CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING FATTY AND OILY MATTERS FOR OBTAINING THEIR ACIDIFICATION, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Pierre Scheurweghs, Distillator, and Alexandre
Joseph Aurele Henry de Boisserolle, Manufacturer, both of Paris, in the
French Empire, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING
FATTY AND OILY MATTERS FOR OBTAINING THEIR ACIDIFICATION, AND IN THE
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 29th July 1862, and dated the 31st January 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Pierre Scheurweghs
and Alexandre Joseph Aurele Henry de Boisserolle at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 31st January
1862.
We, PIERRE SCHEURWEGHS, Distillator, and ALEXANDRE JOSEPH AURELE
HENRY DE BOISSEROLLE, Manufacturer, both of Paris, in the French Empire,.
do bereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TREATING FATTY AND OILY MATTERS FOR OBTAINING THEIR ACIDIFICATION,
AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
Acidification is an important operation in treating fatty bodies to obtain
stearine therefrom. Hitherto when sulphuric or nitric acid has been used for
this purpose, they have been used cold and separately, that is never together,
but either one or other has been used alone throughout all the operations, or
one has been used after the other in different or separate operations, whereas

page_text: We raise the
according to our Invention we effect the acidification of fatty bodies by the
simultaneous employment in a hot state of both sulphuric and nitric acids;
that is, we treat the fatty matters with both sulphuric and nitric acids at the
same time, and we use them hot. Our improved mode of raising the nitric
acid to the required temperature is by combining alcohol therewith, whereby
we also prevent the acid from coloring the matters. We have a mode of
treating the fatty matters with the acids under pressure in a covered or
tightly closed vessel, or in such manner as to keep the matters from contact
with the atmospheric air, preferring to use for the purpose a long closed
trough or passage in which the treatment is continuous.
sulphuric acid to the same temperature as that to which we bring the fatty
matter to be treated thereby; we also raise the nitric acid to about or
nearly the same temperature. We employ a current of air for agitating the
fatty matters, and assisting them to set, harden, or solidify. We prefer to
proceed thus: We subject the fatty body to the usual treatment of washing
and of heating or evaporation, raising it to about from about 110° to 115°
centigrade (say 230° to 239° Fahrenheit). We prefer to take nitric acid 32°
to 35°, and sulphuric acid 66', and use them at about 110° to. 115° centig.
(say 230° to 239° (Fahrenheit). We generally beat the sulphuric acid by a
steam coil at the bottom of its receiver, but to raise, the. nitric acid to
the desired temperature, say 100° centig. or 212° Fabr., we alcoholize it,
i.e., we combine therewith alcohol at about 65° (or higher) preferably in
a proportion of one-fourth of the quantity of acid. Having prepared the
whole, we conduct the evaporating fatty body into the apparatus in which
it is to be acidified. The aparatus which we prefer for that purpose
consists of a long inclined closed trough or series of communicating troughs
of square or similar section constituting a passage, which may be either
straight, or winding, or zig-zag. We prefer to construct the lid removeable,
and to fasten it down with screws. The hot sulphuric acid is admitted into
the trough near the entrance, and the nitric acid (treated with alcohol
or alcoholized) some short distance beyond. The fatty body passes all
along the apparatus, its heat being maintained by steam flowing through a
false bottom, with which the apparatus is provided, and it (the fatty body)
becomes combined, as explained, with the acids, which also combine with
each other, and gas is thereby generated, which being under pressure in the
apparatus, assists in separating the glycerine and in setting or hardening
the fatty matter. We may here mention that heretofore acidification has
been carried on in the mass or bulk, and in open vessels, whereas in the

