IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOAP
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Tomlinson Bousfield, of Loughborough Park,
Brixton, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of" IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF SOAP."-A communication from abroad by Campbell
Morfit, of New York, United States of America, Chemist.
Sealed the 31st January 1862, and dated the 13th November 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION leftbythesaid George Tomlinson Bousfield
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th November 1861.
I, GEORGE TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Loughborough Park, Brixton, in the
County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "Im.
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOAP," to be as follows:-
The firstpartof the Inventionconsistsinsaponifyingthe fatty acids generally,
and more particularly the "red oil" of commerce, for the purpose of manu-
facturing them into soap by the use of sal-soda orother crystallized carbonate of
soda reduced to a fluid state by fusion in its own water of crystallization. By
using the sal-soda ina fused liquid state, the advantageis attained of having the
alkali in a much more finely divided condition than is possible in the form of
powder, while at the same time, the fluid condition permits it to inter-act upon
the heated fatty acid more rapidly and thoroughly than if used dry, and there-
fore produces complete saponification in the shortest time and with the least
labor, heating, and stirring.
The object of this part of the Invention is to produce from "red oil" or

page_text: other fatty acids, a soap of maximum excellence, both in composition and
practical qualities, at the least possible cost of time, labor, and money. In
working the process I use the usual double-bottomed kettlewithsteam-heating
arrangement, andasuitabletwirl for stirring, geared formotion bysteam power.
"Red oil," as it is commercially styled, or other fatty acid, is put into the
kettle to the depth of one-fourth of the capacity of the vessel and steam let
into the heating chamber or jacket. If rosir, be used it is added in small
lumps and in proportion to the quality of the soap desired. The twirl being
set in motion, the heating and stirring are to be continued until the rosin has
become fused and the oily mixture has acquired a temperature of above 150
but not exceeding 400° Fahrenheit. At this point the "sal-soda " previously
melted in its own water of crystallization by the application of steam to a
vessel containing it, is allowed to flow into the hot fatty matter in a gradual
stream, the stirring being discontinued at intervals as the intumescence may
render expedient and necessary. The proportion of" sal-soda "depends upon
its purity and the alkaline strength which it is desired to give the soap.
This alkaline strength may range from 8 per cent. and upwards, and the
composition of the sal-soda being known, the quantity of it wanted to supply
the required amount of alkali to the soap is to be determined by calculation.
One hundred of pure "sal-soda" contains 37 of carbonate of soda. After all
the "sal-soda "has been added, the heating and stirring are to be further con-
tinued until the intumescence hasceased andthe mass subsided into a perfectly
homogeneous paste in appearance and consistence. It is then ready to be
transvased into cooling frames preparatory to being cut into bars and blocks
for the market. If it is desired to make a soap of greater strength and firm-
ness, a portion of the normal or crystallized "sal-soda" may be replaced by
effloresced sal-soda, which is a drier condition of the former prepared by
exposing it to warm air currents until it falls to powder. For coarse soap
fine powdered "soda ash" may be substituted for the effloresced sal-soda.
In the use of either of these two latter they must, in this formula, be added
after the fatty acid has been brought to paste by treatment with the portion of
normal sal-soda" as above described.
The second part of the Invention consists in a process of manufacture of
a soap of superior washing qualities and handsome appearance from the fatty
acids generally, and more particularly from the "red oil" of commerce, by
saponifying them by the use of sal-soda or other crystallized carbonate of soda
reduced to a liquid state by fusion in its own water of crystallization and
finishing the resulting soap paste by treating it with "liquid quartz" or with
the aqueous solution of any of the chemical or commercial varieties and forms

