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F. Dawidowsky

GLUE, GELATINE, ANIMAL CHARCOAL,
PHOSPHORUS, CEMENTS, PASTES,
AND MUCILAGES,

COMPRISING

THE RAW MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURE OF SKIN AND BONE GLUE,
DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF GLUE, ANIMAL CHARCOAL, PHOSPHORUS,
GELATINE AND PRODUCTS PREPARED FROM IT; ISINGLASS AND
FISH-GLUE, METHODS OF TESTING GLUE AND GELATINE,
AND THE PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF
CEMENTS, PASTES AND MUCILAGES FOR USE
IN THE WORKSHOP, LABORATORY,
AND OFFICE.

BY
F. DAWIDOWSKY,
TECHNICAL CHEMIST.

EDITED FROM THE GERMAN, WITH EXTENSIVE ADDITIONS, INCLUDING A DESCRIPTION OF THE MOST RECENT PROCESSES.

BY
WILLIAM T. BRANNT,
EDITOR OF “THE TECHNO-CHEMICAL RECEIPT BOOK.”

ILLUSTRATED BY FIFTY-NINE ENGRAVINGS.

SECOND EDITION, REVISED AND LARGELY RE-WRITTEN.

PHILADELPHIA:
HENRY CAREY BAIRD & CO.,
INDUSTRIAL PUBLISHERS, BOOKSELLERS AND IMPORTERS, 810 Walnut Street.
1905.

Copyright, by
HENRY CAREY BAIRD & CO.,
1905.

PRINTED BY THE
WICKERSHAM PRINTING CO.,
53 and 55 North Queen Street,
Lancaster, Pa., U. S. A.

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

The first edition of this work has been out of print for some years, but nevertheless there is a constant demand for it, and this together with the fact that frequent inquiries are received for information in this department of industry, are the inducements which have led to the preparation of the present treatise.

The book is arranged in two parts, Part I. comprising Glue, Gelatine and Allied Products, and Part II. Cements, Pastes and Mucilages, and it is fully illustrated with engravings of various types of apparatus.

Since the appearance of the first edition much progress has been made in the manufacture of glue and allied products. Old and wasteful methods of working have been replaced by more approved processes, and in the present volume it has been endeavored to place before those interested in these industries, a practical and comprehensive account of modern methods of operation.

In order adequately to represent this advancement and development, the best authorities have been freely consulted and drawn upon, special acknowledgments being due to the following works: “Bone Products and Manures,” by Thomas Lambert, and “Glue and Glue Testing,” by Samuel Rideal.

As the demand for phosphorus is steadily increasing, and the manufacture of this product from bones and bone-ash forms an important branch of the utilization of bones, it has been deemed advisable to devote a chapter to this subject.

The receipts for cements, pastes, and mucilages given in Part II. have been gathered from numerous sources. They have been critically examined, and are offered, with the full conviction, that they will not be found wanting in efficacy.

The Table of Contents and Index have both been carefully prepared, and being very full, will make reference to any subject in the volume easy and satisfactory.

W. T. B.

Philadelphia, Pa., August 10, 1905.

CONTENTS.

PART I.

GLUE AND GELATINE.

CHAPTER I

.

NATURE of GLUE.

PAGE

Sources of glue; Change in the animal tissues by continued boiling; Definition of what is known as glue; Most important glue-yielding substances

1

Transformations of which glue and gelatine are the products; Transition stages of glue; Production of the glue-yielding substance of the animal body

2

Crude glue and jelly; Constitution of glue; Combinations of which glue consists

3

Preparation of pure glutin; Properties of glutin

4

Preparation and properties of chondrin

5

Adhesive power of glutin and of chondrin; Properties of glue and its behavior towards other substances; Quantity of glutin in glue

6

Properties of jelly before drying to glue; Absorption of ozone by the jelly; Behavior of glue solution towards different salts; Effect of acids upon glue; Meta-gelatin

7

Combinations of tannin with the jelly; Effects of dry heat upon glue; Chemical composition of glue and glue-yielding substance

8 CHAPTER II

.

USES of GLUE.

Glue as a joining medium, and requirements for this purpose

10

Glue as a binding agent; Consumption of glue in the manufacture of matches

11

Quality of glue required by bookbinders; Glue in sizing; Glue for culinary and medicinal purposes

12

Glue for clarifying and fining beer, wine and other liquids; Bouillon tablets; Glue as a healing agent

13

Glue for elastic masses and a partial substitute for rubber; Use of glue in photolithography; Hectograph mass; Glue for fancy articles

14

Gelatine veneers and their uses

15 CHAPTER III

.

RAW MATERIALS AND THEIR PREPARATION FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GLUE.

Principal substances employed for the manufacture of glue; Division of raw materials into groups

16

Animal skin and its constitution

17

Portion of the skin of value for the manufacture of leather and glue; Yield of glue from tannery waste; Influence of the age of the animals from which the skins have been derived upon the quality of the glue

18

Notes in reference to judging glue-stock

19

Liming of waste

20

Precaution and care required when buying glue leather; Arrangements required for the preparation of glue stock; Location of the glue factory; Lime pits; Contrivances for washing the limed stock

21

Washing drums; Pits or vats with proper arrangements for stirring, draining and inspection; Glue stock washer invented by W. A. Hoeveller, described and illustrated

22

Sheds for storing and sorting; Mode of carrying on the work in the factory; Liming; Preparation of milk of lime

26

Importance of the quality of the lime used; Testing the value of a lime by determining the amount of real calcium hydroxide contained in it; Mode of conducting the operation

27

Washing the material after removal from the lime pit; Washing and drying

28

Preservation of the glue-stock by means of carbolic acid; Preparation of carbolic acid solution for this purpose

29

Use of other antiseptics for the purpose of preventing putrefaction; Formaldehyde and boric acid; Classification of the principal varieties of hides and leather for glue-stock

30

Bones and cartilages

31

Constitution of bones; Composition of bone cartilage; Value of bones for the manufacture of glue; Necessity of exercising care in buying bones

32

Sorting the bones; Crushing or grinding the bones

33

Stamping mill for crushing bones, described and illustrated

34

Bone crusher, described and illustrated; Crosskill bone mill, described and illustrated; Sieve for sorting the crushed bones, described and illustrated

36

Lime bath for bones; Treatment of the bones with hydrochloric acid

37

Washing the stock; Use of dilute sulphurous acid in place of hydrochloric acid as suggested by Gerland; Jullion and Pirie’s process for the preparation of gelatine from bones

38

Leather waste; Mechanical manipulation of the waste; Comminution of the waste and use of a rag-engine or hollander for this purpose

39

Various methods of extracting tannin from leather waste

40

Raw materials for fish glue; Difference between isinglass and glue manufactured from entire fishes; Principal points to be observed in the manufacture of fish glue

41

Utilization of scales of large fishes

42 CHAPTER IV

.

MANUFACTURE OF SKIN GLUE.

Classification of operations; Definition of crude glue; Derivation of the bulk of this stock

43

Cooking or boiling glue-stock; Boiler for this purpose, and manner of using it

44

Duration of boiling

45

Mode of ascertaining the progress of the operation; Convenient apparatus for glue-boiling with water, described and illustrated

46

Extracting the glue stock by the use of steam

47

Boiler for this purpose, described and illustrated; Use of open-jacketed pans heated by steam, described and illustrated

49

Process of cooking as described by Mr. Thomas Lambert; Terne’s glue boiler, described and illustrated

51

Clarifying the glue-liquor

52

Distinction between clearness and color; Clarifying vats; Prevention of putrefaction of the liquor

53

Use of alum and other chemicals for clarifying; Freeing the liquor from coloring substances

54

Use of animal charcoal for this purpose; Bleaching the raw materials previous to boiling them to glue; Use of chloride of lime or of sulphurous acid for this purpose

55

Forming or moulding the glue; Moulds for this purpose

56

Detaching the glue from the sides of the moulding boxes; Cutting the cubes of glue into commercial cakes or sheets; On what the shape of the cakes depends

57

Use of stone-slabs in place of cooling boxes; Use of glass or zinc plates for liquors which in gelatinizing do not become very solid

58

Tools for cutting the jelly into cakes, described and illustrated

59

Machine for slicing and spreading glue-jelly preparatory to drying invented by Mr. J. Schneible, described and illustrated

60

Cutting apparatus patented by M. Devoulx, described and illustrated

62

Drying the cakes of glue; Drying in the open air; Mode of conducting the operation in a drying room

64

Size of the drying room; Circulation and change of air in the drying room

65

Nets and frames for drying the glue; Objections to twine netting

66

Metallic netting and its advantages; Regulation of the temperature of the drying room; Means of promoting the dryness of the air

67

Use of long drying galleries; Apparatus for drying glue, invented by W. A. Hoeveller, described and illustrated

68

Modern drying house, described and illustrated

71

Method to accelerate the drying of glue, proposed by Fleck

72

Mode of giving the dry cakes a good lustrous appearance

73 CHAPTER V

.

MANUFACTURE OF BONE GLUE.

Comminution of the bones; Various methods of extracting the fat; Boiling bones

74

Steaming bones and apparatus for this purpose

75

Extraction of bones with benzine or carbon disulphide; Apparatus for the use of benzine invented by Messrs. Wm. Adamson and Charles F. A. Simonis of Philadelphia, Pa., described and illustrated

76

Adamson’s method for treating substances with hydrocarbon vapor for the purpose of extracting oils, fats, etc., described and illustrated

79

Adamson’s method for treating substances with liquid hydrocarbon for the purpose of extracting oils, fats, etc., described and illustrated

82

Adamson’s process for removing hydrocarbons from substances which have been treated therewith, described and illustrated

84

F. Seltsam’s apparatus, described and illustrated

86

F. Seltsam’s apparatus as improved by Th. Richter, described and illustrated

88

Alfred Leuner’s apparatus, described and illustrated

90

Extraction with hydrochloric acid

91

Sulphurous acid process

92

Generation of sulphurous acid

93

Apparatus for the generation of sulphurous acid constructed by Dr. Bruno Terne, described and illustrated; Conversion of cartilage into glue; Wm. Friedberg’s apparatus for this purpose, described and illustrated

94

Mode of operation with this apparatus

95

Construction of the filter used in connection with the apparatus

96

Settling tank, described and illustrated; Arrangement of an open evaporating pan, described and illustrated

98

Cooling the glue liquor; Use of refrigerating machines for that purpose; Spiral evaporators

100

Vacuum pan for evaporating glue and gelatine liquors, described and illustrated

101

Instrument which indicates the amount of dry glue in the solution, described and illustrated

103

Process for the simultaneous utilization of bones for fat, bone-meal and glue

104

Crushing the bones; Apparatus for subjecting the crushed bones to the action of high-pressure steam, described and illustrated

105

Mode of operation with this apparatus

106

Duration of steaming the bones for the manufacture of animal charcoal

107

Sorting the bones for the manufacture of animal charcoal; Former method of carbonization

108

Arrangement of a Belgian retort-furnace, described and illustrated

109

Products evolved in the destructive distillation of bones; Mode of operation with Belgian retort-furnaces

112

Products obtained in making animal charcoal on a large scale; Process for the simultaneous utilization of the bones for fat, glue and calcium phosphate; Degreasing the bones

113

Treatment of the bones with hydrochloric acid; Preservation of the resulting cartilage; Boiling the cartilage in open vessels

114

Mode of extracting the phosphates from bones; Yield of glue obtained from cartilage after extraction of the mineral constituents; Constituents of the liquor obtained by treating the bones

115

Utilization of the liquor in the manufacture of fertilizers

116 CHAPTER VI

.

MANUFACTURE OF PHOSPHORUS.

Operations included in the ordinary method of preparing phosphorus; Burning the bones to ash; Kiln used for this purpose

117

Improved form of kiln proposed by Fleck; Mode of operation with a kiln of this construction

118

Quantity of substance which remains after burning the bones; Composition of bone ash; Conversion of the bone ash into a coarse powder; Decomposition of the bone ash by sulphuric acid

119

Separate processes which have to be distinguished; Embodiment of these processes in equations

120

Actual yield of phosphorus; Methods by which the formation of calcium phosphate may be effected; Process without the assistance of heat

121

Decomposition of the bone ash in the warm way

122

Apparatus for hot lixiviation

123

Evaporation of the liquor; Mixing the fluid with charcoal

124

Yield of so-called distilling mass; Utilization of the liquor obtained in treating bones for the manufacture of glue with hydrochloric acid; Concentration of the liquor for crystallization

125

Mode of obtaining the calcium phosphate contained in the mother-liquor; Drying the crystals

126

Mixing the crystals with charcoal; Evaporating pans; Treatment of the residue of basic calcium phosphate left in the manufacture of phosphorus; Distillation of the phosphorus; Conversion of the acid calcium

phosphate into calcium metaphosphate and reduction of the latter; Retorts and furnace for distilling the mixture of acid calcium phosphate and charcoal; The galley-furnace

127

Modification of the galley-furnace, described and illustrated

128

Furnaces for the use of coke as fuel; Receivers for collecting the phosphorus distilling over

129

Process of distillation; Indication of the commencement of distillation

130

Removing the phosphorus from the receivers; Regaining the phosphoric acid contained in the water from the receivers; Constitution of crude phosphorus

131

Refining and purifying the phosphorus; Various methods of purification; Percentage of loss of phosphorus

132

Distillation of the crude product in order to obtain pure phosphorus; Retorts and distilling apparatus for this purpose, described and illustrated

133

Process of distillation; Different qualities of the phosphorus passing over in the various stages of distillation; Separation of the phosphorus passing over according to quality

134

Moulding the refined phosphorus; Seubert’s apparatus for this purpose

135

Disadvantages of Seubert’s apparatus; Improved apparatus by which the operation is rendered perfectly free from danger, described and illustrated

136

Moulding the phosphorus in wedge-shaped sheet-metal boxes

137

Mode of storing and shipping phosphorus; Manufacture of phosphorus with the assistance of electricity; Mixture used for the operation

138

Furnace employed for the electrolytic manufacture of phosphorus, described and illustrated

139

Mode of operating the furnace

140 CHAPTER VII

.

METHODS OF BLEACHING GLUE.

Bleaching in the air; Bleaching with chlorine

141

Bleaching with animal charcoal

142

Bleaching with sulphurous acid; Apparatus for the production of the acid solution, described and illustrated

143 CHAPTER VIII

.

DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF GLUE AND THEIR PREPARATION.

Joiner’s glue; Material for the best variety of joiner’s glue

146

How to make and use glue; Holding power of glue

147

Cologne glue

148

Russian glue; Additions by means of which the color and opaqueness are imparted to this variety of glue

149

Patent glue; Gilder’s glue; Superior article of gilder’s glue; Size glue and parchment glue; Paris glue

150

Liquid glues; Receipts for liquid glues

151

Preparation of saccharate of lime; Steam-glue; Russian steam-glue; Pale steam-glue; Dark steam-glue

152

Chrome glue; Glue for attaching leather to metal; Glue for leather, paper, etc.