page_text: method we have described we proceed by a gradual admixture of the acids
with the fat, or act on it a little at a time, though, nevertheless, on the whole
continuously, and we shut out the air, especially as regards the nitric acid.
We prefer to use about eight per cent. sulphuric, and two per cent. nitric acid,
and to have a trough or series of troughs about ninety feet long, with the acid
openings about fifteen feet apart. The fatty body having been thus acted on
issues from the apparatus into a receiver fitted with a steam coil, and with an
air pipe, communicating with a pump or equivalent arrangements for supplying
a current of air to agitate the fatty matter, and assist in acidifying it, causing
it to set, rendering it more uniform, and expelling injurious emanations.
When the receiver is sufficiently full, a proportionate quantity of water may
be turned on and steam admitted, the matters washed, and the glycerine fully
separated and precipitated; the matters may then be left for a while at rest,
and be then removed for distillation. Instead of the trough we sometimes use
tubes of different diameters, one of which is fitted within the other, and contains
the steam. Another apparatus which we sometimes use instead of the trough,
is a cylinder, with a double bottom or jacket for steam. Through this cylinder
passes a revolving shaft, carrying agitators, beaters, or arms, preferably
hollowed or dished on opposite sides, and set closely together (their ends
coming near the cylinder sides), whereby the matters are well stirred about or
agitated. The end of the shaft may be screw threaded.
The Invention is also applicable to oily matters.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed'
by the said Pierre Scheurweghs and Alexandre Joseph Aurele Henry de
Boisserolle in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st July 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, PIERRE
SCHEURWEGHS, Distillator, and ALEXANDRE JOSEPH AURELE HENRY DE BOISSE-
ROLLE, Manufacturer, both of Paris, in the French Empire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of January in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Pierre Scheurweghs and Alexandre Joseph Aurele Henry de Boisserolle,
Her special licence that we, the said Pierre Scheurweghs and Alexandre
Joseph Aurele Henry de Boisserolle, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said Pierre Scheurweghs and Alexandre Joseph

page_text: Aurele Henry de Boisserolle, our: executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for." CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING FATTY AND OILY MATTERS FOR OBTAINING THEIR
ACIDIFICATION, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said Pierre Scheurweghs and Alexandre Joseph
Aurele Henry de Boisserolle, our executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under our or their hands and seals; or under the hand and seal
of one of us or them, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said.Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Pierre Scheurweghs and Alexandre
Joseph Aurele Henry de Boisserolle, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference
being had to the accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
Acidification is an important operation in treating fatty and oily bodies to
obtain the stearine therefrom, especially in the manufacture of candles and;
like articles. Hitherto when sulphuric or nitric acid has been used for this
purpose these acids have been employed in a cold state, and they have been
used separately, that is to say, the two acids have never been employed
together or simultaneously, but one or other of them has been used alone
throughout the whole operation, or else one has been used after the other in
different or separate operations. Whereas according to our Invention we effect
the acidification by the simultaneous employment in a hot state, of both sul-
phuric and nitric acids, that is to say, we treat the fatty matters with both
sulphuric and nitric acids at the same time, and we introduce the acids in a.
hot state. Our improved mode of raising the nitric acid to the required tem-
perature consists in combining alcohol therewith, whereby also we prevent the
acid from colouring the fatty matters.
We employ the following improved mode of treating the fatty matters with.
the acids: According to this mode, we treat the fatty matters with the acids
under pressure in a covered or tightly closed vessel, in such manner as to keep.
the matters from contact with atmospheric air; and we prefer to use for the
purpose a long closed trough or passage, in which the treatment is continuous,
as afterwards more particularly described. We raise the sulphuric acid to the,