page_text: of silicate of soda or potassa. In working this process I use the usual double-
bottoni kettle with steam-heating arrangement and a suitable twirl for stirring
geared for motion by steam power. "Red oil," as it is commercially styled, or
other fatty acid stock is put into the kettle to the depth of one-fourth of the
capacity of the vessel, and steam let into the heating chamber or jacket. If
rosin be used it is added in small lumps and in proportion to the quality of the
soap desired. The twirl being set in motion, the heating and stirring are to be
continued until the rosin has become fused and the oily mixture has acquired
a temperature of above 150°, but not exceeding 400° Fahrenheit. At this
point the sal-soda, previously melted in its own water of crystallization by the
application of steam to a vessel containing it or by any suitable mode of
heating, is allowed to flow into the hot fatty matter in a gradual stream, the
stirring being discontinued at intervals as the intumescence may render expe-
dient and necessary. The proportion of sal-soda should be about fifty per cent.
of the fatty acid, but with expert manipulation a larger quantity may be
worked in. After all the sal-soda has been added, the heating and stirring are
to be continued until the intumescence has ceased and the mass subsided into
a homogeneous paste both as to appearance and consistence. At this stage it
is to be treated with twelve to fifteen per cent. of a dense solution of silicate
of soda (sp. grav. 1160) in gradual flow during constant stirring. When the
whole of the silicate has been let in, heating and stirring are to be further
continued until the soap paste is perfected or finished, and then it is ready to
be transvased into the cooling fraines.
The third part of the Invention consists in a process of manufacture of a
hard soap, durable in water and of superior cleansing qualities, from fatty
acids generally, but more particularly from the "red oil" of commerce, by
saponifying them by the use of soda-ash in fine powder and afterwards treating
the resulting soap paste with sal-soda or other crystallized carbonate of soda
reduced to a fluid state by fusion in its own water of crystallization and
finishing the soap paste by further heating it with "liquid quartz," "soluble
glass," or with the aqueous solution of any of the chemical or commercial
varieties and forms of silicate of soda or potassa. In working this process
I use the usual double-bottom kettle with steam-heating arrangement and a
suitable twirl for stirring geared for motion by steam power. "Red oil," as
it is commercially styled, or other fatty acid stock is put into the kettle to the
depth of one-fourth of the capacity of the vessel, and steam let into the heating
chamber or jacket. From 10 to 80 per cent. of rosin may now be added in
small lumps in proportion to the quality of the soap desired. The twirl being
set in motion, the heating and stirring are continued until the rosin has become

page_text: fused and the oily mixture has acquired a temperature of above 150°, but not
exceeding 400° Fahrenheit. At this stage of the operation soda-ash in fine
powder and in quantity of twelve to fifteen per cent. of the fatty acids
employed, is to be added in portions at a time, the stirring being discontinued
at intervals as the intumescence may render expedient or necessary. Occa-
sional additions of water are advisable to promote action. After subsidence
of the mass to paste the ash is to be followed by the addition of three times
its amount of "sal-soda" previously fused in its own water of crystallization
by means of steam heat and an ordinary double-bottom pan as the containing
vessel. From this pan it is to be allowed to flow into the soap kettle during
constant stirring and heating of the soap mixture, and when the latter has
become a smooth paste it is to be finished by treatment with liquid quartz or
an aqueous solution of silicate of soda (sp. grav. 1160). The proportion of
quartz should be about that of the ash employed. When the heating and
stirring have been continued sufficiently long to give homogenity to the soap
paste it is to be transvased into cooling frames preparatory to being cut into
bars and blocks for the market,
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Tomlinson Bousfield in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 8th May 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Loughborough Park, Brixton, in the County of
Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, Her special licence that I, the said
George Tomlinson Bousfield, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as 1, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, my executors, admi-
nistrators, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOAP," a
communication to me from abroad by the Inventor, Campbell Morfit, of New

