IMPROVEMENTS. IN THE MODE OF REVIVIFYING ANIMAL CHARCOAL
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents, 66,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS. IN THE MODE OF REVIVIFYING ANIMAL CHARCOAL." A
communication from abroad by Gaston Joseph Pierre Lamboi and Adolphe
Vandesmet, both of Paris. in the Republic of France.
aled the 4th July 1876, and dated the 11th April 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edward Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th April 1876.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF REVIVI-
FYING ANIMAL CHARCOAL,"
The object of this Invention is to completely eliminate from the charcoal which
has been used in sugar manufactories and refineries the organic matters, the
alkalies, the carbonate of lime, and other ingredients which it has absorbed.
One mode of performing this operation is to submit the charcoal to calcination
after it has been fermented and repeatedly washed in acid and in water.
It has been found that this calcining operation may be avoided and a more
perfect revivifaction of the charcoal obtained by mixing it with a lye of potash,
soda, or ammonia, and heating it by steam in a closed vessel consisting of two
cylindars placed concentrically and mounted on an axis, and capable of rotating
thereon, and provided with suitable openings and cocks.
The ingredients to be treated are placed in the inner cylinder, the steam being
admitted into the outer cylinder in any convenient manner.
The vessel is caused to rotate at the rate at from 30 to 60 revolutions per hour,
so that the ingredients contained in the vessel may be constantly agitated.
When the heating operation is completed the lye is drawn off, and the charcoal
having been rinsed in distilled water is withdrawn from the vessel.
The charcoal
is then treated with hydrochloric acid and washed, after which it may be dried in
any suitable manner.
This mode of operating is preferred when a lye of potash or soda is used, but
when a lye of ammonia is employed the ammonia after the heating operation is
completed may be driven into a refrigerator, where it is condensed; the charcoal
will then only require to be rinsed in distilled water and dried.
Pain I

page_text: By these means all organic matters are destroyed, and the charcoal retains all
its properties.
Another mode of revivifying the charcoal used in the manufacture of sugar, and
to eliminate the alkalies, the potash, soda, and lime absorbed by the charcoal from
the saccharine juices is to treat it with hydrochloric acid.
This mode of operation, however, is open to objection, inasmuch as the acid attacks
and destroys to a large extent the constituent elements of the charcoal.
To obviate these objections the charcoal is treated either before or after the
heating operation with a solution of hydrochlorate of ammonia.
If it be desired to treat the charcoal before the heating operation the hydro-
chlorate is introduced with the charcoal into the close vessel, which is rotated in
order to mix the ingredients. Steam is then introduced into the outer cylinder,
and the ammonia which has not been utilized in destroying the organic matters is
driven off by the heat into a refrigerator where it is condensed.
The action of the alkalies and the carbonate of lime is to decompose the hydro-
chlorate and release the ammonia, the carbonate of ammonia, and the alkaline
chlorides. Thus the hydrochloric acid of the hydrochlorate will act only on the
extraneous matters and not affect the charcoal. The charcoal thus prepared is ready
for the heating operation.
If the treatment by the hydrochlorate of ammonia is to be performed after the
heating operation, the solution of the hydrochlorate is introduced into the cylinder,
and after allowing sufficient time for the saturation of the alkalies the charcoal is
rinsed once or more times in warm distilled water and then dried.
If preferred the apparatus employed may be stationary, and consist of only
one cylinder, but provided with means for causing a circulation of the liquid
therein.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
October 1876.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF REVIVI-
FYING ANIMAL CHARCOAL," being a communication from abroad by Gaston
Joseph Pierre Lamboi and Adolphe Vandesmet, both of Paris, in the Republic of
France.
The object of this Invention is to completely eliminate from the charcoal which
has been used in the manufacture and refining of sugar the organic matters, the
alkalies, the carbonate of lime, and other matters which it has absorbed during
these processes.
One mode of performing this operation is to submit the charcoal to calcination
after it has been fermented and washed in acid and in water.
It has been found that this calcining operation may be avoided and a more
perfect revivification of the charcoal obtained by boiling it with a lye more or less
concentrated of potash, soda, or ammonia in a closed vessel consisting of two
cylinders placed concentrically and mounted on an axis, and capable of rotating
thereon, and provided with suitable openings and cocks.
The ingredients to be treated are placed in the inner cylinder, and steam at a
pressure of from two to six atmospheres is admitted into the outer cylinder in any
convenient manner so as to heat the mixture indirectly, and give it a high
temperature, which varies with the tension of the steam employed.
Besides the high temperature obtained there is a complete separation between
the heating medium and the liquid to be heated. The lye thus retains during the
whole operation its distinctive features, and there is no fear of its absorption by the
generators, and this is the only mode of employing a strong ammoniacal lye.