153

Glue for parchment paper in making sausage skins

154

Tungstic glue; Indestructible mass for the manufacture of ornaments, toys, etc.; Compound for billiard balls

155

Coloring glue; Process for this purpose invented by G. J. Lesser

156

Composition for printing rollers; Size

157

Process used in an English factory for making tub-size

158

Preparation of bone-size; Composition of the different grades of size

159

Concentrated size; Bookbinder’s size; Water-proof glue; Glue solution for rendering wrapping paper water-proof

160

Water-proofing fabrics with glue and tannin

161

Muratori and Landry’s process of water-proofing fabrics

162

Muzmann and Krakowitzer’s process of water-proofing fabrics; Glue for joints in leather driving belts; Hectograph mass

163

Formulas for hectograph masses

164 CHAPTER IX

.

MANUFACTURE OF GELATINE, AND PRODUCTS PREPARED FROM IT.

Properties of gelatine; Change in the chemical constitution of gelatine produced by concentrated sulphuric or nitric acid; Tannin as a test for the presence of gelatine; Use of gelatine for culinary and medicinal purposes

165

Skin gelatine; Method of manufacture introduced and patented, in 1839, by George Nelson; Process patented, in 1844, by Messrs. J. & G. Cox of Edinburgh

166

G. P. Swinborn’s improved patented process for the preparation of gelatine from hides, skins and glue pieces; Modern process of preparing skin gelatine; “Steeping” the skins

167

Washing and bleaching the skins

168

Digesting the skins; Clarifying the liquors

169

Evaporation of the liquors in vacuo; Drying the cut cakes; Bone gelatine; Materials for this purpose; Crushing the bones; Solution of the glue cartilage

170

Apparatus and improved manner of manufacture employed in the factory of D. J. Briers, described and illustrated

171

Modern process of preparing bone gelatine

179

Colored gelatine; Uses of colored gelatine; Harmless coloring matters; Colors for coloring leaves of gelatine with aniline colors for technical purposes

181

Gelatine for fining purposes;

Gelatine Lainée

; Fining powder for wine and beer; Liquid fining gelatine; Preparation of gelatine from ordinary glue

182

Preparation of gelatine for photographic printing and for photographic purposes in general; Removal of the salts from the gelatine

183

Gelatine capsules for medicinal purposes; Court plaster

184

Gelatine foils; Mode of coloring the foils

185

Gelatine veneers; Principal operations in the manufacture of gelatine veneers

186

Preparation of the plates; Preparation of the glue solutions; Proportions by weight of the mixtures for ten different varieties of imitations of marble and enamel

187

Imitation of mother-of-pearl veneers

188

Pouring the colored solutions of glue upon the plates

189

Preparation of imitations of malachite

190

Transferring the layer of glue to a layer of gelatine

191

Drying and detaching the veneers

192

Water-proofing gelatine veneers; Uses of gelatine veneers; Formo-gelatine and its uses

193

Use of gelatine in bacteriology

194

Artificial silk from gelatine

195 CHAPTER X

.

ISINGLASS AND ITS SUBSTITUTES.

Sources of isinglass; Properties of a good quality of isinglass; Imitations of isinglass and their detection; Adulteration of isinglass and its detection

196

Russian isinglass; Siberian purse isinglass; Preparation of isinglass in Russia

197

North American or New York isinglass

198

East India isinglass; Hudson Bay isinglass; Brazilian isinglass

199

German isinglass; Isinglass from the scales of shad and herring; Bleaching inferior qualities of isinglass; Ichthycolle Française

200

Isinglassine; Chinese isinglass

201

Irish moss; Fish glue; Jennings’ process for the preparation of fish glue

203

Treatment of fish scales; Production of fish glue on the Norwegian coast; Substitute for isinglass according to C. A. Sahlström’s process

203

Whale glue

204 CHAPTER XI

.

TESTING GLUE AND GELATINE.

Determination of moisture; Determination of ash; Determination of acidity

205

Determination of glutin; Bisler-Beumat’s method

206

Analysis of samples of American glue by S. Dana Hayes; Deduction of the quality of glue from indirect properties

207

Lipowitz’s method of testing the strength of a glue, described and illustrated

208

Results obtained by comparative experiments

209

Facts shown by the results

210

Weidenbusch’s method of testing glue

211

Preparation of the plaster of Paris stick and of the glue solution used in this test

212

Apparatus for testing the strength of the plaster of Paris sticks, described and illustrated; Test adopted by the “Artillerie Werkstätte” at Spandau

213

Determination of adulterations

214

Kissling’s results in testing a large number of samples of glue

215

Practical tests of glue

216 PART II.

CEMENTS, PASTES, MUCILAGES.

CHAPTER XII

.

CLASSIFICATION OF CEMENTS.

Stohmann’s division of cements and pastes; Groups of cements

218

Chemical nature of cements; Oil cements

219

Resinous cements; Definition of resins

220

Properties of resinous cements

221

Rubber and gutta-percha cements; Glue and starch cements

222

Lime cements

223 CHAPTER XIII

.

PREPARATION OF CEMENTS, PASTES, AND MUCILAGES.

Oil cements; Putty and its preparation

224

French putty; Soft putty; Litharge cement; Red lead cement; Cement for wash basins

225

Zinc-white cement; Mastic cement, mastic or

pierres de mastic 226

French mastic; Paget’s mastic; Water-proof cement; Serbat’s mastic

227

Stephen’s oil cement; Oil cement for glass; Oil cement free from lead for steam pipes; Oil cements for steam pipes; Oil cement for marble

228

Oil cement for porcelain; Diamond cement; Hager’s diamond cement; Resinous cements; Resinous cement for amber; Cement for turners

229

Cement for ivory and bone; Cement for white enameled clock faces; Cements for glass; Cement for glass upon glass; Cement for glass upon metal; Cement for metal letters upon glass; Cement for wood

230

Cement for knife handles; Cement for petroleum lamps; Cement for porcelain; Cement for porcelain which is to be heated; Cement to withstand the action of petroleum; Cement for mica

231

Cement for horn, whalebone and tortoise shell; Cement for terra cotta articles; Mastic cement for glass; Stick mastic cement; Sulphur cement for porcelain

232

Insoluble cement for wooden vessels; Rubber cements; Cements for glass; Soft rubber cement

233

Hard rubber cement; Elastic cement; Marine glue

234

Jeffrey’s marine glue; Marine glue for damp walls; Gutta-percha cements; Cement for leather

235

Cement for hard rubber combs; Elastic gutta-percha cement; Cement for horses’ hoofs; Cement for crockery

236

Cement for leather; Caseine cements; Preparation of pure caseine

237

Preparation of ordinary technical caseine; John A. Just’s method for obtaining a purer technical caseine

238

Caseine cement which can be kept for a long time; Cement for glass; Cement for metals; Cement for porcelain; Cement for meerschaum; Cement for wood, etc.

239

Cement for porcelain; Water-glass and water-glass cements; Water-glass and its properties; Cement for cracked bottles

240

Cement for glass and porcelain; Cement for hydraulic works; Cement for uniting metals; Cement for tightening joints of pipes exposed to a red heat

241

Cement for marble and alabaster; Glycerine and glycerine cements; Properties of commercial glycerine; Glycerine and litharge cement

242

Lime cements; Properties of lime and chalk; Cement for glass; Cement for joiners; Cement for cracked clay crucibles and porcelain

243

Lime and glue cement; Gypsum cements; Preparation of plaster of Paris; Cement for plaster of Paris statues

244

Cement for glass and porcelain; Cement for iron and stone; Cements for porcelain; Universal plaster of Paris cement; Iron cements; Heat-resisting cement; Water and steam-proof cement; Cement for iron

245

Fire-proof cement for iron pipes; Cements resisting high temperatures; Cement for filling in defects in castings; Cement for cracked stove-plates, etc.; Cement for iron water-tanks; Cement for cracked iron pots

246

Black cement for stoves; Cements for chemical apparatus; Requirements of such cements; Cement for small apparatus to be used for the development of fluoric acid

247

Linseed oil and clay cement; Linseed oil and manganese cement; Cements resisting very high temperatures; Cement resisting acids; Rubber cement for chemical apparatus

248

Scheibler’s cement for chemical apparatus; Cements for special purposes; Cement for attaching metal letters to glass, marble, wood, etc.; Cement for joints of iron pipes

249

Steam boiler cement; Cement for rubber; Cement for tires; Cement for steam pipes, etc.

250

Cement for marble; Cement for attaching wood, glass, etc., to metal; Brushmaker’s cement; Cement for electrical apparatus

251

Jeweler’s cement; American cement for jewelers; Cement for celluloid; Stratena; Cement for cloth; How to use cements

252

Importance of bringing the cement into intimate contact with the surface to be united

253

Obstacles to the junction of any two surfaces; Importance of using as little cement as possible

254

Cleansing surfaces to be joined from grease and dirt; Paste and mucilages; Starch paste

255

Rules for preparing paste; Flour paste

256

Means to prevent the spoiling of paste

257

Shoemakers’ paste

258

Gum arabic and its properties; Dextrine and its use in place of gum arabic; Properties of commercial dextrine

259

Preparation of dextrine; Blumenthal’s method

260

Heuzé’s method; Tragacanth, or gum tragacanth; Pastes and mucilages for special purposes; Starch paste; Flour paste

261

Strong adhesive paste; Paste that will not sour; Venetian paste

262

Label paste; Elastic or pliable paste; Mucilage for labels; Mucilage

263

Mucilage for postage stamps; Caseine mucilage; Tragacanth mucilage; Adhesive paste; Fluid pastes

264

Sugar and lime paste; Liquid sugar and lime paste; Pastes for paper and fine fancy articles; Albumen paste

265

Glycerine paste; Paste for fixing labels on machines; Paste for mounting maps; Paste for fastening paper on tin-foil; Paste for paper bags; Caseine mucilage for photographer’s use; Paste for scrap books

266

Paste for skins; Strong mucilage capable of fastening wood on china and glass; Dextrine mucilage; Paste for joining leather to pasteboard

267

Paste for attaching labels to polished nickel; Mucilage for attaching labels to tin; Mucilage for office use; Glycerine paste for office use; Clean and durable paste

268

Banknote or mouth glue; Paste for cardboard; Paste for attaching cloth or leather to table tops; Caseine mucilage; Very adhesive paste which may be used for wood and parchment

269

Paste for pads; Paste for fastening paper on tin-foil; Paste for attaching labels to glass, porcelain and metal; Preparation of arabol-gum; Preparation of an adhesive substance from desaccharized beet-root slices

270

Index

273

GLUE, GELATINE, CEMENTS, PASTES.

PART I.
GLUE AND GELATINE.

CHAPTER I.
NATURE OF GLUE.

1. SOURCES OF GLUE.

The organisms of all animals, but more especially of the higher classes, contain tissues which are insoluble in cold, as well as in hot, water. However, by continued boiling they become dissolved, and yield on evaporation of the solution a glutinous, gelatinizing mass. By further drying this mass exhibits, according to the degree of purity of the material, a more or less transparent and brittle substance, which in its pure state is devoid of color as well as of smell; it swells up in cold water and dissolves by boiling in that liquid. This substance, i. e., the product of the conversion of the so-called glue or gelatine-yielding tissue, is what is known in the trade as glue.

Among the glue-yielding tissues, the following are the most important: Cellular tissue, the corium, tendons or sinews, the middle membrane of the vasa lymphatica and veins, the ossein or organic matter of bones, hartshorn, cartilage, the air bladders of many kinds of fishes, etc.

Neither glue nor gelatine exists ready formed in the animal organism, except under abnormal conditions as a phenomenon of disease, but they are the products of various transformations. The first of these transformations evidently takes place in drying the hide, since the result of boiling to glue a green hide prepared in the usual manner by liming, etc., but not previously dried, will be an entirely different product of less consistency than that obtained by drying the hide after liming and then boiling. A second transformation seems to take place in boiling the material, and a third in drying the jelly obtained, and this may explain the fact that the latter, which is not converted into actual glue, differs in its behavior from glue solution. The series of transformation does not end even with the actual glue, for it is a well-known fact that glue dissolved in water and boiled for some time does not gelatinize on cooling, but remains liquid. We have here to deal with organic combinations which are distinguished from the more solid organic compounds by passing more readily into decomposition. However, it is an established fact that glue is an organic combination presenting itself in different modifications. In the animal organism it occurs ready formed only under abnormal conditions as a phenomenon of disease, and hence it is only produced by first drying and then by continued boiling of the glue-yielding substance, and finally by evaporating and further drying the gelatinous mass obtained by boiling.

2. TRANSITION STAGES OF GLUE.

We therefore distinguish:

a. Glue-yielding substance.

b. Crude glue.

c. Jelly.

d. Glue.

a. The glue-yielding substance of the animal body is produced from proteïne substances, albumen, fibrine and caseïne, in a manner similar to that in which new substances are formed in the ripening fruit by the transformation and disintegration into constituent parts of others previously present.

b. By crude glue are understood glue-yielding materials free from all foreign matter and physically prepared by drying. It forms an intermediate link between glue-yielding substance and jelly.

This distinction between glue-yielding substance and crude glue is justified by experience. If, for instance, fresh calves’ heads, such as the tanner cuts off after swelling the skins, be carefully limed and then boiled without previous drying, the result will be a turbid liquor containing, though everything be dissolved, no jelly whatever, or at least, very little.

c. Jelly is obtained by boiling the crude glue. Its adhesive power is far less than that of solution of finished glue, and it will become more quickly putrid than the latter.

d. The finished product glue is, in most cases, not a definite chemical compound, but a mixture of substances, with two of which scientific research has made us thoroughly acquainted.

3. CONSTITUTION OF GLUE.

Independent of impurities and accidental constituents, glue consists of two distinctly distinguishable combinations, namely, glutin or gelatin and chondrin, the former being formed from the hide and osseous parts, and the latter from young bones while still in a soft state, and the “permanent” cartilages, such as those of the ribs and joints.

The manufacturer has it, of course, in his power to allow either of these substances to predominate in his product, but since experiments have shown glutin or gelatin to possess much greater adhesive power than chondrin, it is advisable to separate as much as possible the cartilaginous matter from other glue-yielding material.

As an accurate knowledge of these constituents of glue is of great importance to the manufacturer, brief reference will here be made to what scientific research has made known to us in regard to them.

Pure glutin or gelatin is obtained by treating buckshorn, etc., with water containing hydrochloric acid, until the phosphate of lime which serves, so to say, as a frame for the glue-yielding substance, is dissolved, and the organic tissue called collagen or ossein, remains behind. After freeing the latter from fat by steeping in milk of lime and careful washing, it is boiled, and the resulting jelly, when cold, mechanically distributed in cold water, in which it softens but does not dissolve. By thoroughly stirring the mass the glutin yields its coloring matter to the water, the latter being replaced by fresh water until all the coloring matter is extracted. Then pour off the water and after dissolving the jelly in hot water, filter the solution through a cloth. By mixing the filtered solution with an equal volume of alcohol, a precipitate of pure glutin is obtained. By the precipitation with alcohol, the separating glutin carries down inorganic salts, especially phosphates, which may be present in the solution. To free it from them, dissolve it in a small quantity of lukewarm water, acidulate the solution with hydrochloric acid and bring it into a dialyser. The salts and the acids diffuse in the water which has from time to time to be renewed, and finally a jelly of pure glutin remains behind; this is evaporated to dryness in shallow vessels.

