Process of and Apparatus for the Extraction and Decolourization of Fatty Bodies.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 11th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 13th May, 1899
Process of and Apparatus for the Extraction and Decolourization of
Fatty Bodies.
I, JEAN CHARLES EDOUARD BATAILLE, of 22ter, Square St. Pierre, Douai, Nord,
France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a process of, and apparatus for, the extraction and
decolourization of fatty bodies.
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which Figure 1 represents in elevation a combined battery of extractors and
decolourizers while Figure 2 shews in sectional elevation one of the extractors drawn
to a larger scale.
A are the extractors of which the distinguishing feature is the employment of
vertical pendent tubes ab for heating the entire mass by the circulation of steam,
the tubes b for the introduction of steam and the tubes a for the outlet of the water
of condensation being arranged one within the other, as shewn in the drawing,
or in juxtaposition. The tubes, of which there may be any suitable number, having
any required dimensions, are designed to penetrate the entire mass of material
to be treated in the extractor, without impeding the free circulation of the liquid
or the charging or discharging of the apparatus, thereby effecting the uniform
and regular distribution of heat throughout the mass for the purposes of the
operation hereinafter described.
The extractor may be of circular or prismatic form and be steam-jacketted or
not. It is provided at top with a charging orifice c and at bottom with a delivery
orifice d and a filtering diaphragm f, the latter being composed of perforated sheet
metal covered with a filtering fabric applied against the lower part of the vertical
wall of the extractor by means of a frame constructed of top and bottom steel rings
or bands f united by vertical bands or strips g and provided with a tension screw h
having right and left hand threads, this construction being employed to permit of
quickly changing the filtering cloth.
The material to be treated, having been charged into the extractor and the
orifices closed, a current of the solvent employed is then introduced through pipe m,
by means of a pump from a reservoir. Any suitable number of extractors may be
employed and they may be arranged to work either separately or in series like the
diffusers in sugar works in order to effect a methodical lixiviation by a continuous
current. The matters are slightly heated during the washing by means of the
tubes to a temperature below that of the boiling point of the solvent. When
the contents of one extractor have been sufficiently washed, the solvent is run off
preparatory to removing the residue, for which purpose the temperature is raised
by means of the tubes 6 and the steam-jacket by increasing the opening of the steam
inlet from pipe T. The solvent is thus raised to boiling point and driven out at
the bottom of the extractor into the next of the series by the pressure of the gas

page_text: evolved. When the liquid has been wholly expelled (which is shewn by a gauge)
the pipe n which communicates with the next apparatus, is closed and the pipe o
is opened the latter communicating with the condenser, where the vapours of the
solvent are condensed and returned to the reservoirs. The heating of the extractor
by the tubes is continued until the temperature therein rises to from about 230°
to 250° Fahrenheit, at which moment very dry steam and at a low pressure is
introduced by pipe i, which serves to drive out the residue of the solvent from the
material which being hotter than this steam does not cause the latter to condense
so as to moisten the material in the extractor and thus permitting, after the steam
has been admitted for a few moments, of the material being discharged in an
absolutely dry condition. The solvent charged with the fatty matters on leaving
the extractors, passes into another series of extractors B filled with any suitable
decolourizing substance, such as pipe clay, Fullers earth, etc., and constructed in an
exactly similar manner, but made of greater height and less diameter.
It has been found that in order to effect perfect decolourization it is necessary to
agitate the decolourizing agent in contact with the liquid under treatment and as it
is impracticable to do this by mechanical means I obtain the same result by
circulating the liquid by means of a pump. To this effect, after each apparatus has
been filled with the liquid to be decolourized, all the three-way cocks are turned
simultaneously by means of a rod, which may conveniently be done by means of a
screwed coupling rods rotated by a hand wheel or by a lever, so as to bring them to
position 1. In this position the pumps being in work, the liquid is drawn from
the bottom of each apparatus and re-introduced at the top of the same apparatus,
the circulation being continued in this manner for about half an hour or more,
according to requirements. All the cocks are then brought to the position 2 and
the liquid from each apparatus is passed into the next of the series, after which the
cocks are returned to position No. 1 and the circulation re-established. The whole
of the liquid thus passes through all the apparatus successively and ultimately
passes out to pipe p through cock whence it is conducted to an evaporator in which
the fatty matter is concentrated, and is afterwards purified by known means.
