or three different fats,
cholaine, cholepalmine, and cholecerine with melting points of 26°-35°, 35°-45°
and 45°-55° centigrade respectively, by pressing the wool fat which has been
brought to a solid state by melting and subsequent slow refrigeration at 30°-35°,
40° 45° and 50°-55° centigrade respectively, a common press or by treatment
in a centrifugal apparatus and collecting the parts of the wool fat, which separate
at the said respective temperatures.
3. The method of separating the fats contained in wool fat by means of a
fractional pressure according to the first claim with the difference that fat
dissolving agents which are volatile or not are added previous to the pressing,
substantially as described.
4. In the method described in the third claim in which fatty oils and fatty acids
are used as dissolving agents, the separation of the dissolving agent from the fats
by means of saponification with a solution of alkali then diluting with water,
substantially as described.
Dated this 18th day of September 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.