Pure glutin, in a dry state forms a glassy substance, almost colorless, transparent to translucent, brittle or slightly elastic, free from odor and taste, and remains unchanged in the air. Its specific gravity is greater than that of water. It is neutral, exerts no influence whatever upon vegetable colors and is insoluble in alcohol, ether, hydrocarbons or oils. In cold water it swells up, absorbing as much as 40 per cent., and becomes opaque, but does not dissolve. It dissolves in hot water and on cooling forms a jelly even if the solution contains only 1 per cent. of glutin. It gelatinizes at a lower temperature than chondrin.

An aqueous solution of glutin is precipitated by chlorine, platinic chloride, tannin and alcohol, but not by hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, lead acetate, alum and ferric sulphate. Concentrated sulphuric acid decomposes glutin, forming, besides other products of decomposition, chiefly glycocoll and leucine.

When heated, glutin softens, swells and diffuses an odor of burnt hartshorn. In the air, it takes fire with difficulty, smokes, flames only for a few minutes, and leaves a bulky charcoal difficult to incinerate, the ashes of which consist principally of calcium phosphate.

Glutin, when in the jellied state, and treated with alcohol, undergoes dehydration, under the influence of which it contracts greatly. It was by this means that Gonnor succeeded in reducing in a remarkable degree the size of a print obtained in a very hydrated film of glutin, and transferring it, so reduced, to stone, from which he obtained a new impression, quite similar to the first, but more or less diminished.

By taking these prints, on the contrary, with glutin very little hydrated, and afterwards steeping them in water, a dilatation of the plate is obtained, which enlarges the figures with the same regularity.

Pure chondrin is prepared by boiling for from 24 to 48 hours the cartilages of the ribs, of the larynx with the exception of those of the epiglot, or of the windpipe and the bronchi.

Chondrin is precipitated from its solution by alcohol. The precipitate is redissolved in warm water, evaporated, and dried. It forms a semi-translucent mass of a slightly yellow color and resembles glutin as regards fracture and all external properties, but differs from it in being precipitated from its aqueous solution by mineral acids, acetate of lead, alum and ferric sulphate, and also by organic acids such as vinegar, citric and oxalic acids, none of which precipitate glutin.

As regards its chemical composition, chondrin is poorer in nitrogen than glutin, and contains more sulphur. Its formula approaches more closely that of albumen, which corresponds also with the origin of chondrin, for cartilages may be considered as transition-links between the proteïne and glue-yielding substances.

By the action of concentrated sulphuric acid upon chondrin, leucine is only produced but no glycocoll. By potassium hydrate chondrin is converted into glutin and yields then, like the latter, leucine and glycocoll. By boiling with concentrated hydrochloric acid chondrin is decomposed; a peculiar variety of fermentable sugar, to which the term chondroglucose has been applied, being formed.

It may finally be remarked that chondrin possesses less adhesive power than glutin and its presence in glue may be considered detrimental. To avoid its formation, the glue manufacturer should separate as much as possible cartilages from bones. Chondrin, however, is useful for size.

4. PROPERTIES OF GLUE AND ITS BEHAVIOR TOWARDS OTHER SUBSTANCES.

The product designated by the general term glue, is always a mixture of glutin, chondrin and other substances not yet accurately determined. Glue is formed by evaporating and further drying the jelly, and its properties depend on the crude glue and glue-yielding material used for the production of the jelly.

It may here be remarked that even if the quantity of glutin contained in the different products could not be determined by scientific means, the glue obtained from various materials can be readily distinguished by external characteristics. Every manufacturer knows that hides and bones yield a distinct quality of glue as regards adhesive power, elasticity and fracture, and that the jelly from glue-yielding substances of older animals is more solid and gives a larger yield than that obtained from the tissues of younger and weaker animals. Glue from the bladders and scales of fishes, though consisting mainly of glutin, differs materially from hide or bone glue.

Generally speaking, the jelly, no matter whether consisting of glutin or chondrin, possesses, before drying to glue, different properties from glue solution. It has less adhesive power and spoils more quickly. At a temperature of 68° to 72.5° F., jelly putrefies inside of 24 hours, smells of ammonia, and decomposes, while glue solution can be kept much longer without suffering deterioration.

The jelly absorbs ozone with avidity and is decomposed by it, this being the reason why an approaching thunderstorm may cause great damage by destroying the coagulating power of the glue liquors, or causing the glue to turn on the nets, i. e., to lose its consistency and become liquid and foul.

The behavior of glue solution towards different salts also deserves attention.

By adding potassium or sodium carbonate, neutral potassium tartrate, Rochelle or Epsom salts to a lukewarm fluid containing 15 to 20 per cent. of glue, the latter coagulates by the salt withdrawing the water from it. A lukewarm solution saturated with common salt, sal ammoniac, saltpetre, or barium chloride does not gelatinize.

By adding to glue solution a large quantity of alum, the glue is precipitated as a transparent mass.

Glue compounded at a high temperature with dilute acids, does not gelatinize by itself, but will do so on adding common salt.

Boiling with slaked lime deprives glue solution of its power of gelatinizing, and, on evaporation, changes it into a colorless gummy mass which is soluble in cold water and in saturated solution of common salt.

From a glutin solution compounded with oxalic acid, the latter can after some time be again separated by the addition of lime, the result being a non-gelatinizing fluid which, however, possesses great adhesive power. This is the so-called meta-gelatin.

Glue solution also loses its property of gelatinizing by repeated boiling and cooling (for about six days).

Tannin enters with the jelly, as well as with glue solution, into characteristic combinations which are formed even in solutions containing only 0.005 per cent. of jelly or glue. Glue is, therefore, an excellent agent for the detection of tannin.

When quite concentrated glue solution is treated with tannin, a heavy, flocculent precipitate of a dirty-yellow, caseous character is formed, which turns brown on exposure to the air and, after drying, constitutes a hard brittle mass, easily reduced to powder and soluble in hot potash lye, but insoluble in water, ether and alcohol. This precipitate, if not identical with, is closely allied to the combination of tannin with skin, called leather.

Glue exposed to a dry heat melts, diffuses a strong disagreeable odor of burned horn and leaves behind a charcoal which has a powerful discoloring effect like animal charcoal. When subjected to destructive distillation, glue yields an aqueous solution of ammonium carbonate and a thick brown oil consisting of a mixture of ammonium carbonate, sulphur, ammonium cyanide, etc.

The chemical composition of glue is such as to bring to mind that of starch and cellulose derived from the vegetable kingdom. It contains:

Carbon 49.1 per cent.
Hydrogen 6.5 per cent.
Nitrogen 18.3 per cent.
Oxygen and sulphur 26.1 per cent.

which may be represented by the formula: C₁₂H₁₀N₂O₄.

The composition of glue differs but little from that of the glue-yielding substance. Isinglass is composed of:

Carbon 49.5 per cent.
Hydrogen 6.9 per cent.
Nitrogen 18.8 per cent.
Oxygen 24.8 per cent.

This justifies the assumption that glue in its various transition stages does not represent different chemical combinations, but only modifications of one and the same combination distinguishable from each other by physical characteristics, as is the case with starch, which without suffering an alteration in its composition, appears as dextrine and grape-sugar, or as with cellulose, which, without altering its composition, can be transformed into amyloid and grape-sugar.

CHAPTER II.
USES OF GLUE.

An inquiry into the various technical uses of glue must be of interest to the manufacturer so as to enable him, when acting, as is frequently the case, as salesman, to know to whom to offer his product; and also to learn what special demands he has to satisfy, as not every glue is adapted to every purpose, different qualities being required for special uses.

Glue as a joining medium. In Chapter I, treating of the nature of glue, special attention has been drawn to the fact, that the adhesive power of glutin is greater than that of chondrin; and that glutin obtained from skin and tendons possesses still greater adhesive power than the product from bones. This is the reason why good sound glue made from scraps of skin is preferred by those artisans who may be considered the principal consumers, such as cabinet-makers, carpenters, turners, instrument-makers, wood-carvers, carriage-builders, brush-manufacturers, bookbinders, paper-manufacturers, etc., all of them requiring glue of the greatest possible adhesive power. It must, however, by no means be understood that a good quality of bone glue cannot be used for the same purposes; because much bone glue of excellent quality and at a low price is brought into the market by manufacturers of animal charcoal and bone meal, and is used in glueing wood, etc.

Glue suitable as a joining medium for the above purposes should be of an amber or brown-yellow color, transparent or translucent, clear, dry and hard, and show a glassy fracture which should not be brittle, but somewhat elastic. Placed in cold water it should swell up and absorb as much of it as possible without actually dissolving, even if it remains there for 48 hours. The supernatant water should be free from a putrid odor and contain but a small quantity of foreign substances in solution. Such glue passes into solution at 122° F., and dissolves entirely on heating to 144.5° F. Heating to a higher temperature should be avoided.

Glue as a binding agent. Glue solution is used for bind-together pulverulent substances, such as mineral colors in the manufacture of colored paper and paper-hangings, in painting in distemper, in the size of the gilder; or it is mixed with plaster of Paris or chalk for the manufacture of plastic masses which become hard on drying, such as stucco-work, papier-maché, etc. Generally speaking, it is best to use only good sound glue for these purposes, though it may sometimes be possible to utilize defective and cheap qualities without injurious consequences. For color mixtures, the glue should at all events be free from acids and alkalies, as they exert a decomposing and altering effect upon the colors. The gilder should always use the best quality of glue, as otherwise the work he applies later on to the size will spoil.

A very large quantity of glue is consumed in the manufacture of matches, and much depends on its quality and drying properties. The dipping composition for matches containing phosphorus is a bath of glue of 25 to 50 per cent. strength to which the requisite amount of an oxidizing agent, like potassium nitrate or chlorate has been added, kept at a temperature of 100.4° F. The phosphorus is cautiously put in; it melts, and is stirred to an emulsion, when the sand, glass or other friction-agent is incorporated. The object of the glue is to protect from oxidation, without diminishing the sensitiveness. Glue is also used as the binding material in the heads and rubbers of safety matches.

Book binders require for the better classes of work a glue which should naturally be pale and strong, and without marked odor. Some inferior glues which have been chemically bleached turn almost black in the pot, owing to the bleaching agent not having been properly removed or neutralized.

Sand, glass and emery papers and cloths are made by coating the surface with a thin uniform layer of strong glue, and sifting the powder evenly on.

Glue in sizing. The principal object of sizing goods is to impart to them a certain degree of stiffness, to give them a nice appearance and a good feel.

As glue would injure the color of white goods, it cannot be used for sizing them, but, on the other hand, much is employed for preparing size for the use of hat and cloth manufacturers, weavers, etc. Before the introduction of the paper machine and invention of rosin glue, animal glue was exclusively used for sizing paper, but at the present it is only used for sizing paper manufactured from rags, and for pasteboard, and also by manufacturers producing drawing paper sized with animal substances. The paper, after leaving the machine, is passed through a glue solution and then dried in the air.

For actual sizing purposes good and fine varieties of glue are only used, or sometimes the manufacturers prepare their own size by boiling to glue dried calves’ heads, or rabbit skins deprived of their fur, scraps of parchment, etc. For cheap woollen hats, glue is used in place of shellac. The cloth manufacturer procures his glue mostly in the form of a jelly. This variety of glue deserves special attention and the mode of preparing it will be referred to later on.

Glue for culinary and medicinal purposes. The use of glue for these purposes is based upon three properties:

1: Upon its power of coagulating and inclosing while in this state, substances mechanically dissolved and finely divided in a fluid, which, being specifically as heavy as the fluid itself, render the latter turbid and cannot be got rid off by settling. The glue in this case acts as a clarifier.

Large quantities of isinglass and gelatine, specially prepared for the purpose, are used for clarifying and fining beer, wine and other liquids, as well as for preparing jellies. The material to be used for jellies and other culinary purposes must, of course, be colorless and entirely free from odor. Jellies are made palatable by flavoring with spices, sugar, essences, etc., before congealing, A vegetable gelatine, Agar-Agar, which will be referred to later on is now brought from China, and being cheaper and perfectly free from odor, has become quite a competitor with isinglass and gelatine.

Prior to the introduction of Liebig’s and other beef extracts, bouillon tablets, consisting of a mixture of bone-jelly, meat broth, extract of pot herbs and flour, were largely used. One hundred and ten pounds of meat repeatedly boiled yield five pounds of bouillon tablets. A good meat broth, though not equal to that from Liebig’s or other meat extracts, is obtained from these tablets by the addition of thirty times their weight of water.

If glue be dissolved in water, it gelatinizes at the ordinary temperature, and if the solution be mixed with other fluids, for instance, meat broth, fruit juices and essences, which in the form of jelly are to serve as food, it effects their solidification.

Glue acts as a healing agent by preventing the access of air to wounds. Court plaster is prepared from gelatine. When cabinet-makers cut themselves, they apply glue to the wound with the best success. In hospitals a compound of gelatine and glycerine is used as the best means of closing wounds, the same compound having also been successfully used for preserving articles of food such as eggs, fruit, and even meat.

Every good quality of glue can be used for the above purposes.

Medicines of a disagreeable taste are frequently inclosed in gelatine capsules, so that they can be taken without causing inconvenience to the patient. The use of these capsules has grown to such an extent as to form a special branch of industry. The mode of manufacturing them will be described later on.

Glue for elastic masses and as a partial substitute for rubber. Glue mixed with glycerine forms an elastic mass resembling rubber. The same effect can be produced by an addition of molasses. This elastic mass, the preparation of which will be described later on, is of great importance for the manufacture of printers’ rollers, for moulds, etc. Some manufacturers prepare the mass ready for use, so that the printer or lithographer need only remelt it, and cast it in a mould.

Glue is of great importance in photolithography as, mixed with chromium salts, it is the only known means of transferring a photographic negative to the stone. In photography, gelatine is used for negative pictures upon glass. For the manufacturer of casts of plaster of Paris or cement, this glue mass, which is generally used without an addition of glycerine, is indispensable for making moulds which are much undercut.

Glue mixed with glycerine may be used as a substitute for rubber in manufacturing elastic toys, such as dolls’ heads, animals, etc. For these purposes it is advisable to select glue which forms a very solid jelly, even if it possesses but little adhesive power, pure bone-glue being the best.

Glue mixed with glycerine (1 part glue, 1 part glycerine) is used as hectograph mass for the transfer of matter written with concentrated solution of aniline color.

Glue for fancy articles. Great progress has been made in the use of glue and gelatine in the manufacture of fancy articles.

The best known of all these products are perhaps the gelatine foils. They form thin, transparent sheets, brilliantly colored, and are used for printing sacred images, visiting cards, labels, etc.