page_text: York, United States of America, Chemist, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, my executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, 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 I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, 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, that is to say :-
The first part of the Invention consists in saponifying the fatty acids gene-
rally, and more particularly the "red oil" of commerce, for the purpose of
manufacturing them into soap, by the use of sal-soda or other crystallized
carbonate of soda reduced to a fluid state by fusion in its own water of crys-
tallization. By using the sal-soda in a fused liquid state the advantage is
attained of having the alkali in a much more finely divided condition than is
possible in the form of powder, while at the same time the fluid condition
permits it to inter-act upon the heated fatty acid more rapidly and thoroughly
than if used dry,and therefore produces complete saponification in the shortest
time, and with the least labor, heating, and stirring. The object of this part
of the Invention is to produce from "red oil" or other fatty acids a soap of
maximum excellence, both in composition and practical qualities, at the least
possible cost of time, labor, and money. In working the process I use the usual
double-bottom kettle with steam heating arrangement, and a suitable twirl
for stirring geared for motion by steam power. "Red oil" as it is commer.
cially styled,or other fatty acid is put into the kettle to the depth of one-fourth
of the capacity of the vessel, and steam let into the heating chamber or jacket.
If rosin be used it is added in small lumps, and in proportion to the quality of
the soap desired. The twirl being set in motion, the heating and stirring are to
be continued until the rosiu has become fused, and the oily mixture has ac-
quired a temperature of above 150%, but not exceeding 400° Fahrenheit. At
this point the "sal-soda" previously melted in its own water of crystallization,
by the application of steam to a vessel containing it is allowed to flow into the
hot fatty matter in a gradual stream,the stirring being discontinued at intervals
as the intumescence may render expedient and necessary. The proportion of
sal-soda," depends upon its purity and the alkaline strength which it is
desired to give the soap. This alkaline strength may range from 8 per cent.
and upwards,and the composition of the sal-soda being known, the quantity of

page_text: may be
it wanted to supply the required amount of alkali to the soap is to be determined
by calculation.. One hundred of pure "sal-soda" contain 37 of carbonate of
soda. After all the "sal-soda" has been added the heating and stirring are to
be further continued until the intumescence has ceased, and the mass subsided
into a perfectly homogeneous paste in appearance and consistence. It is then
ready to be transvased into cooling frames, preparatory to being cut into bars
and blocks for the market. If it is desired to make a soap of greater strength
and firmness, a portion of the normal or crystallized "sal-soda "
replaced by effloresced sal-soda, which is a drier condition of the former prepared
by exposing it to warm air currents until it falls to powder. For coarse soap
fine powdered "soda-ash" may be substituted for the effloresced sal-soda. In
the use of either of these two latter, they must, in this formula, be added
after the fatty acid has been brought to paste by treatment with the portion of
normal "sal-soda as above described. The use of carbonate of soda in
different states of hydration affords the means of adjusting the ratio of water
and alkali in the soap.
"
The second part of the Invention consists in a process of manufacture of a
scap of superior washing qualities and handsome appearance from the fatty
acids generally; and more particularly from the "red oil" of commerce, by
sapouifying them by the use of sal-soda or other crystallized carbonate of soda
réduced to a liquid state byfusion in its own water of crystallization,andfinish-
ing the resulting soap paste by treating it with "liquid quartz" or with
the aqueous solution of any of the chemical or commercial varieties and
forms of silicate of soda or potassa. In working this process I use the
usual double-bottom kettle with steam heating arrangement and a suitable
twirl for stirring geared for motion, by steam power. "Red oil," as it is
commercially styled, or other fatty acid stock is put into the kettle to
the depth of one-fourth of the capacity of the vessel, and steam let into the
beating chamber or jacket. If rosin be used it is added in small lumps
and in proportion to the quality of the soap desired. The twirl being set in
motion, the heating and stirring are to be continued, until the rosin has become
fused and the oily mixture has acquired a temperature of above 150°, but not
exceeding 400° Fahrenheit. At this point the sal-soda previously melted in
its own water of crystallization by the application of steam to a vessel contain-
ing it, or by any suitable mode of heating, is allowed to flow into the hot fatty
matter in a gradual stream, the stirring being discontinued at intervals as the
intumesence may render expedient and necessary. The proportion of sal-soda
should be about 50 per cent. of the fatty acid, but with expert manipulation
a larger quantity may be worked in. After all the sal-soda has been added,

