A NEW OR IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF FATTY MATTER FROM WOOL FAT
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Friedrich Carl Glaser of Berlin in the Kingdom of
Prussia and Empire of Germany, Engineer and Patent Solicitor for an invention
of "A NEW OR IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF FATTY MATTER FROM WOOL
FAT," a communication to him by Dr Otto Braun and D' Oscar Liebreich
both of Berlin in the German Empire
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Friedrich Carl Glaser at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th October 1882.
FRIEDRICH CARL GLASER of Berlin in the Kingdom of Prussia and Empire of
Germany, Engineer and Patent Solicitor "A NEW OR IMPROVED MANUFACTURE
OF FATTY MATTER FROM WOOL FAT Communicated to me by my correspondents
Dr Otto Braun and Dr Oscar Liebreich both of Berlin in the German Empire.
"
This invention relates to a new or improved manufacture of fatty matter from
wool fat termed "Lanolin," which may be produced either from the waste liquors
of wool washing works or from ordinary commercial wool fat.
Lanolin is a combination of pure wool fat with water; forming an opaque white
pasty mass which is insoluble in water, and when heated separates into water and
wool fat. At ordinary temperatures, the wool-fat, being stirred will again absorb
the water, again forming "Lanolin This same property of separating into water
and wool fat is also possessed by Lanolin when heated in water. Under the
microscope it shows itself to be a homogeneous mass.
"
Many attempts have already been made to obtain as pure a fat as possible from
the raw wool-fat or from the wool washing water. The methods used until now
are, however, insufficient as in the best case, the end product obtained was a sour
unpleasant smelling fat, which when Benzine, Petroleum, ether or the like were
used for its extraction, retained in addition, the smell of the extracting
medium
The cause of this bad result, is partly that the carbonic acid which is always

page_text: .
given off by the decomposition of the alkaline liquids, attaches itsen m sm
bubbles to the little particles of dirt which adhere to the fat, and carries up a
great portion of the heavy earthy adinixtures of the fat, so that there is formed
upon the sour liquid, a dirty muddy mass, from which fat can only be obtained by
pressing under heat. Added to this, the lyes during the operation pass over into
putrid fermentation, causing not only annoyance to the neighbourhood of the factory,
but also imparting to the fat obtained an obnoxious sinell which cannot be removed
This method of working, moreover requires considerable space and a considerable
quantity of acid, because the earthy portions containing always lime or silicates
that are decomposible, require to be saturated with the acids necessary for the
separating of the fats. Besides this there is a loss of material due to the portion
of the fat which remains in the press-cakes
By the following methods are obtained :—
First. Moans for the separation of the dirt and unsaponified fat from each other,
and from the soapy water before the latter has been decomposed by acid
Second Means of obtaining "Lanolin," a hitherto unknown compound, which is
a combination of purified wool-fat and water, whose properties are described above
The special method is as follows:-
The still fresh undecomposed lye passes through a depositing centrifugal machine,
in which the dirt and the fat are separated from each other, while the cleansed soap
liquor is continually drawn off by means of a pipe and led direct into the vat
which serves for the accidulation
et
The raw " Lanolin" thus obtained is throroughly kneaded by suitable machinery
with cold flowing water, until the water which flows away is as clear as the
inflowing water. The raw Lanolin" is then heated with water, whereby it is
decomposed into the elements water and fat. The latter is skinned off from the
surface and cooled, and can then be again operated upon in the centrifugal machine
in a melted condition for further purification, or it can be dissolved in ether, ethyl,
or methylated spirits or other solvent and the solution can be separated from the
residue by filtration or other moans
The solvents can afterwards be recovered by treatment in suitable stills: The
fat so cleansed is thoroughly kneaded for a long time. with water, with which it
combines to make a perfectly white, neutral, inordorous unguent. This product,
which in no way discloses its origin, is termed "Lanolin."
01
From the mud deposited in the lowest part of the centrifugal machine a still
further portion of "Lanolin' can be obtained, by stirring the same up with clean
or salt water and again working it in the centrifugal machine or extracting it
either in a wet or dry condition by means of a solvent, after which it is treated.us
above
Instead of utilising the wool washing water for the production of "Lanolin,"
raw or cleansed commercial wool fat may be directly treated for this purpose:
In this case the wool-fat is stirred with water, NaO CO₂, NaO HO, soap or any
alkali or a mixture of these or other substances to form a thin milk and is then
subjected to the above described treatment:
Having thus described the nature of the said invention and in what manner thie
same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my correspondonts I
claim:
66
First The herein-described improved manufacture of fatty matter termed
Lanolin," from, wool fat, by first treating the waste liquors of wool washing works
in a depositing centrifugal machine, then purifying the raw Lanolin so obtained
and converting the same into wool-fat, and if necessary, purifying, the wool-fat by
means of ether or other solvents or. by operating upon. the same when heated in a
centrifugal machine, and lastly converting the woolfat into "Lanolin" by treatment
with water
j
:
Second. The herein described improved manufacture of fatty matter terined
"Lanolin" from wool-fat by treating commercial wool fat with water, carbonate of

page_text: soda, hydrate of soda, soap or other alkaline substance or mixtures thereof until a
thin milky fluid is obtained which is then treated in the manner set forth in the
preceding claim
In witness whereof I the said Friedrich Carl Glaser have hereunto set my
hand and seal this eighteenth day of October One thousand, eight hundred
and eighty two
FRIEDRICH CARL GLASER. (L.S.)