When the decolourizing agent in any of the apparatus is exhausted, the liquid is
discharged therefrom into the next one and the exhausted extractor having been
cut out of the series is rinsed out with pure solvent which is then expelled by the
method previously described. The decolourizing agent is then removed and the
apparatus is then re-introduced into the circuit, fresh material to be treated being
supplied by pipe q.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Process of and Apparatus for the Extraction and Decolourization of
Fatty Bodies.
I, JEAN CHARLES EDOUARD BATAILLE, of 22ter, Square St. Pierre, Douai, Nord,
France, Engineer, 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:-
-
This invention for process of and apparatus for the extraction and decolorization
of fatty bodies has more especially reference to the extraction of oil from seeds
and oleaginous fruits by means of a solvent, and to the immediate decolorization
of the oil thus extracted, the object of the invention being to effect the extraction

page_text: without deteriorating the meal or depriving it of its comestible or other properties
and to nerform the decolorization more efficiently than heretofore, and the invention
consists in certain combinations of operations, constituting a process or processes,
and in the details of construction of certain vessels, and the general arrangement
and combination of parts for carrying out the processes of extraction and
decolorization.
The extraction of oil from seeds and oleaginous fruits by means of a solvent is
now well known, more or less heat being employed to assist in the process of
extraction, and to drive off the solvent at the proper time.
In like manner, decolorization by filtering through a pulverulent mass is also
well known. Passing the vaporized solvent to a condenser after it has been used
for the extraction, to recover it for future use, has generally been adopted, and
the operations of forcing the solvent with the oil out of the meal by vapourizing
the solvent, and also by means of super-heated steam, have also been proposed. No
claim, therefore, will be made for any of these processes or operations per se.
In carrying out this invention, a series of vessels named extractors are used, a
leading feature of which is the employment of vertical pendent tubes for heating
the mass of meal and solvent by means of steam,-the said tubes being double or
one inside the other, the outer tube being preferably the steam supply tube, and
the inner tube the outlet for steam and condensed water.
These tubes, of which there may be any number, penetrate into the mass, thus
ensuring the proper and efficient heating of the same, without impeding the free
circulation of the liquid, or the charging or discharging of the vessel or apparatus.
When the extraction has been properly effected, the product is passed to other
vessels, termed decolorizers, the construction of which has much in common with
that of the extractors, but they are made of greater height and less diameter, and
contain a suitable filtering and decolorizing material.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents in diagrammatic form what
is termed a battery, consisting of extractors and decolorizers.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of one of the extractors drawn to an enlarged scale
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same, Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the means for
holding or adjusting the filtering medium in the extractor.
Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing one of the decolorizers also drawn to
an enlarged scale.
Referring now to Fig. 1, A A are the extractors, and BB the decolorizers, C is a
steam pipe which is connected by branches to the top of the extractors A, at a,
and with the decolorizers B, at b, in both cases for supplying the pendent heating
pipes. D is the solvent supply pipe in connection with a reservoir, from which
it is drawn by a pump (neither of which is shown), the said pipe being connected
by branches & with the upper part of the extractor A.
The bottom of one extractor A is connected with the top of the next extractor by
the pipe E, a junction being effected with the branch d.
This pipe E is also connected by a branch e with a pipe F, by which the solvent
and the fatty matters in solution are conveyed to the decolorizers BB and by
another branch el with another pipe G, by which the vapours of the solvent are
conveyed to the condenser (not shown) to be condensed prior to being returned to
the reservoir. z is a pipe by which the steam and water coming from the tubes
passes to the steam jacket.
His a pipe by which, by means of branches h, dry steam at low-pressure is
conveyed to the extractor for the purpose of forcing out at the end of the operation
he last traces of the solvent that may be retained in the meal.
All these pipes and branches are provided with suitable cocks, by which they
nay be shut out of, or let into, the series, or whereby the direction of the various
luids may be changed at will during the process of extraction.