page_text: same temperature as that to which we raise the fatty matter to be treated
therewith. We also raise the nitric acid to about or nearly to the same tem-
perature. We employ a current of air for agitating the fatty matters, and for
assisting them to set, harden, or solidify. We prefer to proceed thus:-We
subject the fatty matter to the usual preparation by washing it and by carrying
on the usual process of evaporation, for which purpose we heat the fatty
matter to about from 110° to 115° centigrade, say, 230° to 240° Fahrenheit.
We take nitric acid at 32° to 35° Baumé, and sulphuric acid at 66° Baumé,
and use them at a temperature of about 110° to 115° centigrade, or 230° to
240° Fahrenheit. We generally heat the sulphuric acid by a steam coil at the
bottom of its receiver; but to raise the nitric acid to the desired temperature,.
say, 100° centigrade, or 212° Fahrenheit, we alcoholize it, that is to say, we
combine with the acid a quantity of alcohol at about 65° Baumé, or even at a
higher degree, preferably in a proportion of one-fourth part alcohol to every
one part acid. Having thus prepared the materials, we conduct - the fatty
matters into the apparatus in which they are to be acidified. The apparatus
which we prefer to use for the purpose, and which we call the "passage appa-
ratus," consists of a long inclined closed trough or series of communicating
troughs of square or similar section, constituting a passage which may.either
be straight, or it may be winding or zig-zag. We construct the lid or cover
removeable, but we fasten it on with screws. The hot sulphuric acid is
admitted into the trough near the entrance of the latter, and the nitric acid
previously alcoholized or treated with alcohol is admitted a short distance
beyond. The fatty matter passes all along the apparatus, and during its
passage its heat is maintained by steam flowing through a false bottom with
which the apparatus is provided, and it (the fatty matter) is combined as
explained with the acids, which also combine with each other, and gas is. given
off therefrom, and this gas being under pressure in the apparatus. assists in
separating the glycerine and in solidifying or hardening the fatty matter. We
may here mention that heretofore acidification has been carried on in the mass
or bulk, the whole quantity of acid being thrown into the mass of the fatty
matter at once; also the process has been performed in open vessels; whereas
according to our improved method herein described, it will be observed that
we proceed by a gradual admixture of the acids with the fat, that is to say,
we cause the acids to act on the fat a little at a time, so to speak, though
nevertheless they act on the whole continuously. Also, we exclude the air from
the matters under treatment, and especially from the nitric acid. We prefer
to use about eight per cent. sulphuric acid and two per cent. nitric acid, and

page_text: to have our trough or series of troughs about ninety feet long, with the feed
openings for the acids about fifteen feet apart.
The fatty matters having been treated as described, issue from the aforesaid
apparatus into a receiver fitted with a steam coil, and furnished with an air
pipe communicating with a pump or equivalent arrangement for supplying a
current of air to agitate the fatty matter and assist in acidifying it; the current
of air also causes the fatty matter to set, renders it more uniform, and expels
noxious emanations. When the receiver is sufficiently full, a proportionate
quantity of water is turned on and steam admitted into the coil, the matters
are washed, and the glycerine is fully separated and precipitated. The matters
may then be left for a while at rest, and afterwards removed for distillation.
Instead of the trough constructed as described, we sometimes modify it by
using tubes of different diameters, one of which is fitted within the other, and
contains the steam. (This modification of our passage apparatus is herein-
after more fully explained.)
Another apparatus, which we call our cylindrical apparatus, and sometimes
use instead of the trough, is a cylinder with a double bottom or jacket for steam.
Through this cylinder passes a revolving shaft, carrying agitators, beaters, or
arms, preferably hollowed or dished on opposite sides, as afterwards described,
and set closely together, their ends coming near the cylinder sides, whereby
the matters are well stirred about or agitated.
The Invention is also applicable to oily matters.
The accompanying Drawings represent apparatus constructed according to
our Invention.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of our first described arrangement of
apparatus, which we call the "passage apparatus;" A is the vessel containing
the fatty matter to be fed into the vessel B; B is the acidifying vessel, it
consists of a series of inclined troughs or shallow chambers of square section
communicating with each other so as to form a continuous winding passage.
We generally construct, it of cast iron. The inclination of the troughs should
be very gradual (say of an inch in the yard), and we recommend that the
whole passage should be ninety feet long from end to end, for though the
longer it be the more intimately will the acids combine, and the better will
be the product, yet we generally find a length of ninety feet fully sufficient.
The vessels A and B communicate by a short pipe a', furnished with a stop cock
a; b is the cover of the passage B, it is secured in place by screws c, which
may be unscrewed when desired to allow of the cover being removed when
the passage. is to be cleaned; d, d, are false bottoms under which, steam is