Gelatine veneers were first shown at one of the Paris International Exhibitions. They consist of sheets varying in thickness, which have been deprived of their translucency by an admixture of colors in imitation of various crystallization of salts, and such stones as lazulite, malachite and avanturine. Glue imitations of mother of pearl, tortoise shell, and ivory were shown which closely resembled the genuine articles. These veneers have been largely introduced in the manufacture of fancy articles, cabinet ware, buttons, etc. The most brilliant use to which they have been put is in the manufacture of fans, for which ivory and tortoise shell were formerly used, and there are perhaps few ladies that are aware that these glittering toys are manufactured from horse bones from the knacker’s yard.

The successful introduction of gelatine veneers was soon followed by a substitute for horn in general, and combs, buttons, snuff-boxes, and hundreds of other fancy articles have been manufactured from these imitations.

In the foregoing statement only some of the principal uses of glue have been enumerated, and there can be no doubt that with an increase in the knowledge of its nature and properties, a wide field is still open for progress in this industry.

CHAPTER III.
RAW MATERIALS AND THEIR PREPARATION FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GLUE.

The raw materials used for the manufacture of glue consist of a variety of animal offal. The principal substances employed are refuse from tanyards, such as scraps of ox and other thick hides, the waste of the workshops of leather dressers, morocco leather manufacturers, etc. The tendons and intestines of many animals, rabbit and hare skins deprived of their fur, cat and dog skins, scraps of parchment, waste of turners and button makers, and offal from butcher shops and households, help to swell the series of materials used for the manufacture of glue.

The materials are collected and sold either directly to the glue boiler, or to dealers making a specialty of glue stock.

As a thorough knowledge of these waste products is of importance to the manufacturer, this chapter will be devoted to their detailed description, the success of the enterprise depending largely on the selection of the raw materials and their careful sorting and preparation. By bearing in mind the varied products—from the most ordinary black glue to the colorless glassy gelatine for photographic and culinary purposes—it will be understood that entirely different raw materials have to be employed for the finer products than for the ordinary qualities of glue.

According to their derivation the raw materials may be divided into three groups, namely:

1. Skin-like raw materials: Skin, leather, tissues.

2. Bone raw materials.

3. Materials obtained from fishes: Air bladders, scales, etc.

1. ANIMAL SKIN.

Fig. 1.

This consists of three layers, namely: 1. The thin upper-skin—the epidermis—which consists only of cellular tissue, and is of no special importance for the manufacture of glue. 2. The actual leather-skin, or corium, which consists of fibres of connective tissue and forms the actual object of the tanner as well as of the glue boiler. Underneath the corium lies the under-skin, which consists only of cellular tissue contaminated with particles of flesh and fat, which are detrimental to the manufacture of glue. Fig. 1 represents a section of the animal skin. O, is the epidermis, L, the corium, U, the under-skin. The epidermis consists of two layers. The first, superficial one, H, is known as the cuticle or lamellar layer, and the other deeper layer, S, as the mucous or malpighian layer. The corium also consists of two layers, the upper one C, and the lower one C₁, which is the actual leather-skin. The under-skin, U, is an elastic tissue containing many deposits of fat, F, and perspiratory glands, D, which are connected with ducts, D₁, with the surface of the skin.

For the manufacturer of leather and glue, the corium is the only material of value.

The tanner trims the skins before steeping them in the ooze. From sheep and calf skins he removes the head portions, it being more advantageous to use them for glue stock. He also cuts off the skin covering the lower part of the thighs, and, to give the skin a neat finish, the ragged edges of the belly part. Of bullock hides, the ears, tails and foot pieces are utilized for glue stock, while the head parts are tanned. Such tannery waste may yield 44 to 46 per cent. of glue. Scarf skin of bullocks’ hides and waste in fleshing the hide, tendons and hinder parts of cattle yield from 30 to 35 per cent.; horse sinews from 15 to 18 per cent.

Scraps of parchment and bullocks’ feet are highly valued as glue stock, since they are in fit condition for boiling without further preparation. They may yield up to 62 per cent. of their weight in glue.

Calf and sheep skins yield a superior glue; that from horse hides is usually dark and poor in quality, although with careful working a strong product can be obtained from the latter.

Of great value to the glue boiler are the so-called calves’ heads, which, after liming and drying, form a special article of commerce.

Skins of hogs, hares and rabbits yield a light-colored glue of little consistency. It is, therefore, best to use these last-named raw materials for the preparation of jelly, such as is used in sizing, in the manufacture of paper, etc.

The older the animals from which the skins have been derived, the more solid the glue will be. In many cases, especially where a certain quality of glue is to be produced, it may be recommended to separate the different kinds of skin refuse into lots, provided there is enough of each kind to boil it separately.

A considerable number of skins used for packing various articles, such as indigo from South Africa, have been so much damaged in transit as to render them useless for tanning, but they form good material for glue, frequently yielding 50 to 55 per cent.

In reference to judging glue stock some valuable notes are given in an article on glue, published by the American Provision Co., Chicago, Ills.:

“Dry, uncured or salted stock, such as raw hide or South American, if soaked for twelve hours in cold water, gains about 50 per cent. in weight, and still remains tough, and the water sweet. The moisture, dirt, and salt should not be over 10 per cent.

“Green salted stock, such as hide pieces, sinews, calf heads and pates, should have no excess of salt, nor be foul, discolored or heated; should be tough, with the hair not loose, and have a mild animal odor. Moisture and salt not over 40 per cent.

“Dry limed stock soaked twelve hours develops a characteristic odor, and should be firm, fibrous, and have no slimy pieces. The water should not be dark. Lime, sand and dirt, not over 5 per cent.

“Green limed stock should be smooth and soft, any remaining hair being easily detachable, while the liquor should be fairly clean, sweet, and not too alkaline.

“A large quantity of waste bones accumulates in the preparation of tinned provisions. If these have not been overheated and are in good condition, a considerable amount of glue can be obtained from them, the bones of the head, ribs, and feet giving a better yield than those of the thighs and legs.

“Horn piths should not contain over 12 per cent. moisture, and should not have been overheated in drying; they should have been cleansed from skin and hair, which are of little value to the glue-maker.

“The age of the animals yielding glue stock has an important influence on the product. While from younger animals the product, as a rule, is of lighter color, more abundant and more easily obtained, it contains more chondrin, so that from solutions of equal strengths, those from mature animals will be found to be of greater consistence and the glue more solid.

“Abroad, dry hides are often, for weighing, soaked in chlorbarium, a solution of barium chloride, and then in a bath of dilute sulphuric acid, 1½ per cent., which readily soaks in, combines with the barium to form the white insoluble powder of barium sulphate, leaving weak hydrochloric acid in the fibre, to be afterwards neutralized in liming, the chloride of calcium dissolving out. This treatment affects considerably the subsequent making of glue, as, beside the effects of the acids, the sulphate of barium will render the liquors cloudy and difficult to clarify. Of course if colored glues are to be made this will be no detriment.”

To prevent putrefaction, which is always accompanied by decomposition of glue-yielding substance and consequent loss, the scraps must be carefully preserved, especially in summer.

The tanner prepares the waste by liming, i. e., steeping it during fifteen to twenty days in milk of lime which is frequently renewed. By the action of the lime, adhering particles of blood and flesh are dissolved and the fatty matter is saponified. After this treatment the glue-stock is dried.

In case this work is not done carefully in the tanyard, as is only too frequently the case, the stock is of but little value to the glue-boiler.

By allowing the refuse to lie too long in a heap, as is sometimes done, putrid fermentation sets in, the injurious effects of which cannot be remedied by subsequent liming, or the lime bath has not yet been strong enough, or has not acted sufficiently long upon the scraps to destroy the adhering particles of blood and flesh. The lime bath, on the other hand, may have been too strong, so as to attack the glue-yielding substance. Frequently it is also the case that the scraps having been dried under unfavorable circumstances, mould has commenced to form, and finally they may be spoiled in winter by allowing them to freeze. Frozen glue leather yields glue of very little consistency.

It will be seen from the foregoing that great precaution and care are required when buying glue leather. The manufacturer should especially see that it is dry and tough, free from mould and all organic and inorganic substances, and not too strongly limed.

The glue-boiler should, in all cases, be prepared to undertake the preparation of the glue stock himself. The following arrangements are required for the purpose:

Let us assume that the glue factory is located on a stream of water. In the immediate neighborhood of the stream a sufficient number of pits to prepare all the glue stock used, each about 6½ feet deep and 6½ to 10 feet in diameter, and lined with cement, are so arranged that their bottoms are about 3 to 3½ feet above the level of the water. They are supplied with water by means of a pipe line connecting one with the other. Each pit is provided with a discharge pipe to draw off the dirty water.

As the glue-stock, before undergoing other operations, has to be freed from the lime by washing with water, the simplest plan is to place the limed stock in nets or wicker baskets suspended in running water by means of a traveling crane or other contrivance erected on the bank of the stream. This elementary method, however, is open to several disadvantages, as it fouls a large volume of water and may lead to legal interference, and its very simplicity is apt to lead to neglect of precautions, such as brushing away solid particles of lime or softened animal matters. Further, the great quantities of water carry off small pieces of glue-stock and fat, if catch-basins are not provided sufficiently large to allow fat, glue-stock, hair and lime to separate from the water.

The object is better accomplished and in a shorter time by the use of a washing drum. This consists of a perforated iron cylinder about 6 feet in diameter and 4 feet in length, and open on both ends. Around the inside of the cylinder are fixed a number of wooden shelves 6 inches broad, which, as the cylinder revolves, carry the glue-stock partly round, ultimately falling to the bottom again, the movement dashing it about under a spray of water. In the cylinder is also arranged an iron plate supported by stays from the outside. While the washing is in operation the plate is turned perpendicular; on completion it is brought to a horizontal position, forming a table, on which the glue-stock falls, and the latter is then removed to a hand-press to squeeze out the water. The washed stock is then removed to the drying ground, which should be in a sunny and airy location, and provided with an inclined floor of planks or cement so arranged as to allow of the admittance of air from beneath.

As it is well known that small quantities of liquid, frequently renewed and thoroughly drained off each time, effect the most complete and economical washing, and in the shortest time, S. Rideal recommends the use of pits or vats with proper arrangements for stirring, draining and inspection. The lime scum from the pits can be used in the manufacture of fertilizers.

The glue-stock washer shown in Figs. 2 to 5, is the invention of W. A. Hoeveler (American patent), and it relates to the construction of apparatus for washing glue-stock.

In apparatus for this purpose the stock is very commonly damaged by being broken up too much, and considerable loss results, besides, from the fact that the small particles are allowed to escape with the wash-water. By the present construction and arrangement these defects are remedied and other advantages derived.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on line x-x of Fig. 3 of this apparatus;

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same;

Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan illustrating the screen and hinged covers, one being opened and one closed; and

Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is a detail of the hub, stems and part of one paddle.

Fig. 5.

The apparatus is constructed in the form of a rectangular trough-like structure, with its sides and ends, A, substantially water-tight by means of the double walls, a a. The upper portion of the interior is occupied by the swinging wash-box, B, semicircular in shape, with flat sides and rounded bottom throughout, the bottom being perforated.

Upon a transverse shaft, c, journaled at the axis of box, B, is set a paddle-wheel composed of a suitable hub, d, and adjustable paddles, each composed of the radial stem, e, and the blade, f, or spoon. The spoons, f are set on the stems, e, so as to be capable of being reversed or turned half-way round, more or less. One side of the spoon, f, is rounded off, so that while passing through the stock the latter will not cling to or remain upon it. The other side of the spoon is flat, but slightly skewed or bevelled, so that when turned to face with the direction of motion of the wheel it not only gathers up the stock and holds it till out of the box, B, but upon further elevation causes it to roll or slide along the paddle to a predetermined point, where it falls off gently into a discharge-spout, g, which carries it off for further treatment practically undamaged. During the operation the box, B, and the body, A, are kept supplied by a stream of clean or chemically-prepared water, and the wheel, e f, revolves slowly in the box, the edges of the paddles sweeping around, while the box, B, or its bottom, is kept oscillating, thus preventing an injurious clogging of the perforations in the box-bottom. After the stock is placed in the box, B, and the latter filled with sufficient water, the wheel, e f, is caused to slowly revolve (by motive or hand power), with the rounded sides of the spoons, f, presented forward. This operation thoroughly agitates and cleanses the stock, while the rounded form of the spoons prevents the breaking up of the natural condition of the stock. The inventor gathers the finer particles as follows, after they have escaped through the perforated bottom of the wash-box, B. At the lower part of the trough, A, elevated on crossbars or blocks, h, he places two parallel strips, i, and between these, which are grooved to form ways, k, inside, is set a long screen, l, placed on rollers, m, and movable thereby on the rails or ways, k. To give movement to the screen, l, the inventor attaches to its end a rod, n, which projects outwardly through the walls, a a, by means of the packing-box, p, and cap or door, q, which, when opened, allows the withdrawal of the screen, l, and its burden. The shaking of the screen is accomplished by a suitable motor applied to rod, n, and is kept going during the operation as required. To the strips, i, which are placed at a little distance from the side walls, a (to leave a passage for the water and refuse to go through), are hinged the two doors, r, which shut down upon the rod, s, as a support, in which case nothing can fall upon the screen, or which open up and rest against the sides, a a, in which case the screen is exposed and the side passages closed by the doors, r. During the initial or rough-washing stage the doors, r, are kept closed, and the dirty water and refuse pass freely down the side passages and out at a suitable opening at the bottom. After this stage it becomes desirable to catch the particles which get detached from the stock in box, B, and come through the perforations therein. Then open up the doors, r, thus closing the side passages and compelling all the water and small stock to go to the screen, l, which catches the remaining stock. When sufficiently accumulated the screen may be drawn out and the stock thereon removed. When the main body of stock in box, B, has been cleansed, the paddles or spoons, f, are reversed, so as to present their flat, skewed faces to the stock, and in revolving the paddles now gently lift the stock and discharge it into the spout or hopper, g. The washing and removal of the stock when washed are thus accomplished without further manipulation than to reverse the paddles, which obviously could be done by a reversing-gear on the motor, thereby reversing the direction of movement of the paddle-wheel.

Instead of the whole box B being oscillated back and forth, its bottom may be set on slides or rollers and oscillated, while the sides remain stationary.

In the drawings the box B is shown as hung upon the shaft c as a centre; but as the provision of means of reciprocating or oscillating the box or its bottom is within the skill of any machinist, it is not necessary to describe any specific form. As the box with its contents will be very heavy, the inventor prefers a special motor for it, which may also be geared up to reciprocate the screen l.

Instead of the door q, as located in Fig. 2, it can be located as at q’, same figure.

The entire plant must of course be arranged according to sanitary regulations, especially as regards river pollution, etc.

The sheds for sorting and storing the glue-stock should, if possible, be in close proximity to the pits and washing drums, and be dry and airy. In arranging his plant, the glue manufacturer must, in short, exercise his ingenuity with a view to carrying on the business with as little loss of material, and as much saving of time and labor as possible.