The decolorizers B are likewise connected by branches b, h, d, to the steam
ipes C and H, and the solvent supply pipe D. At bottom, each decolorizer is
onnected to a pipe J, which in turn communicates by branches ',, with the

page_text: pipes G and Frespectively, and by the branch j³, with a pipe K, which is common
to all the decolorizers, by means of pipes k, entering the decolorizers at the top.
A double three-way cock L is arranged above each pump and permits of a
return flow either by it to the upper part of the apparatus or by P to the top of the
next apparatus. The handles of the series of cocks are operated simultaneously
by a rod as shown, or in any other convenient manner.
In the branch is situated a pump M of any convenient form, and operated in
any convenient manner, and the pipe K is connected by a branch controlled by
an ordinary cock m with a discharge pipe N, by which the solution of decolorized
oil is delivered to evaporating apparatus where the separation of the oil and the
solvent will take place by ordinary and known means.
To produce the most economical results, only a proportion of the series (in which
there may be any number) of extractors should be working at one time for the
extracting operation; a second lot will be operated for the elimination of the
solvent which impregnates the meal, while a third lot will be discharging and
recharging with meal.
Let it be supposed that there are 12 extractors, which is the number found to be
most suitable for treating cotton seed. Let it also be supposed that Nos. 3 to 9
form the extracting group, 1 and 2 the solvent eliminating group, and 10 to 12 the
discharging and recharging group, the working will be as follows:-
Nos. 3 to 9 are all charged with meal, solvent is pumped into 3, and passes
through all the extractors to 8, thus the whole of this group becomes charged with
solvent as well as meal. No. 8 is then connected with No. 9 through the
pipe E. The meal may be slightly heated by the pendent tubes as the solvent
is passing through, as a little heat will conduce to a quicker extraction of
the oil.
As the solvent passes in at 3, it will gradually extract the oil, and as it passes
on through the others, it acts in the same way, gradually taking out the oil from
each extractor and carrying it forward until it reaches the last or No. 9 which is
thus filled with solvent. When the solvent coming from the pump passes through
No. 3, it acts on the meal to extract the last traces of oil therein not extracted by
the solvent having passes through to the other extractors. The solvent in 3,
which is charged with a relatively small quantity of oil, passes by the pipe E
into 4, where the meal is richer in oil. It there acts in a similar manner and passes
on to 5, and so on.
When 9 is filled, which may be seen by a gauge glass, the pump is stopped and
Communication
the heating up of No. 3 by the tubes and the jacket is commenced.
is opened by the branch e of No. 9, with the pipe F, and the decolorizing apparatus.
The temperature rising in 3, the solvent vaporizes. The pressure of the pump
which causes the liquids to circulate from one extractor to the other, is now
The liquid in 3 is thereby
replaced by the pressure of the vaporized solvent in 3.
forced to pass into 4, driving before it the solvent from 4 into 5 and the other
extractors and finally from to the decolorizing apparatus or to a suitable storage
vessel in connection with these apparati.
When 3 is empty of liquid, the communication with 4 is closed and it then
comes into the second group. Communication is opened by e¹ and the pipe G
with the condenser, and the inlet of steam by a to the tubes is completely opened.
The material is thus raised to a temperature of 110° or 120° Celsius, and the
vaporized solvent escapes to the condenser. The special arrangement of the tubes
permits of obtaining this temperature perfectly equal in the whole mass, and when
this is attained, dry steam at low pressure is admitted, which causes the vaporizing
of the last traces of solvent and forces out this vapour, carrying it off to the
condenser.
The temperature of the meal being much higher than that of the steam, the
steam is not condensed in the extractor, so that the meal is withdrawn from the
extractor in a friable state, perfectly dry without the least trace of the solvent.

page_text: The extractor 3 after the stoppage of the steam (after being shut off from
the condenser) belongs then to the third group for discharging and recharging.