page_text: admitted by pipes e, e; f is a mouth piece for feeding the sulphuric acid into
the passage B; and g is a mouth piece for feeding the nitric acid into the
said passage. If the passage be ninety feet long the mouth pieces f and g
may be placed fifteen feet apart. A vessel containing sulphuric acid is fitted
over the mouth piece f, and a vessel containing nitric acid over the mouth
piece g.
At the end of the passage B is a receiver H, containing a steam
coil; into this receiver opens an air pipe leading from an air pump. The
fatty matter to be treated, after being prepared as is customary by washing, and
by heating it to 212° Fahrenheit, or to the desired degree at which the usual
process of evaporation is carried on, is fed into the passage B by opening the
stop-cock a, and will travel slowly along the passage from end to end, while
steam is caused to flow continuously through the pipes e, under the false
bottoms d, to maintain the temperature of the fatty matter at the desired point-
during its travel through the passage B. Sulphuric acid is admitted through the
mouth piece f, the acid being heated to the same temperature as that of the
fatty matter by a steam coil or otherwise. Nitric acid heated by the admixture
of alcohol to about the same temperature as the fatty matter or rather lower
is admitted through the mouth piece g. The acids meet within the passage
at g, and become incorporated with the fatty matter combining therewith,
and with each other during the remaining length of the passage B, and,
alcoholic, nitrous, and sulphurous gases will be given off from the heated,
acids, which being confined, and under pressure in the troughs will act on
the fatty matter, and will help to decompose it to separate its glycerine, and
to effect its solidification. The cover b should be screwed firmly down during
the process to exclude atmospheric air, and confine the gases given off from
the acids. When the fatty matter has reached the end of the passage
B, it will be discharged into the receiver H, where it is subjected to a
current of air forced in from an air pump or otherwise, which completes the
acidifying and solidifying processes, and also serves to correct flaws in the
product, and expel unpleasant emanations. When the receiver H is sufficiently
full a proportionate supply of water is let into it. to wash the matters, steam
being also admitted into the coil, which. completes the separation of the
glycerine, and precipitates it. The stearine may be left to rest for two hours
or thereabout, and is then poured off into the charging vat, and distilled in. the
ordinary manner, the remainder of the process being carried on as usual.
We may here mention that we consider it important to exclude atmospheric,
air from the materials, and especially from the nitric acid, as that acid when
used in an open vessel imparts a reddish tinge to the fats, which renders them

page_text: unfit for the market. The passage B may be either winding or straight, to
suit the size, arrangement, or convenience of the manufactory, that is to say,
instead of the passage B being winding or zig-zag it may be in a straight
or continuous right line, though of course still-gradually inclined, and formed
with a false bottom, steam piping, and acid feed mouths. The passage B
whether straight or winding may be modified by constructing it of two tubes
or tubular passages one within the other, the inner one containing the steam
and the outer the fatty matter, the latter being furnished with acid feed mouths
similar to f and g. The tubes should be gently inclined.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of an apparatus, which may be used instead of
the passage apparatus arrangement shewn in Figure 1. We call the arrange-
ment about to be described our cylindrical apparatus; E is a cylinder
for containing the fatty matter while being treated with acids. A convenient
size of cylinder is fourteen inches across, and half a yard in "developpement "
that is, the surface obtained by the length multiplied by circumference; E¹ is a
jacket or casing in which steam is admitted through a steam pipe N; Kris
an axis passing through the cylinder, and caused to rotate by a driving pulley
G, or other ordinary means. This axis carries a number of arms, blades, or
beaters K, K, set closely together, and extending nearly to the inner sides
of the cylinder; these arms are dished at each end, the concavity at one end
of each being curved in a reverse direction to that at the other end, so that
on rotary motion being communicated to the axis K', the arms K will beat
and agitate the fatty matters thoroughly in all directions, the form and
arrangement of the agitators may however be varied. The fatty matters are
introduced into the cylinder E, from the evaporating vessel A, through a pipe
P, and mouthpiece Q. Sulphuric acid and nitric acid, heated as before
described, are admitted into the cylinder from their respective receivers R, S,
through suitable mouthpieces. When in the cylinder, the acids combine with
each other, and with the fatty matters on which they act simultaneously, and
gases are given off from them, (as in the apparatus Figure 1,) which being
confined under pressure in the cylinder, act on the fatty matters, which thus
become thoroughly acidified (by the acids and gases assisted by the action of
the beaters or arms). The arrangement of the cylinder is such, as to render
the admixture of the materials continuous and gradual, an object which is
assisted if the dimensions of the cylinder be about those above mentioned. The
fátty matters after being treated in the cylinder are discharged through a
pipe J, (furnished with stop-cock j.) into the receiver M.
We wish it to be understood that though in the course of this Specification