The work in a factory arranged in the above manner, is carried on as follows:

The raw materials brought by the dealer are weighed, and if in green state, the customary percentage—generally 50 per cent.—taken off. To facilitate future operations, and to enable the manufacturer to produce different varieties of glue, the dry materials are sorted and stored in different compartments of the store-shed.

Green waste, i. e., such as has not been limed must be taken in hand at once, as otherwise it would taint the air, be attacked by rats and other animals, and suffer injurious alterations by decomposition. The manner of operation is as follows:

Liming. Prepare “milk of lime” by filling the pits, which are to serve for the reception of the skin waste, with the required quantity of water and dissolve in it 2 per cent. of calcium hydrate obtained by slaking a good quality of quick lime. Stir thoroughly, and in order that the water may become thoroughly saturated with the lime, let the liquor stand for 8 or 10 days before placing the waste in it. The liquor should stand about 9 inches deep over the waste in the pits. The length of time the waste has to remain in the milk of lime varies according to the material; calf skins requiring 15 to 20 days, sheep skins 20 to 30 days, and heavy ox hides 30 to 40 days. The milk of lime should be renewed once or twice a week, and thoroughly stirred.

For the purpose of liming, the quality of the lime used is of the utmost importance, the milk of lime being frequently quite valueless by reason of having become carbonated or a bad quality of quick lime having been originally employed. It should be borne in mind that only the hydrate of lime which is present in solution in lime water is of use, whereas in milk of lime so much carbonate and other impurities may be present that the liquid, though thick, may be quite useless. The value of a lime should always be tested by determining the amount of real calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)₂, contained in it. The operation according to S. Rideal, is conducted as follows: Water free from carbonic acid is first prepared by boiling distilled water for half an hour in a strong, round-bottomed Bohemian or Jena flask. While steam is still issuing, the flask is removed for an instant, closed by a well-fitting greased cork or a rubber stopper, and allowed to cool. When the temperature has somewhat fallen, the cooling may be cautiously accelerated by dipping into a pail of warm water, then transferring to the cold stream from a tap. The water may be preserved in the flask or, preferably, a number of bottles with vase-lined stoppers should be filled quite full and retained for use.

From the sample of lime, well mixed, a small portion (about 0.25 gramme) should be accurately and rapidly weighed, placed in a wide-mouthed, stoppered bottle holding about 300 cubic centimeters, 250 Cc. of the boiled water added, and then allowed to settle. The whole of the calcium hydrate will now have dissolved. Fifty cubic centimeters of the clear liquid should now be withdrawn by a pipette, transferred to a flask, colored with an indicator—either phenol-phthalein, methyl-orange, or litmus may be used—and its alkalinity determined by running in decinormal hydrochloric or sulphuric acid from a burette till the change of color occurs. Each cubic centimeter of the acid corresponds to 0.0028 gramme of calcium oxide, or 0.0037 gramme of the hydrate, Ca(OH)₂. The amount by calculation will give the percentage of real lime present in the sample. It is well to notice that any soda or potash present will equally neutralize the acid, and be returned as lime, but as these are of almost equal efficiency their presence in small quantity has no disadvantage. For special work it will be necessary to have a full analysis. As a rule the product made from limestone, or “stone lime,” is the best article in commerce, and is much more free from stones and clay than “gray lime” or “shell lime.” The best stone lime contains sometimes only ½ per cent. of impurities, and seldom more than 5 per cent., while inferior kinds of gray lime may contain as much as 50 per cent., and would be of little use in glue-making.

After removal from the lime pit, the material is placed in willow baskets or nets, and immersed in the stream to remove the greater portion of the lime, which is generally effected in a few days. It is still more effectively accomplished by placing the waste, after soaking in the willow baskets, in the wash drums. After taking it from the baskets or wash drums it is spread in the drying yard to drain and dry, the desiccation being accelerated by turning it over with a fork several times a day. While drying, the quick-lime is converted into carbonate, the latter exerting no disturbing effect in the manufacture of glue. When sufficiently dried, the material is ready for boiling, and the crude glue thus obtained can be stored for any length of time, until wanted for further manipulation.

In summer it is scarcely possible to cleanse the raw material as rapidly as it is brought to the factory, and to work it immediately without putrefaction setting in, and for this reason it would frequently be risky to purchase larger quantities of it, even if offered at very favorable terms. During the colder season of the year, drying of the cleansed raw material is such a slow operation, that in order to prevent putrefaction, recourse would have to be had to artificial heat.

These drawbacks can, however, be overcome by the use of carbolic acid, which possesses in a high degree the property of preventing putrefaction. It is quite cheap, and as but a comparatively small quantity of it is required, the additional cost need scarcely be taken into consideration, since the value of glue-stock annually destroyed by putrefaction is considerably greater than the expense for carbolic acid.

The raw material is thoroughly cleansed, and while in a moist state is gradually brought into a brick cistern or large vat, carbolic acid solution being poured over each layer, so that, when the cistern or vat is filled, it stands about an inch or two deep over the material. The latter may be left in this state until wanted.

The carbolic acid solution is prepared by dissolving 2 lbs. of carbolic acid in 1000 quarts of water; the fluid thus obtained possessing a slight odor of smoke. The washed glue-stock treated as above described with carbolic acid remains absolutely unchanged, and when wanted needs only be taken from the cistern and worked like fresh material.

In plants having no running water at their disposal and depending entirely on well water, and where the waste water has to be discharged into rivers or creeks, water containing carbolic acid should be used for all the washing operations, a fluid containing 1 to 2 parts of carbolic acid in 10,000 parts of water being sufficient for this purpose. Such an addition of carbolic acid prevents the wash-water from becoming foul.

Carbolic acid has the tendency of hardening the glue-stock and imparting its odor to the glue, and among other antiseptics, formaldehyde and boric acid have been recommended for the purpose of preventing putrefaction for a reasonable time. Formaldehyde in weak solution (1 part in 10,000 to 100,000 parts water) has been found beneficial. In this small quantity it does not harden the stock nor affect the subsequent boiling, as it is dissipated by the heat. Boric acid and its preparations, notwithstanding their low antiseptic power, are much in favor. A fluid containing 1 part boric acid in 200 parts water will have to be used.

The principal varieties of hides and leather for glue-stock may be classed as follows:

1. Bullock leather from old animals, highly limed, mixed with rump pieces, also with horse leather, the latter being thin, of a dark color and soft, and is of less value than bullock leather, because it yields a dark glue. Fat leather is bullock’s leather from fat, stall-fed cattle, and before use has to be freed from fat (by means of benzine).

2. Pieces of hide from the lower parts of the limbs of cattle, not limed and with the hair; they form excellent glue-stock, yielding a very adhesive glue.

3. Worn-out hinges from weavers’ looms, consisting of strongest untanned bullock’s hide. When treated with lime they yield a very strong glue, but are worked with difficulty.

4. Whip leather. This is waste in the manufacture of whips, and is derived from thick tawed bullock hide. It yields an excellent, light-colored glue.

5. Calf leather. Broad, thin, translucent strips, slightly limed, yields glue of a very light color.

6. Calves’ heads. The skin of calves’ heads, limed, without hair. They constitute the best material for gelatine, and form a special article of commerce.

7. Calves’ feet. The skin from the last but one leg-joint which is cut off from dry, unlimed, haired skins. It is the best material next to calves’ heads.

8. Knapsack leather. Old knapsacks of calf skin and waste in the manufacture of new ones, tawed with the hair on with alum and common salt. When suitably washed this yields good glue-stock. The alum and common salt have to be completely removed by washing. The hair is no detriment to the process of boiling, it serving as a filter for the glue running off. To this class belong also all kinds of fur waste, especially remnants of old fur coats (sheep skin coats), from which the wool is removed and the skin used as glue-stock. All these materials having been treated with alum and common salt have to be freed from them by suitable manipulation.

9. Hare and rabbit skins freed from their fur. They yield a light-colored glue of little consistency.

10. Cut rabbit skins. In depriving these skins of their fur, they are cut by a machine into fine threads of even size. In France they are worked into size for gilders’ use which is highly valued.

11. Sheep and lamb leather (goat leather) limed, thin and very light, yields but a small quantity of glue of little consistency. To this class belongs the waste in the manufacture of kid gloves. Waste of morocco and other varieties of similar leather, pressed into bales and secured with wire, comes into commerce under the name of Levant leather.

12. Waste obtained in paring kid leather and in the manufacture of gloves. It constitutes a flocculent powder and yields very thin glue liquor with slight adhesive power. Before boiling, the substances used in tanning must be completely removed by washing.

13. Surrons. These are untanned, unlimed skins of various wild animals (antelopes, gazelles) which have been used for packing leaf tobacco and various drugs. They form good glue stock.

2. BONES AND CARTILAGES.

In addition to hides, bones are a material highly valued by the glue boiler. Chemically speaking, the framework supporting the fleshy tissues of the animal order, and which we call bones, is a combination of phosphates of lime and magnesia, carbonate of lime, and alkaline salts, united with fatty and cartilaginous matter. To the latter we look for our yield of glue; to the fatty matter for the fat, and to the phosphates for the basis of fertilizers.

Bone cartilage is composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, the percentage composition being practically constant, whether the cartilage be from an old or a young animal. The bones of the young are, however, much richer in cartilage than those of the old. This is reversed in the case of the inorganic or mineral matter, the old having the greatest yield of phosphates.

Then again, the fatty matters are more in evidence in full-grown animals than in youth or age; also in the thigh and leg bones the yield is higher than in the heads, ribs or shoulder blades, the latter averaging 12 to 13 per cent., whilst the former runs 18 to 19 per cent.[1]

[1] Bone Products and Manures. By Thomas Lambert. London, 1901.

Bones being less subject to putrefaction than skin-stock, they are not brought into commerce in a prepared state. They are mainly bought by contract from various dealers within easy access to the works. The rates are generally fixed for a certain period, and cover all classes of common bones, whether fresh butchers’ or a mixture with partly boiled bones. Bones differ considerably in their value. A fresh bone will yield the highest percentage of fat and glue. On the other hand, partly boiled bones may contain only 6 per cent. fat with 30 per cent. water. In buying bones the manufacturer should exercise great care, as the dealer sometimes finds ways and means of including hoofs, horns, iron, beefy matter, and even pieces of brick. Naturally they form weight, but, excepting the horns, have no value.

To separate the different classes of bone coming into the works, and arrange them according to the amounts they would produce of fat and glue, is no doubt a desirable object, but in practice it is seldom carried out. However, if the manufacturer wishes to undertake this tedious work, it is recommended to make the following distinctions:

1. Bones of young animals, sheep, calves, dogs, cats, etc., being readily disintegrated, are thrown into one pile, and also the light bones of oxen, such as skull bones, shoulder bones, the vertebra of the tail, etc.

2. A second pile is made of the foot bones of goats, sheep and cattle, provided they can be had, as is the case in the United States and England, in sufficiently large quantities.

3. Scraps and shavings from bucks’-horn from turners and button-makers.

4. Thick bones of oxen, horses, etc., which must remain longer in the lime-bath, together with waste of hard bones from turners.

5. Where large quantities of bones are handled it is advisable to sort out the bones of the upper thigh, as they can be more advantageously used for the manufacture of piano-keys, handles for tooth-brushes, etc. Hoofs, which are frequently found, should be thrown out, as they yield no glue and can be utilized for other purposes.

The further manipulation of the bones for the manufacture of glue requires first of all their crushing or grinding in a stamper or mill. By this crushing or grinding of the bones two objects are attained, namely, they are more readily deprived of their fat and present more points of attack to the corrosive agents to be used later on. The crushed bones are put in a large boiler, and for a few hours subjected to the action of steam. Leg bones, as well as horns, should not be boiled, as they contain no fat, and would lose too much glue-yielding substance. After boiling, the bones are placed in a lime vat for 8 to 14 days. The water used for boiling the first portion of bones may be used for a second one.

The extracted fat amounting to 4 or 5 per cent. of the quantity of bones used, is taken off the surface of the cold liquor and the latter may be utilized as a fertilizer, or fed to cattle.

For crushing the bones, a stamping mill is generally used, it yielding, when properly constructed, material for the manufacture of glue, as well as granulated bones which form an excellent product for the preparation of animal charcoal.

Since animal charcoal in pieces of quite even size is now in general demand, it is recommended to manipulate the bones in the above-described manner, to sell the granules to the manufacturer of animal charcoal, and use for boiling glue only the completely-crushed portions and the porous bones which are not at all suitable for the manufacture of animal charcoal.

Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 shows a stamping mill very suitable for the crushing of bones, the illustration showing the mill open on the left side and closed on the right. It is furnished with 16 stamps, D, each stamp being provided with a cast-iron shoe. The stamps are lifted by means of a cam shaft in such a manner, that the height of fall of the outermost pairs of stamps is least and that of those in the centre greatest. Between the inner stamps is a sieve H with meshes of sufficient size to allow the largest pieces, which can be produced by granulation, to fall through.

Underneath the sieve is an Archimedean screw K for carrying off the pieces of bone passing through the sieve.

Fig. 7.

Fig. 8.

The base of the stamping mill consists of iron plates so arranged as to form steps, the plates lying towards the center of the mill constituting the lowest steps. Every two stamps standing alongside one another rest upon such a step. When the mill is set in motion, the bones reaching the stamping trough from the right and left fall upon the steps, and are crushed by the descending stamps.

As a rule, the bones to be stamped are not brought directly into the stamping trough, but are first passed through a crushing mill and the coarser pieces thus obtained are subjected to the action of the stamping mill.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a well-constructed bone crusher. It consists essentially of two cast-iron rollers A and B, furnished with case-hardened cutters. The bones are introduced through the hopper B, and the rolls set in motion by means of cog-wheels a and b. The bearings of the roll B run in a carriage which can be shifted by the lever-construction f i. The object of this contrivance is to allow of the roll B giving way in case a harder material than bones, for instance, a stone, passes between the rolls.

Fig. 9.

The Crosskill bone mill, Fig. 9, as described by S. Rideal, is intended to be driven by a strap from the fly wheel of a common portable engine. It consists of a pair of strong rollers made of wrought-iron with case-hardened cutters, and a revolving or oscillating riddle for separation of the ground bones as they fall from the cutters; the whole carried by a substantial cast-iron frame. The mill will grind from 6 to 16 hundred-weight per hour with a three to eight horse-power engine.

For sorting the crushed bones into pieces of equal size, a sieve, Fig. 10, is used consisting of a drum constructed of narrow boards covered with wire-netting of different degrees of fineness. The upper portion A of the drum consists of narrow-meshed net and through this falls the fine meal which is conveyed by the Archimedean screw F over the frame F G H into vessels serving for its reception.

The lower section, B, of the drum is furnished with netting, the meshes of which become gradually wider towards the lower end, and, hence, the smallest particles of bone fall through the funnel, D, the medium-sized ones through E, and the largest ones through F. Pieces which cannot pass through F, leave the drum at G.

In factories manufacturing glue as well as animal charcoal, the larger pieces are steamed by themselves to obtain their fat, and then charred, while the small pieces and the meal are utilized for glue.

Fig. 10.