During this time the operation of extraction is still going on in the first
group. After closing the communication between 3 and 4, pure solvent is pumped
into 4, the extractor 10 now charged with fresh material is filled with solvent
coming from 9 after having circulated through 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 and so on,
a new extractor being brought into each series at the desired moment. In this
way, when in full work, the solvent is allowed to act thoroughly in each extractor
and the result is what I term a methodical lixiviation by a continuous current,'
the word lixiviation," in this connection, meaning rather a steeping or soaking,"
than a washing."
"
"
It may be here remarked that it is not necessary in all cases to use 12 extractors.
In some cases, one may be sufficient, while in others two or three may be used, but
the operation will practically be that which takes place in extractor No. 3.
The decolorizer is filled with some suitable decolorizing material, such as
powdered pipe clay, Fuller's earth or charcoal. The connections between the
decolorizers and pipes F and G have already been described.
In order to effect the decolorization in the best manner, agitation is required, and
it being difficult to agitate the mass of material in the vessel, it is proposed to
agitate by pumping the liquid (solvent and oil) through and through, thus the
pump af connected to the bottom of the vessel, sucks the liquid (solvent and oil)
through the filtering material and pumps it into the vessel again at the top.
The decolorization is done in a methodical manner like the extracting. The
mixture (oil and solvent) passes at first through a primary apparatus where it is
treated with the material already nearly exhausted, then through a second less
exhausted, then through a third, etc. lastly through one but lately charged with
new material having all its decolorizing power. The series of apparatus for
decolorizing is arranged in three groups like the extractors, first group in work,
second group recuperating with oil and solvent, third group discharging and
recharging. In the group in work the pumps work constantly, the three-way
cocks are turned alternately in the direction R and in the direction P. When
they are in the direction R, the liquid is agitated" by causing the oil to pass
several times through the decolorizing material in each apparatus by means of
the pumps.
When the cocks are in the direction P, the liquid advances, for
instance, from 3 to 4, from 4 to 5, etc., whilst in the first apparatus of the group at
work the cock of branch pipe J2 is opened to allow of a fresh quantity of liquid for
decolorizing entering into the circulation and in the last apparatus of the group,
the cock L is closed in both directions, R and P, and its key disengaged from the
general operating rod, the cock m is open and the decolorized liquid passes to the
evaporating apparatus. The liquid passes thus from apparatus to apparatus,
undergoing an agitation in each, and the decolorization increases gradually in
each.
When the material of one apparatus has no further any decolorizing power, this
apparatus passes into the second group, where it is first washed with pure solvent
for the extraction of the oil remaining in the material, then heated and lastly
treated with steam exactly like an extractor. The apparatus then passes into the
third group for discharging and recharging. The exhausted material is removed,
thoroughly denuded of oil and dry, and it can then be easily revivified to be
used over again.
The liquid, after undergoing decolorization, is passed through a canvas filter to
an evaporator, where it is heated to such an extent that the solvent is driven off,
but the oil is not affected.
I will now describe the apparatus, first referring to the extractor, as shown in
Figs. 2 and 3; thus, A is a suitably shaped vessel of cast metal, which may be
jacketted or not, as desired.
This vessel is contracted at bottom, as shown at A¹, and also at top, as shown
at A³, circular openings being thus left of less diameter than the body of the

page_text: vessel. At the top end, and on one side, is a feeding hole A, which is closed by a
screw down cover, or by any other suitable means which will resist pressure.
The top opening is closed by a cover, the construction of which will now be
explained. Thus S is a saucer-shaped piece formed wtih an annular chamber S¹
therein. Into this chamber, tubes S are inserted, S being an outlet on the top of
the cover, and St a steam inlet. T is a tube plate carrying a number of pendent
tubes, T, corresponding to the tubes S2, but of larger diameter.
The tubes T are closed at the lower end, and are intended to receive the
tubes S².
The plate T is placed between the top of the vessel A (with the tubes extending
into the vessel) and the cover S and the parts are bolted together and secured to
the vessel A in any convenient manner to resist pressure.
Steam enters S*, passes down tubes T, and the steam or water of condensation
passes up tubes S² into the chamber S¹ and out by the opening S³.
These tubes act as the novel heating surface which forms an important part of this
invention.