page_text: we have mentioned certain dimensions of apparatus, proportions of materials,
and degrees Baumé; we do not restrict ourselves thereto, as the same may be
varied without departing from the nature of the Invention as herein described.
Although in the course of this Specification, we have chiefly mentioned the
treatment of fatty matters, we wish it to be understood that we also treat oily:
matters in like manner and by like means, and that our methods and apparatus
are applicable thereto.
.
We wish it to be understood, that by the expression "alcoholized nitric acid "
used in this Specification we mean nitric acid heated by the admixture of
alcohol therewith.
:
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, we declare that we claim, first, the
acidification of fatty and oily matters by the simultaneous employment of
heated sulphuric acid and of alcoholized nitric acid, substantially as described,
that is to say, by introducing heated sulphuric acid, and alcoholized nitric acid
into the fatty and oily matters, so that they shall act thereon at the same time,
in the same operation, and with combined action, excluded from atmospheric
air and shall give off gases acting under pressure.
Second, the employment in acidifying fatty and oily matters of nitric acid,
alcoholized or raised by the admixture of alcohol to 212° Fahrenheit, or
higher (that is to say, to the same or nearly the same temperature as the
matters treated therewith.)
Third, acidifying fatty and oily matters by sulphuric and alcoholized nitric
acids, acting simultaneously and continuously upon fatty or oily matters,
travelling along an air-tight passage into which the acids are introduced in a
heated state, and in which they combine with each other.
Fourth, the employment for acidifying fatty and oily matters, of a long air
tight passage arranged for the matters to travel along, while being treated by
the acids substantially in manner described.
Fifth, the employment of a cylinder fitted with beaters or agitators, in
manner and for the purpose herein-before set forth.
46
Sixth, the general arrangement and combination of parts, constituting the
passage apparatus" herein-before described.
Seventh, the general arrangement and combination of parts, constituting the
cylindrical apparatus herein-before described, and represented in the acconi-
panying Drawings.
Eighth, the employment of a current of air to agitate and solidify the fatty
or oily matters, (after their combination with heated nitric and sulphuric acids)
and thereby to perfect their acidification.

page_text: Ninth, the combined employment in acidifying fatty and oily matters, of
the three following improvements, that is to 'say, introducing into the hot
matters sulphuric acid raised to, or to about the same temperature as the said
matters (mostly at or about 230° to 240° Fahr.) causing the matters while
acted on to travel along a long passage or duct, and subjecting the matters
after treatment with the acids to a current of air, all substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Alexandre Joseph Aurele Henry de
Boisserolle and Pierre Scheurweghs, have hereunto set our hands and
seals, this Twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
EMILE BARRAULT,
33, Bard St. Martin.
A. J. A. H. DE BOISSEROLLE. (L.S.).
P. SCHEURWEGHS.
(L.S.)