The lime-bath used for bones should be of the same strength as that for skin-stock. After removal from the lime vat and washing, the bones are put in a tank of stone or wood (brick pits should not be used) containing cold hydrochloric acid of 70° Bé. or 1.05 specific gravity (= 10.6 per cent. HCl) for thick bones, or half that strength for thin bones, and are thus left to digest for 8 to 14 days, being frequently stirred and fresh acid added. By the action of the acid the calcium phosphate is dissolved and the bones become cartilaginous, flexible and transparent. The phosphates can be precipitated by ammonia, or the whole evaporated with charcoal or silica, and distilled to make phosphorus.

When sufficiently softened, the stock is washed in wicker baskets or a washing drum to remove adhering acid. They are then placed for one day in the lime liquor, again washed, and then either dried or stored away for future use, or boiled at once to glue, while in a moist state.

Leg bones, horns, and other soft bones which contain scarcely any fatty matter are not steamed for the reason previously stated, but in all other respects are treated like steamed bones.

It is of the greatest importance that the bones should be thoroughly freed from acid, since even the smallest quantity remaining behind exerts an injurious effect upon the finished glue. It is therefore recommended to test the water draining off, or the bones themselves, with litmus. If the tincture turns red, it is a sure indication of the presence of free acid, and the washing must be continued until the blue color of the tincture remains constant.

Gerland’s suggestion, to use dilute sulphurous acid in place of hydrochloric acid for dissolving the phosphates of the bones, and to evaporate the sulphurous acid by heating, whereby the phosphates are precipitated in an insoluble state, has now been quite generally introduced.

For the preparation of gelatine from bones, Jullion and Pirie’s process may be recommended. It requires a somewhat expensive plant, but saves hydrochloric acid and time. The process consists essentially in dissolving the phosphates of the bones in vacuum. A box of wood, or better of granite, which can be closed air-tight, is required for this purpose. The box is filled with bones, and acid of the previously-mentioned strength poured over them. The box is then closed and the air pumped out by water or steam power. The smallest cracks and pores of the bones are thus freed from air, and the latter is replaced by hydrochloric acid, which in this manner acts rapidly and is completely exhausted. The remaining crude glue is then further worked in the usual way.

Bones honey-combed by putrefaction, exposure to the weather, or burial in the ground are of little or no value to the glue-boiler, as nearly all the glue-yielding substance has been destroyed; they should therefore be thrown out in buying stock. The ammonia which is formed when putrefaction sets in, colors the glue dark.

3. LEATHER WASTE.

Leather tanned with a substance insoluble in water is not directly suitable for manufacturing glue, but can be made so by a special process, which, though somewhat tedious, nevertheless pays for the trouble.

In using such stock the manufacturer should make a distinction between old and new leather. The principal materials of this kind, large quantities of which contribute their quota to the glue-boiler’s stock, are old shoes, straps, harness, etc., and further, waste from shoemakers, trunk-makers, and in fact from the shops of all workers in leather except those using alumed leather.

Before boiling the leather waste to glue, the removal of all traces of tannin becomes absolutely necessary, since the retention of the smallest quantity prevents the animal tissue from dissolving in water.

The various methods proposed for the preparation of the leather waste differ either in the chemical solvent used, or in the mechanical manipulation of the waste.

The principal point in all methods is to comminute the waste as uniformly as possible to facilitate the complete removal of the tannin.

Various machines, some very complicated, have been proposed for the comminution of the waste, but a rag engine or “hollander” such as is used by paper-makers deserves preference for the purpose, as it not only comminutes, washes and prepares the waste in a suitable manner for the manufacture of glue, but the leather pulp when mixed with rags or woody fibre gives a substitute for leather which is very tough and of good appearance, and can be worked into many articles.

After the preparation in the hollander and careful washing the waste is treated, according to Stenhouse, under a pressure of two atmospheres in a boiler with water to which is added 15 per cent. of the quantity of waste to be treated at one time of slaked lime.

By another method the extraction of the tannin is effected by boiling the leather pulp with caustic soda of 1.025 specific gravity for from six to twelve hours. After drawing off the water and pressing out, the pulp is again boiled with caustic soda of the same concentration. The next process is to carefully wash out the soda, which is best effected in the hollander.

By neutralizing the soda lye in the fluid drawn off after the first boiling, it can be re-used for tanning or purposes for which tannin is required.

According to another method, the modus operandi is as follows:

Dissolve 1½ lbs. of oxalic acid in 3 gallons of water, pour the boiling solution over 110 lbs. of waste, and keep the mixture in a water-bath at a temperature of 176° to 212° F. This effects the solution of the pulp. Then dilute the solution by adding gradually 4 gallons of water until a uniform mass is formed. Now add 5 lbs. of lime slaked to a thin paste, and mix the whole thoroughly. The mass becomes friable and pulverulent. It is passed through a wire sieve and then exposed to the air. In three to four weeks the tannin is entirely destroyed, which is recognized by the mass assuming a lighter color. The lime is then removed by washing with water and hydrochloric acid. If the tannin has not been entirely destroyed by exposure to the air, add 1 lb. of liquid ammonia and a like quantity of pyrolusite to every 110 lbs. of leather substance when boiling it to glue. The oxygen yielded up by the pyrolusite, which, in the presence of ammonia, exerts no injurious effect upon the glue, destroys the last traces of tannin. Frequent stirring with a shovel while the material is exposed to the air and moderate heating, facilitates the destruction of the tannin.

4. RAW MATERIALS FOR FISH GLUE.

The air-bladders or sounds of various fishes contain much glue-yielding substance and on account of its purity, the product known as isinglass obtained from them is preferably used for culinary and medicinal purposes. The high price of the raw material excludes it from being used by the glue-boiler, but as he manufactures substitutes for isinglass, and should therefore have a thorough knowledge of the article with which he has to compete, its manufacture will be included in this treatise. Since, however, the work of the manufacturer is finished with the preparation of the raw material, i. e., of the air-bladders into crude glue, isinglass and its substitutes will be referred to later on.

There is a material difference between isinglass and glue manufactured from entire fishes. The raw material is, of course, limited to certain localities. The principal point to be observed in the manufacture of fish-glue is the removal of the skin, which is effected by means of dilute sulphuric acid.

After removal of the last traces of acid, the fatty matter of the fishes is saponified by a treatment with milk of lime frequently renewed. After washing out the lime, the pulpy mass is placed in a solution of sodium hyposulphite, alum, and common salt, where it remains for a few days. The liquor is then drawn off and replaced by a mixture of solution of alum, dilute sulphuric acid and nitric acid. After macerating in this mixture for a few days, the mass is thoroughly washed and boiled to glue, and the resulting product clarified with sulphurous acid or alum solution. As will be seen, the entire process is tedious, requires many chemicals, and besides the yield of glue, which has no specially good qualities, is small. It is used as a substitute for isinglass for clarifying liquids. The best proof that the business is of but little importance is found in the fact that no fish-glue has been exhibited at any of the late international exhibitions.

The scales of large fishes, such as carp, give more favorable results. They are treated with hydrochloric acid in a similar manner to bones. The scales do not dissolve entirely, a horny insoluble mass, giving no glue, remaining behind after the solution of the glue-yielding substance.

CHAPTER IV.
MANUFACTURE OF SKIN GLUE.

The thorough preparation of the raw materials will materially facilitate all succeeding operations, which may be classified as follows:

1. Boiling the glue.

2. Clarifying the glue-liquor.

3. Forming or moulding the glue.

4. Drying the glue.

However, before entering into the description of these operations, it will be necessary to refer to an intermediate product, which has been previously mentioned under the name of crude glue, and is prepared, for instance, by tanners and manufacturers of parchment, but also forms in some localities a special branch of industry.

This crude glue is actually not glue, but a glue-yielding substance in such a state of preparation that it can be directly used for the first operation, namely, boiling. It consists of waste of skins and leather of all kinds, completely cleansed, dried and limed, and in the case of leather treated with agents for the extraction of the substances used in the tanning. As will be readily understood, the operations required for the preparation of this stock are virtually the same as those described in the previous chapter for raw materials and need not further be here referred to.

The bulk of such stock is prepared by tawers and manufacturers of parchment, though a considerable quantity of it is also derived from waste in the manufacture of gloves. The product from the latter source is also found in commerce under the French names Colle franche or Brochette. However, if such stock is used, it is best to again immerse it in lime water, after which it should be thoroughly washed.

The manufacture of glue from hide and leather waste differs materially in many respects from that of bone glue, it being the more simple process, as no other preliminary operations than the preparation of the glue-stock are required. The first operation is

1. COOKING OR BOILING.

For this operation any kind of boiler may be used, but the materials should be supported on a perforated grid a little distance above the bottom, so as to save them from risk of scorching. In the centre of the grid stands a conical pipe 2 to 3¼ feet long, perforated like the grid and communicating with the space between the grid and the bottom of the boiler. The height of the boiler can be increased 1 to 1½ feet by placing an annular piece upon the rim which is bent upwards for its reception.

The size of the boiler depends on the quantity of raw material to be worked at one time. It is best to choose boilers holding from 110 to 440 lbs. of glue-stock, and to place two, four or more of such boilers in one hearth.

The manner of using such a boiler is very simple. Straw is placed upon the false bottom in such a manner as to cover its entire surface, and extend up the sides of the boiler at least as far as it is touched by the flame. The object of the straw is to serve as a filter, and protect the materials from injury by the flame. But for the production of entirely pure gelatine or glue, straw cannot be used, as, by boiling, it yields a yellow coloring matter, which passes into the glue. Barley straw gives a less intense coloring matter than rye straw.

In case straw cannot be used, the material is placed in a large bag, previously thoroughly boiled, and suspended in the boiler so as not to touch the sides. By this means scorching is prevented even if the fire touches the bottom as well as the sides of the boiler.

The boiler having been heaped with material so high as to overflow the brim and fill the annular piece placed upon it, is filled with water as far as touched by the fire. The fire may now be started. The hearth in which the boiler is placed should, of course, be so constructed that the gases are uniformly distributed and the water quickly brought to the boiling-point. When the water commences to boil, bubbles of steam ascend from the space beneath the grid and, passing through the perforations of the conical pipe, penetrate the glue-stock. Thus the first formation of glue takes place, and the stock begins to settle down gradually as it goes into solution. The stock heaped up in the annular piece also sinks down gradually, and being partly heated by the hot vapors and thus prepared for solution, is finally submerged in the boiling solution and becomes soon entirely dissolved.

Waste of hide and horn piths are completely dissolved in five to seven hours. No more water should be used than is absolutely required for cooking the entire quantity of stock, because too much water renders the solution too thin and gives a jelly of little consistency and difficult to dry. Concentrating the glue solution by continued boiling is bad practice, as it is detrimental to the resulting product by reason of the glutin undergoing a gradual transformation.

It is best to start with a slow fire to give the stock time to soften and thus prepare it for solution. When somewhat softened, the mass is brought to boiling and the latter kept up, gently and uniformly, until solution is complete. Solution is promoted by careful stirring, but care should be had not to disarrange the straw upon the grid and on the sides of the boiler as this would interfere with proper filtration of the glue solution.

The duration of cooking depends on the nature of the raw materials. Scraps of skin from young animals, antlers, sheep trotters, etc., dissolve in three to four hours, while waste from ox and horse hides, or bones from old animals, require six to eight hours.

The progress of the operation is readily ascertained by pouring a small sample of the gelatinous fluid in half an eggshell, and setting it aside for a few minutes to cool. If a clear and consistent jelly be obtained, boiling has been carried on to a sufficient extent, and the liquid is drawn off. Any undissolved glue-stock remaining upon the straw filter can be boiled by itself, and the resulting gelatinous liquor utilized in the next boiling.

It is evident that quick and uniform solution of the materials, which enhances the quality of the glue, is promoted by comminuting the glue-stock either by grinding, stamping, or mechanical means.

The succeeding clarification of the glue is much facilitated by removing while boiling the scum, consisting of fat, coagulated albumen, lime-soap, accidental admixtures, and other impurities. Before drawing off the gelatinous liquor it is advisable to withdraw the fire and allow the contents of the boiler to rest for fifteen minutes.

The residue remaining upon the straw filter consists of hair, lime-soap, undissolved particles of hide and bones, lime, etc., and is utilized, after repeated boiling, as fertilizer or for the manufacture of gas.

The mode of glue boiling above described is the oldest and at present is only in use in small establishments. Fig. 11 represents a convenient apparatus for the purpose. It consists of three boilers upon as many different levels. The lower boiler, b, serves for the settling and clarification of the glue. It communicates with the second boiler, a, which contains the material to be acted on, by means of a pipe provided with a stopcock, and is sufficiently heated by a small fire to keep the glue liquid without allowing it to reach ebullition. The upper boiler, c, which is heated by the waste heat of the chimney, serves as an economical reservoir for hot water. The end of the discharge-pipe of the settling boiler is provided with a filter of woven wire. As the sides and bottom of the second boiler are lined with straw, which acts as a preliminary filter, the glue runs off quite clear from the settling boiler.

When this mode of manufacture is adopted, two boilings can be made per day, under favorable circumstances, so that, if the boiler has a capacity of 220 lbs. of stock, which will yield from 110 to 132 lbs. of dry glue, the daily fabrication will be about 220 lbs. of finished product.

Fig. 11.

In larger plants, the above described mode of extracting the glue-stock with water has been superseded by the use of steam in a cylindrical wrought-iron boiler, twice as high as wide, and capable of withstanding a pressure of three atmospheres. The boiler is furnished with a perforated false bottom underneath which terminates a steam pipe. It is filled from above with previously softened glue-stock and the charging hole hermetically closed. Steam is then gradually admitted and exerts at once a dissolving influence upon the stock. A portion of the steam condenses and forms with the dissolved glue-stock a concentrated jelly which collects between the true and false bottoms.

For the escape of air a cock is provided which is closed as soon as steam commences to escape from it.

Fig. 12.

The advantages of this process are obvious. A larger quantity of glue-stock can be extracted than in the boiler previously described, and there is no danger of injury by scorching and consequent damage to the color of the glue. More highly concentrated solutions are obtained in a shorter time, and the spoiling of the glue solution by too long continued cooking is prevented by drawing off the solution as quickly as formed. The escaping hot vapors may be utilized for drying the glue, softening the raw material, etc., the entire quantity of heat being thus utilized. A further great advantage of this method is that there is less annoyance from badly-smelling vapors than when boiling is done over an open fire. A number of such boilers can be arranged in one room and supplied from a common steam boiler.

Fig. 12 represents a boiler for extracting glue-stock with the use of steam. It is provided with a lid, D, which is removed for charging the boiler. The aperture, E, in front, serves for the removal of the residue. Above the true bottom there is another false bottom, perforated and movable, which can be covered with straw for preliminary filtration. The steam reaches the glue-stock through a pipe which passes through the actual and false bottoms, and is perforated above the latter. The resulting jelly collects between the true and false bottoms, where it is less exposed to the action of hot steam. The escaping steam passes through the pipe, F, which is provided with a stock-cock. The pressure in the boiler is indicated by the manometer, K. After throwing the materials into the boiler they can be covered with warm water, or, after the lid is closed, warm water is introduced from a reservoir through a special pipe and distributed over the material through a rose.