page_text: The vessel is caused to rotate at the rate of from thirty to sixty revolutions per
hour, so that the ingredients contained in the vessel may be constantly agitated.
This boiling operation may be repeated any number of times, according to the
quality of the charcoal being treated.
When the boiling operation is completed the lye is drawn off, and the charcoal
having been once or twice rinsed in distilled water is withdrawn from the vessel
and placed in suitable receptacles. The charcoal is then treated with hydrochloric
acid in order to get rid of the excess of the lye which it may have absorbed and
then washed, after which it may be dried in any suitable manner.
This mode of operating is preferred when a lye of potash or soda is used, but when
a lye of ammonia is employed the ammonia, after the boiling operation is completed,
may be driven off by heat and conducted into a refrigerator, where it may be con-
densed; the charcoal will then only require to be rinsed in distilled water and dried.
By these means all organic matters will be destroyed, and the charcoal will retain
all its bleaching and refining properties.
The lyes may be re-used several times just as they are withdrawn from the boiling
receptacles, or in the case of the potash and soda lyes they may be revivified in any
known manner,
Another mode of revivifying the charcoal used in the manufacture of sugar, and
to climinate the alkalies, the potash, soda and lime, and sometimes the carbonate of
lime, which alkalies are absorbed by the charcoal from the saccharine juices during
the process of manufacture is to treat it with hydrochloric acid.
This mode of operation, however, is open to objection, inasmuch as the acid attacks
and destroys to a large extent the constituent elements of the charcoal.
To obviate these objections the charcoal is treated while in the apparatus and
either before or after the boiling operation with a solution of hydrochlorate of
ammonia. The quantity of the hydrochlorate to be used will depend upon the
amount of the alkali absorbed or retained by the charcoal, which amount must be
ascertained by experiment.
If it be desired to treat the charcoal before the heating operation the hydrochlorate
of ammonia is dissolved in water and introduced with the charcoal into the close
vessel, which is rotated slowly in order to effect a proper mixture of the ingredients.
Steam is then introduced into the outer cylinder, and after a certain time the
rotation of the cylinder is discontinued, and the ammonia which has not been utilized
in destroying the organic matters is driven off by the heat into a refrigerator, where it
is condensed, while the carbonate of ammonia which is also volatile will be collected
in a vessel containing sulphuric acid.
The action of the alkalies and the carbonate of lime is to decompose the hydro-
chlorate and release the ammonia, the carbonate of ammonia, and the alkaline
chlorides; thus the hydrochloric acid of the hydrochlorate of ammonia will act
only on the extraneous matters and will not affect the charcoal. The charcoal thus
prepared is ready for the boiling operation with an equivalent weight of the
ammoniacal or other lye.
If the treatment by the hydrochlorate of ammonia is to be performed after the
heating operation the solution of the hydrochlorate is introduced into the cylinder,
and after allowing sufficient time for the saturation of the alkalies, and the other
actions consequent thereupon, the charcoal is rinsed in warm distilled water and
then dried.
If preferred these two operations above described, viz., first, the elimination of
organic matters; second, the elimination of mineral matter can be performed in a
closed vessel analogous to the closed filters used in sugar refining.
The liquid is heated at the lower part in a coiled pipe placed under the movable
bottom, and a tube conveniently placed and connected to the movable bottom
allows the liquid to rise into the upper part in order that it may redescend through
the charcoal.
In these operations instead of revivifying the ammonia in the apparatus itself,
it is preferable to collect the liquid at the end of each operation in a special vessel,

page_text: and there to cause the ammonia to disengage by heating the mass with the addition
of milk of lime.
Having now described the nature of this Invention for "Improvements in the
Mode of Revivifying Animal Charcoal" as communicated to me by my foreign corre-
spondents, and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect,
I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent
I claim treating animal charcoal which has been employed in the manufacture or
refining of sugar in the manner above described, whereby the alkalies, the carbonate
of lime, and all organic or other matters absorbed by the charcoal during these
processes, may be completely eliminated therefrom, and the charcoal revivified, so
that it may be used again for bleaching and purifying sugar as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Edward Newton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Eleventh day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
H. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)