In the wall of the vessel A is a passage A by which connection is made with the
pipe for pure solvent and with the preceding extractor, the passage being in con-
nection with a perforated coil or pipe A5 inside the vessel, by means of which the
liquid is spread evenly over the meal. A similar passage permits the entrance of
dry steam by the pipe h.
The bottom opening is closed by a door U carried at one end of a lever U¹, which
is pivotted at U2 to the body of the vessel A.
The other end of this lever U¹ carries a counterweight U³ to counterbalance the
weight of the door and through which passes the threaded rod U* This rod U* is
jointed (so that it will rotate) to the top of the vessel A, and is provided with a
hand wheel/U by which it can be rotated.
By rotating this rod, the counterweight U is worked up the thread, so that the
lever U¹ becomes tipped into the dotted position, thus withdrawing the door U.
To close the door the rod U is turned in the opposite direction, and the door will
automatically find its seat against an annular extension A6 of the vessel A, to which
it is secured by bolts and nuts or in any other convenient manner, to form a
tight joint.
This annular extension A has a very important function, as within it is placed a
filter W. The inner wall of this extension has an annular recess A7, and an
outlet As is provided for the oil and solvent and steam.
The filter W consists of a band of perforated sheet metal or wire gauze, having
lugs W at each end and covered with a filtering fabric. This band is applied
against the vertical wall of the extension A6, so that the recessed portion of the
extension A will form an annular channel for the liquid to pass to the outlet A8.
This filter W is held in position by a double threaded tension screw W which
takes into the lugs W₁. The turning of this screw will force the two ends of the
band apart, and thus jam the filter W against the wall of the extension Aº.
I may here remark that though the above described arrangement is found to
work satisfactorily, I do not wish to confine myself thereto, as any other means may
be adopted for holding the filter in contact with the wall of the extension A6.
Turning now to the decolorizers B, it will be seen from Fig. 5 that the general
form is similar to that of the extractors or vessels A, the chief difference being that
the decolorizers are longer and of less diameter than the extractors A, that the top
and bottom are not removeable, and that a man-hole B' for withdrawing the solid
contents is placed at the side.
A perforated plate B2 is placed over the rounded bottom, to support the
decolorizing material, and to provide a chamber for the liquid to collect in, a
draw off pipe for the liquid contents being provided at bottom.
The vessel B is heated by pendent pipes after the manner of the extractors,
but the arrangement of these pipes will be clearly understood from the drawing

page_text: and from what has gone before, and further description will therefore be
unnecessary.
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 general arrangement of apparatus as herein shown and described for the
extraction and decolorization of fatty bodies.
2. The use, in apparatus for extracting and decolorizing fatty bodies, of a
heating surface composed of pendent tubes, as herein shown and described and
for the purpose set forth.
3. In apparatus for extracting and decolorizing fatty bodies a heating surface
constructed and arranged as shown and described.
4. An apparatus for extracting fatty bodies constructed, arranged, and operating
as herein shown and described with reference to Figs. 2 to 4 of the drawings.
5. In apparatus for extracting fatty bodies the use of a filtering device
constructed and arranged as herein shown and described.
6. In apparatus for decolorizing fatty bodies extracted by means of a solvent the
use of decolorizers constructed and operated as shown and described.
7. In the process of extracting oil from oil bearing bodies by means of a
solvent, replacing the pressure of a pump by the pressure produced. by vaporizing
the solvent in the first apparatus of a series, in order to cause a progressive
movement of the liquid through a series of apparatus as set forth.
8. In the process of extracting fatty bodies by means of a solvent, the use of
dry low-pressure steam to drive out the liquid, and to dry the residue, as herein
set forth.
9. The process of extracting fatty bodies as herein described, and consisting in
pumping solvent into a vessel containing the body of the raw material, heating
the material to vaporize the solvent and produce pressure in the vessel, whereby
the liquid is forced out, and finally introducing dry low-pressure steam, to drive
out the last traces of liquid, and to dry the residue, all substantially as set
forth.
10. The mode of operating for the decolorizing of fatty bodies in a series of
apparatus as herein described.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.