The boiler stands upon a frame sufficiently high to allow of conveniently placing a vessel under the pipe G, through which the jelly is discharged. The vessel, when full, is conveyed to the settling vat, or the arrangement may be such that the jelly is directly run into the settling vat.

In many large plants open jacketed pans heated by steam are still used for treating the material. Fig. 13 shows an arrangement with two of such pans; of course one, or a larger number may be used, according to requirement. In the illustration the pan I on the left is shown in front view, and the pan II on the right, in section. K₁ is the actual pan enclosed by the jacket K. Steam circulates in the space between pan and jacket, whereby the stock in the pan is heated. K₁, in addition, is furnished with a steam coil S, which may, however, be omitted.

The steam enters through the pipe D, the space between pan and jacket, passes into the coil S, and escapes at b. The water formed by the condensation of steam in the space between pan and jacket, as well as that which runs off at b from the coil S, is carried away by the pipe A.

The pipe L serves for conveying hot water to the pans, and the pipe F for the discharge of the finished glue liquor. The stirrer R, is furnished with two paddles, and is set in motion by a transmission on the ceiling of the room. It serves for keeping the stock in the pans constantly agitated, solution being thus very much promoted.

Fig. 13.

The mode of working with this apparatus is very simple. Water being admitted into the pan through L, the glue-stock is introduced and the mass brought to boiling by admitting steam. The finished glue-liquor is from time to time drawn off through the pipe F into the settling vessel.

It is generally preferred not to concentrate the glue-liquor in the pans to such a degree as required to obtain a jelly, which after cooling, can be immediately moulded, experience having shown that less concentrated liquors can be more readily and better clarified, and yield a lighter and more transparent glue.

Mr. Thomas Lambert gives the following process of cooking: The skins are taken to the glue-boiler, which is an open vessel, 8 feet in diameter at the top and 7 feet deep, and provided with a perforated false bottom, through the center of which passes a two-inch pipe, one end dipping below a layer of water at the bottom, the other projecting about half the height of the boiler, this part being covered with a perforated hood to spray the liquor through the mass. The skins are placed on the false bottom and the added water at the bottom of the boiler is brought to the boil by means of a steam pipe. The steam not being able to escape quickly through the dense mass of glue-stock above, exerts a pressure on the water, forces it through the pipe, to be sprayed through the mass, and ultimately works its way to the bottom of the boiler to be forced up again. This continual circulation of the hot liquor rapidly dissolves the gelatinous matter, and when a strength of 18 per cent. dry glue is reached, the first run is made to the evaporating pan, the liquor passing through a filter of fine shavings, to remove any suspended matter. Fresh water is added to the boiler, and the boiling renewed. Three extractions are usually made, the last being used for size.

In order to avoid annoyance to the neighborhood from foul odors, Terne’s glue-boiler shown in Fig. 14 may be recommended. The lead-lined iron boiler A, with manholes B and C, on top and side, is furnished with a false perforated bottom upon which the glue-stock is placed. Underneath the false bottom lies the coil E with valve-box e. The boiler is filled through the upper manhole with glue-stock and water admitted, steam being at the same time introduced in the coil and in order to quickly heat the water, direct steam is also admitted to the boiler through the pipe F and cock G. When the water is boiling the cocks G and F are closed, the coil furnishing now sufficient heat. During boiling some steam is allowed to escape through the partly-opened cock L, all badly-smelling gases being thereby carried to the fire-box of a boiler where they are burned. When boiling is finished, the glue liquor remains for a short time in the boiler to allow the melted fat to separate on the surface, the cocks K₁ and K₅ and serving for drawing off the fat. The insoluble residues of the glue-stock remain upon the false bottom and are taken out through the manhole C.

Fig. 14.

2. CLARIFYING THE GLUE-LIQUOR.

The clearness of glue, i. e., its freedom from undissolved substances, is by no means a criterion of its value as an agglutinant, since pulverulent inorganic substances (white lead) are frequently intentionally introduced into some varieties, for instance into Russian glue, without injury to their adhesive power. But as a turbid appearance may also be an indication of unsoundness and decomposition, the manufacturer endeavors by all means to obtain a clear product.

A strict distinction should be made between clearness and color. Very dark-colored glue may be very clear, and a very pale variety the reverse, yet both possess excellent qualities. Both properties, clearness and light color, cannot be obtained by the same process.

Clearness will be first referred to. If the glue-stock has been properly prepared by rendering adhering particles of blood and fat innoxious by liming and subsequent careful washing, the separation of the few remaining impurities, which may have passed through the straw filter, is readily effected by allowing the liquor to stand, care being had to keep it liquid as long as possible to give the grease time to rise and the flocculent and fibrous impurities to settle. This is best effected in a wooden vat surrounded by a wooden or sheet-iron jacket, the intermediate space between jacket and vat being filled with a non-conductor of heat, or, if required, it may be heated by the introduction of steam. The grease is skimmed off as it rises, and when the solid particles have settled the liquor is drawn off through a pipe placed a short distance above the bottom of the vat.

The size of the clarifying vat depends on the size of the boiler. It is, however, best to have two vats for each boiler, in order to keep the first liquor, which is always clearer and more concentrated, separate from the last run. To be able to draw the upper layers of purer liquor into cooling boxes by themselves, the vats are provided with faucets at different heights.

To prevent putrefaction of the liquor which readily sets in during settling at a higher temperature, the vats should be kept scrupulously clean, and from time to time rinsed with clean, hot water. It is also advisable to line them with sheet-iron.

Should the above-described mechanical separation not prove sufficient, recourse must be had to other means. Alum and sulphate of alumina have long been used for clarifying, 1 lb. of either of them, pulverized, added to every 300 gallons of liquor, being as a rule sufficient. Either of these chemicals removes the albuminous and extractive constituents of the solution, and converts the dissolved free lime into sulphate of lime, which settles readily, and prevents putrefaction of the glue solution while drying under unfavorable circumstances. The quantity of alum mentioned above does not impair the quality of the glue.

Albumen is sometimes used for the better qualities of glue, and generally for gelatine, but a cheaper substitute is fresh blood, which contains albumen and fibrin. Dry albumen is dissolved in cold water, or white of egg is used direct, if procurable. Before adding either of these substances, the liquor is cooled to 130° F., and the clarifier well stirred in; then the temperature is raised to about 200° F., when coagulation occurs, and the precipitate entangles the impurities and falls to the bottom, requiring, however, from twelve to twenty-four hours to clear. It is said that glues clarified with albumen have a characteristic soapy smell and show a tendency to foam.

The precipitation of the lime might be better effected by oxalic acid, and the organic substances removed as scum by adding to the boiling mass some astringent matter, such as a decoction of oak bark or hops; but the purification has, in either case, to be done at the expense of glutin.

A glue liquor, which does not clarify by these means, is not sound, and is derived either from spoiled raw materials, or such as have not been thoroughly prepared, or has been injured in boiling.

A far more difficult matter than the removal of mechanical admixtures is to free the liquor from the coloring substances from which it derives its color, and to discolor it without injury to the characteristic qualities of the glue.

The use of animal charcoal for such large quantities of somewhat thickly-fluid solutions, which are liable to spoil at the high temperature at which they would have to be filtered, is very difficult, and the result not favorable, except the solutions could be successfully deprived of their tendency to putrefy. The use of carbolic acid is also in this case the only means of removing the great tendency of the liquor to putrefy, and hence, if the liquor is to be discolored by treatment with animal charcoal, it can only be done without danger to the glue, by mixing it with carbolic acid.

The object is more easily effected by bleaching the raw materials previous to boiling them to glue.

This is accomplished by placing the glue-stock, thoroughly limed and while still moist, in a bath of chloride of lime, not too strong, as otherwise the solution of the materials becomes difficult. A bath of the proper concentration is made by dissolving about 9 ozs. of chloride of lime in sufficient water to cover 110 lbs. of glue-stock. After one hour add sufficient hydrochloric acid to obtain an acid reaction, which is recognized by litmus-paper dipped in the bath turning red.

Although the glue-stock is not bleached entirely through by this process, the thin portions and outsides of the thick material acquire a lighter color, and the first run of glue solution will have a light color and can then be treated further without much difficulty.

Sulphurous acid has been successfully used for the production of colorless glue without the necessity of boiling.

Waste of hides and skins is the only available material for this process. Place the waste in water until putrefaction sets in. When this is the case wash the material in a bag or wicker basket in running water. Then pour 2½ parts of sulphurous acid over 12 parts of wet material, mix the whole thoroughly and let it stand in a hermetically closed vessel for 24 hours. Now draw off the acid, and after washing the material thoroughly repeat the operation. When the vessel containing the mixture of material and sulphurous acid is opened for the second time the foul odor should be entirely superseded by that of sulphurous acid, this being a sure indication of the correct execution of the process. Wash the material, and, after squeezing, throw it into a vat large enough not to be filled by it more than two-thirds full. After filling the vat with water allow the mass to digest at a temperature of 109.4° F. for 24 hours. The result will be a gelatinous solution, which is drawn off and converted into glue. The undissolved residue is transformed into gelatinous solution by pouring water over it and allowing it to stand at a somewhat higher temperature.

For carrying out this process and that of bleaching with chloride of lime it is best to use a vat provided with a stirring apparatus, somewhat like a hollander used by pape-rmakers, as being most suitable for washing, disintegrating and mixing the material.

Glue-liquor may also be successfully bleached with sulphurous acid, and in speaking later on of the manufacture of bone glue, a very practical apparatus for this purpose will be described.

Glue-liquor bleached by sulphurous acid clarifies very readily and is protected from spoiling. The resulting glue remains, however, quite acid, and cannot be used for all purposes, especially not in combination with colors, chemicals, etc., upon which the acid has a destructive effect.

3. FORMING OR MOULDING THE GLUE.

After clarifying, the liquor is run into moulds of deal wood or sheet iron, lightly joined and of a rectangular form, slightly converging towards the bottom so as to allow the more ready detachment of their contents. They are about 3.25 feet long, 10 inches wide at the top, and 7¾ inches at the bottom, and 5 inches deep. When very regular cakes of glue are desired, cross grooves of the required shape are cut in the bottoms. After being well cleansed and ranged upon a level the boxes are filled to the brim through large funnels with strainer cloths affixed to their barrels. It is best to place them upon perfectly clean stone flagging slightly inclined towards a reservoir for the reception of such portions of their contents as may run over. The apartment in which the work is performed should be clean and airy, a dry cellar being the best for the purpose. In place of a large number of boxes, a shallow vessel lined with sheet-iron and capable of holding the entire quantity of liquor is sometimes used, from which the solid jelly is cut out in cubic masses, which are further divided.

This arrangement can only be recommended for establishments where but one variety of glue is produced, and the different layers in the clarifying vat are not separated according to their clearness. Before running the liquor into the boxes the latter should be moistened with water, or, if made of wood, coated with oil, stearine, or paraffin to prevent the liquor from penetrating the wood and the solidifying glue from adhering to the sides.

After the solidification of the glue, which generally takes place in twelve to eighteen hours, the boxes are inverted upon a table with a smooth top of wood or stone previously wetted, so as to prevent the adherence of the gelatinous cake to its surface. To detach it from the sides of the boxes the moistened blade of a large knife is generally used.

Cutting the cubes of glue into commercial cakes or sheets is readily accomplished by observing the following instructions:—

The shape of the cakes depends principally on custom. The consumer is used to a certain variety of glue, and if it is not offered to him in the customary shape, he might refuse it and take his custom elsewhere. The quality of the glue is the next point to be considered. If very dark, it is advisable to cut the glue into thin cakes, and if turbid, into thick ones, in order to make this defect the less apparent. Thicker cakes can also be cut if the conditions for drying them are favorable, and thinner ones if the reverse is the case.

The mass is first divided by a steel or brass wire stretched over a frame, like a bow saw, into horizontal layers. The size of these layers is regulated by guides which are placed at distances corresponding with the desired thickness of the cake of glue. Instead of one wire, as many as the cakes of glue to be cut, can be stretched over the frame, which is best made of iron and provided with conical pins by means of which the wires can be tightened, in the same manner as piano strings, when they have become slack by use.

The width and thickness of the cakes of glue are regulated by the distance of the wires from each other, and the length by the width of the box. The cakes thus formed are dexterously lifted from the block with the moist blade of a large knife and placed upon nets.

Instead of using wooden or sheet-iron cooling-boxes, it is recommended to pour a layer of liquor of the desired thickness of the glue cakes upon large polished stone slabs, and when congealed, cut it into sheets, which are placed upon the nets to dry. The advantages of this method are obvious. The liquor cools more quickly by being exposed in a thin layer upon a large surface, which reduces the danger of spoiling, and a strong evaporation of water and consequent concentration take place. Besides, the cakes show the smooth surface of the polished stone, and become in a short time so hard, that when placed upon the nets, the twine will make no impression upon them.

Liquors which in gelatinizing do not become very solid, are not run into forming boxes, but upon glass or zinc plates, and thus spread out in a thin layer, acquire sufficient solidity to be removed cake by cake after being cut. The plates upon which the glue is run are placed in frames and laid upon a table furnished with a rim about 1 inch deep. To accelerate gelatinization of the liquor, the table is flooded with water before placing the plates upon it.

Where cooling-boxes are used, the jelly when completely congealed is placed upon a table with a stone plate, by inverting the boxes, and then cut into cakes. Figs. 15 and 16 represent the tools for cutting the jelly into cakes. The block of glue is laid upon the surface A, Fig. 15, and the frame, B, is gently drawn along in the grooves, a. In the upright portion of the frame are fixed wires at such a distance from each other as required for the thickness of the cakes to be cut.

Fig. 15.

Fig. 16.

When the block of glue has been cut in this direction, it is divided by cuts perpendicular to the former, into cakes of a size in which the finished product is to be brought into commerce. The apparatus shown in Fig. 16 serves for this purpose. The vertical bars, a, furnished with the wire, b b, serve as guides. The sheets thus formed are lifted from the block with the moist blade of a large knife, and laid upon nets.

The machine shown in Figs. 17 and 18 is the invention of Mr. J. Schneible, and it is for slicing and spreading glue-jelly preparatory to drying, and it consists in the combination of a reciprocating cutter with the jelly-box and a traveling belt-carrying frame for receiving the slices as cut by the knife.

Fig. 17 is a partly sectional side view of the machine, and Fig. 18 is a cross-section of the same.

Fig. 17.

A A are side bars of the supporting frame, fitted at the ends with cross-shafts, a´, carrying pulleys, a a, around which are endless belts, b b. c c are slide-ways upon the bars, A, and d d are slides carrying a cross-plate, e, and also a plate, f, to which plate e is attached a knife or cutter, g, the cutting edge of which is at the edge of the plate, f, and about the same thickness as the slices to be cut. The cross-shaft, h, is fitted in boxes on bars, A, and near one end thereof it is provided with cranks at its ends, which connect by rods, i, to the slides, d.