page_text: the heating and stirring are to be continued until the intumescence has ceased
and the mass subsided into a homogeneous paste, both as to appearance and
consistence. At this stage it is to be treated with twelve to fifteen per cent. of
a dense solution of silicate of soda, (sp. grav. 1160) in gradual flow during
constant stirring. When the whole of the silicate has been let in, beating and
stirring are to be further continued until the soap paste is perfected or finished,
and then it is ready to be transvased into the cooling frames.
The third part of the Invention consists in a process of manufacture of a
hard soap durable in water, and of superior cleansing qualities, from fatty
acids generally, but more particularly from the "red oil" of commerce, by
saponifying them by the use of soda ash in fine powder, and afterwards
treating the resulting soap paste with sal-soda, or other cystallized carbonate
of soda, reduced to a fluid state by fusion in its own water of crystallization,
and finishing the soap paste by further heating it with "liquid quartz,"
"soluble glass," or with the aqueous solution of any of the chemical or com
mercial varieties and forms of silicate of soda or potassa. In working this
process, I use the usual double-bottom kettle, with steam beating arrangement,
and a suitable twirl for stirring geared for motion by steam power. "Red
oil," as it is commercially styled, or other fatty acid stock is put into the
kettle, to the depth of one-fourth of the capacity of the vessel, and steam let
into the heating chamber or jacket. From 10 to 50 per cent. of rosin may
now be added in small lumps in proportion to the quality of the soap desired.
The twirl being set in motion, the heating and stirring are continued until
the rosin has become fused, and the oily mixture has acquired a temperature
of above 150°, but not exceeding 400° Fahrenheit. At this stage of the
operation, soda-ash in fine powder, and in quantity of twelve to fifteen per
cent. of the fatty acids employed is to be added in portions, at a time, the
stirring being discontinued at intervals, as the intumescence may render
expedient or necessary. Occasional additions of water are advisable to promote
action. After subsidence of the mass to paste, the ash is to be followed by the
addition of three times its amount of "sal-soda," previously fused initsownwater
of crystallization by means of steam heatand an ordinary double-bottom panas
the containing vessel. From this pan it is to be allowed to flow into the soap
kettle during constant stirring and heating of the soap mixture; and when the
latter has become a smooth paste, it is to be finished by treatment with liquid
quartz, or an aqueous solution of silicate of soda (sp. grav. 1160). The pro-
portion of quartz should be about that of the ash employed. When the
heating and stirring have been continued sufficiently long to give homogenity

page_text: to the soap paste it is to be transvased into cooling frames preparatory to being
cut into bars and blocks for the market.
What I claim is, first, saponifying the fatty acids generally, and more particu.
larly the "red oil" of commerce, whether singly or admixed among themselves
or with rosin, by the use of sal-soda or other crystallized carbonate of soda
reduced to a Huid state by fusion in its own water of crystallization, with
or without the addition of effloresced sal-soda or finely powdered soda-ash
in finishing the resulting soap paste, substantially as described.
Second, manufacturing soap from the above-mentioned fatty acids, whether
singly or admixed among themselves or with rosin, by saponifying them by
the use of sal soda reduced to a liquid state by fusion in its own water of
crystallization, and finishing the resulting soap paste by treating it with
"liquid quartz," or with the aqueous solution of any of the chemical or
commercial varieties and forms of silicates of soda or potassa, substantially
as described; the silicates serving as an aid in the saponification, and not
as a mere diluent or adulterant of the soap.
Third, manufacturing soap from the above-mentioned fatty acids, whether
singly or admixed among themselves and with rosin, by saponifying them
by the use of soda-ash in fine powder, and afterwards treating the result-
ing soap paste with sal-soda or other crystallized carbonate of soda, reduced
to a fluid state by fusion in its own water of crystallization, and finishing
the soap paste by further heating it with "liquid quartz," "soluble glass,"
or with the aqueous solution of any of the chemical or commercial varieties
and forms of silicate of soda or potassa, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of April,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
GEO. T. BOUSFIELD. (L.s.)