Fig. 18.

From the opposite ends of the slides, rods, k, pass to loose arms, l, on the shaft at the opposite end of the machine, and the arms, l, carry pawls, l´, that engage ratchet-wheels, m, fixed on the shaft, so that the shaft, h, being revolved, the slides, with plates, e f, are reciprocated, and at the backward movement of the cutter the pawls engage the ratchet-wheels, and belts, b, are moved a distance equal to the movement of the knife.

The jelly-box, n, is fixed to side bars, A, by brackets at its ends, as shown in Fig. 18, and is placed above the cutter and the plate, e, so that when the plate, f, is drawn out from beneath the box the plate, e, takes its place for holding up the block of jelly.

In operation the block of jelly is placed in box n, resting on plate e. A frame provided with netting—such as is used for drying glue—is placed on belts, b, beneath the box, and the shaft, h, being rotated by power, the cutter moves forward and cuts a slice from the jelly. The plate, f, at the same time moving away, the slice passes upon the frame, and the return movement taking place, plate f is carried beneath the jelly-block, and the belts being at the same time moved, the frame is carried forward in position for receiving the next slice apart from the first one. In this manner, as slice after slice is cut, they are spread on the frame, and the frames, when filled, are carried to the end of the machine for removal. The plate, f, is adjustable, so as to vary the thickness of the slices cut.

The box may be divided into cells of any size desired, so that each movement of the knife will cut a slice from the bottom of each cell, and the box extending the full width of the drying frames, all the slices cut at once will be properly spread.

In order to keep the plates, e f, moist, so as to prevent the glue-jelly from sticking thereto, there are fitted at the sides of the jelly-box, n, open-bottomed boxes, o, containing fibrous material soaked with water, which, resting on plates, e f, keeps their surfaces moist.

The machine saves the troublesome and expensive work of spreading the jelly by hand, as has been heretofore practiced.

The knife is to be attached to plate, e, in any suitable manner, and the surface of plate, f, may be corrugated, so as to slide on the jelly more readily.

Fig. 19.

The cutting apparatus patented by M. Devoulx, of Marseilles, is much used in France. The machine stands upon a board or table, upon which are fastened two uprights, far enough apart to allow of the passage of a truck carrying the glue, which is cut into cakes by blades or wires stretched between the uprights.

Fig. 20.

Fig. 19 shows the perspective elevation of the machine with its truck. The upper part is filled up for the reception of the glue to be cut up into cakes. The sides are omitted in this figure in order to admit of a better explanation of the separate parts.

Fig. 20 gives the same view, except that the truck, the upper part of which is closed, is between the uprights, and contains the glue to be cut.

Fig. 21 represents the moment the wires have passed through the glue and cut it into cakes. In all the figures, a is the wooden frame upon which the machine rests, b the table-plate fastened to the frame, c and d are the uprights, between which the cutting wires are stretched, and f the truck carrying the glue.

Fig. 21.

Fig. 22.

Figs. 22 and 23 show the truck by itself, g representing the bottom, and h the back, which is provided with slight grooves, into which the wires catch to assure the entire cutting through of the block of jelly; i is the upper part of the truck, which opens by means of a hinge, and when closed is fastened with the pin, k. This upper part of the truck is fastened to the back part of the truck by means of a screw, which allows it to be set higher or lower, according to the size of the block of jelly to be cut; m is the bar of a rack fastened to the truck, and serves for moving the latter. The driving gear, n, the shaft of which carries a crank, o, catches into the rack.

Fig. 23.

Two boards, one on each side of the truck, serve to keep the block of jelly in position, and guide the truck.

With this machine 120,000 to 130,000 cakes can be cut in five or six hours.

3. DRYING THE CAKES OF GLUE.

Drying the cakes is without doubt the most precarious part of the manufacture. The jelly contains a large quantity of water which, to prevent decomposition of the jelly before it is converted into glue, must be evaporated as quickly as possible. In favorable weather, drying may be accomplished either in the open air or in covered sheds.

Drying in the open air is connected with many inconveniences, for if the sun strikes the cakes of jelly when they still contain a large quantity of water, they may become soft so as to run through the meshes of the net, or they may dry so quickly as to prevent them from contracting to their proper size without numerous cracks and fissures. If frost supervenes, numerous cracks may be formed in the cakes from the congelation of their water, or a shower of rain may cause much work and damage. In consideration of all these inconveniences, it is best to conduct the operation in a drying-room.

To insure a constant circulation of air, which is absolutely necessary for the expulsion of the aqueous vapor caused by the evaporation of such a large quantity of water, the drying-room should be at least 10 feet high, even if intended for summer use only, and the windows be provided with Venetian blinds so as to shut out the sun, if necessary, without disturbing the circulation of air.

To dry the cakes in heated rooms in winter is a more difficult matter, as provision has to be made for the removal of the aqueous vapor, and a current of warm dry air has to be kept up at the same time. But such a room is an absolute necessity for the manufacturer on a large scale, who, in order to carry on his business without interruption throughout the entire year, must be independent of the changes of wind and weather.

Fig. 24.

The size of the drying-room should be proportional to the daily production. Constructions are fitted up with the requisite frames for the reception of the glue cakes, and are heated by steam pipes arranged along the walls. In the floor in the immediate neighborhood of the steam pipes are openings, which can be opened and shut at pleasure, for the admission of fresh dry air. The latter on entering the room is heated, and after passing over the frames and absorbing water from the glue cakes, escapes through openings in the ceiling to a space above it from which it is withdrawn by means of ventilators in the roof. A constant change of air must be kept up. The quick drying of the glue is of the utmost importance, as otherwise the jelly putrefies either entirely or partially, and the glue acquires a turbid and mean appearance. Too much heat causes the cakes to bend and crack. The cakes are laid upon widemeshed nets of twine stretched in frames 6½ to 8 feet long and 3¼ feet wide. Fig. 24 represents the form of nets commonly used. The nets are placed upon frames, such as shown in Fig. 25, arranged around the drying-room in the neighborhood of the steam pipes and air flues. As the cakes have to be occasionally turned upside down upon the nets, the latter must be placed at convenient distances, one above the other in the frames.

Fig. 25.

The use of twine netting has been found to be attended with many disadvantages, the principal ones of which are given by S. Rideal as follows:

1. “Being freely handled in the making, the netting is almost always impregnated with dangerous organisms which penetrate the moist glue cakes, and cause moulding or putrefaction. When this occurs, it is usually attributed to a state of the atmosphere, but if the cakes are examined, the alteration will generally be found to originate along the lines made by the netting. The fault could be cured by sterilizing the net for an hour at 212° to 248° F. in a hot oven, but besides the expense, the fibre is thereby weakened. Moreover, the spores of a few bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis, which is widely distributed and has the power of liquefying gelatine, will bear a heat of 248° F. for over an hour, and still be capable of growing.

2. “However smooth the fibre, the glue will stick in places, leaving small remains, which being hygroscopic, become ’sour,’ and set up the objectionable bacterial changes in the subsequent batches.

3. “Owing to sagging, rotting, scouring, or wearing into holes, the life of cotton or hemp netting is so short that the constant renewal is a considerable item. A whole batch is frequently spoilt by the fault of a net. In some works, heaps of old netting are found, which become very putrid in the rain and sun, and give rise to mysterious bacterial inroads in the factory. In others they are regularly burnt under the boilers.

4. “The considerable overlap or selvedge required for securing the edges of the net involves a waste of the area, and also some difficulty in refixing.”

For this reason metallic netting has been largely adopted. The best material has proved to be a heavily galvanized iron-wire netting having no less than 15 to 25 per cent. of its weight of zinc. It can be strengthened by longitudinal and transverse wires or ribs. It must be examined by the microscope to see that it is perfectly free from holes or cracks, and should last at least two years in constant use.

The temperature of the drying-room requires careful regulation, and should never be allowed to rise above 68° to 77° F., as otherwise the glue would soften and run through the meshes of the net, or adhere so firmly to the twine as to require the nets to be put in hot water for its separation. Dryness of air is of far greater importance in the drying process than a high temperature. To promote this dryness of air and prevent the aqueous vapor from condensing, evaporating, and again condensing upon the cold walls of the room, they are wainscoted. Thus protected by a bad conductor, they acquire a higher temperature, and the aqueous vapor, instead of being precipitated upon them, is carried off by the air-currents.

As the cakes placed in the immediate neighborhood of the steam pipes and near the floor where the dry air enters, dry quickest, the nets containing them are shifted after some time to a higher part of the drying-room and their former places filled with cakes still wet. When the cakes are dry, they are finally desiccated in a room at a higher temperature, which serves to harden and improve them.

In modern times drying-rooms have been almost entirely abandoned and in this country long drying galleries are used, sometimes 250 feet in length and 6 to 8 feet square, with traveling platforms on rails carrying the sheets of glue on stout galvanized netting. Wood is found to be a better material for the galleries than stone or brick.

Figs. 26 to 28 show an apparatus for drying glue which is the invention of W. A. Hoeveller.

Fig. 26 is a plan section, and Fig. 27 a side elevation in section, of this improved drying-alley. Fig. 28 is an end view in section.

The form and arrangement are as follows:—

A B represent the two parts of the alley, separated by the partition C, which is shorter than the alley, so as to leave a communicating space at both ends.

At the front of section A, is located a blower, D, actuated by a steam-engine or other motor, E, also located within the walls of the alley. The whole current from blower D, is directed through section A of the alley, whence it turns into section B, and comes back through it, to be again drawn into and forced out of the blower into section A. By this means the contained air of the alley is set in continuous motion through the two sections successively, and as the structure is made as air-tight as practicable in such cases, the air remains unchanged until the doors F, or either of them, are opened to discharge the vitiated air and let in the fresh.

In sections A and B, is placed the railway a a, to admit of the convenient movement of the contents in process of drying, which are generally set on cars or buggies.

Fig. 26.

Fig. 27.

Fig. 28.

In section A, in front of blower D, is placed a steam or other heating device, G, which may be of any form or design adapted to allow the air from blower D to pass through it and to heat such air while passing therethrough. The inventor prefers the radiating coil for such purpose, the steam entering at b, and emerging at c. At the other end of the alley, which by the double construction is in section B, just back of the blower and heating-coil, there is placed a condensing-coil, H, of a construction similar to coil G, and having inlet d, and outlet e. Through this condenser there is kept flowing a refrigerating liquid or brine, which renders the condenser very cold. The continuous current of air from the blower passes over the contents of the cars or trays in the alley and takes up moisture in its passage. After such passage the air is charged with moisture and comes in contact with the coils of the condenser H, upon which the charge of moisture is condensed, and the air emerges dry again, enters the blower, and is again made the vehicle by which the moisture of the glue or other contents is transported to and deposited on the condenser.

In drying glue by this method do not use the steam-coil at the first stage of drying a charge, as the drying should not be effected too rapidly; but as soon as the product begins to stiffen properly, admit the steam to the coil G, and thereafter the operation is continuous, as above described.

By doubling up the alley into two sections, as shown, the inventor is enabled to erect the alley in a more contracted space. In a length of ninety feet he obtains the benefit of a single alley one hundred and eighty feet long. Section B may, if desired, be located on top of section A. Doors may be located wherever desired, to facilitate the movement of the trays or cars and the placing of them in and their removal from the alley.

Fig. 29.

By the above apparatus the drying can be perfected in a very much shorter time than can be done by the old alleys, and operations can be conducted in hot weather without hindrance from the condition of the atmosphere.

In cases where the atmosphere is dry enough to dispense with the heater and the condenser, the inventor can throw the doors F wide open, extend the partition C out to that end of the alley, and then preserve a continuous forced draft of sufficiently dry air in both alleys for the purpose. As there are many days during the year fine enough to give reasonably dry air, operations can be conducted with the blower alone in this way, and thus economize the steam and the refrigerating-brine.

Fig. 30.

Figs. 29 and 30 show a longitudinal section, with upper and ground floor plans of a modern drying-house, as given by Thomas Lambert. In the ground floor the whole of the liquors are jellied in coolers, and then cut into cakes by the two cutting machines in the centre. Here a hoist, E, Fig. 30, is placed which carries the cut cakes on “glasses” to the floor above. This forms the drying-floor, and is partitioned off in three divisions, running nearly the length of the building. The two outer divisions form the tunnels proper, and at the ends are fixed two powerful revolving fans, driven at high speed and drawing the air through the tunnels at a high rate. At the opposite ends of the fans are fixed a series of 6-inch pipes, heated up by waste steam, and the air passing between is warmed up to any desired temperature, of necessity below 78° F. In the center passage a number of girls are employed in transferring the cut cakes to the nets, which are built upon a carriage running on a small railway. The carriage with the complement of filled nets is run to the end of the division, transferred to the lower railway, C, by which it is carried either to the right or left hand tunnels as desired; the glue when dried on the nets is run to the other end and by another lower railway brought to the middle division, and ultimately by the hoist raised to a large store-room, seen in section, where the glue is sorted and bagged. At the end of the store-room is placed a grinding machine, and all the off-color and twisted cakes are ground to a powder and sold as powdered glue. The manufacturer by varying the size of the cake, its thickness, and its color, may make any number of grades from the same boiling.

Fleck proposes to accelerate the drying of glue by utilizing the water-absorbing power of some salts, such as Epsom and Glauber’s salts, ammonium sulphate, crystallized acid sodium sulphate, etc., for the purpose of withdrawing water from the glue cakes. For the practical application of this principal a shallow, water-tight, wooden box is required. The bottom of the box is sprinkled with a layer of the water-absorbing salt about half an inch deep, and covered with a moist linen cloth. Upon this is placed the jelly cut into sheets and also covered with a moist cloth, a layer of salt being finally scattered over it. After standing for a few hours, the box is slightly inclined and the salt solution allowed to drain off through a hole in the bottom, the dropping ceasing in from 12 to 18 hours. If now the upper cloth is taken off with its layer of salt, the glue beneath it will be found so far deprived of its moisture that when placed in the sun or exposed to other heat, it will become completely dry in a short time without either melting or spoiling, and in winter may be laid upon drying-floors with the same result. The salt-solution formed may be evaporated to crystallization and the salt thus obtained be again used.

After the treatment with the salt, the jelly contains 70 to 75 per cent. of anhydrous glue, while the content in jelly not thus treated varies between 7 and 28 per cent. according to the concentration of the liquor from which it has been derived. It is claimed that the adhesive power of the glue is not injured by this treatment.

Commercial glue must not only be thoroughly dry, but should also present a good appearance, showing especially lustre. However, after drying, the glue is dull, spotted, dusty and sometimes even mouldy. To give a good lustrous appearance the dry cakes are dipped in warm water and replaced upon the nets to dry.

CHAPTER V.
MANUFACTURE OF BONE-GLUE.

The manufacture of bone-glue differs chiefly from that of skin-glue in the processes employed for the conversion of the glue-yielding tissues. This conversion may be effected by boiling the bones with water, or subjecting them to the action of steam, or by first extracting their mineral constituents with acid, and boiling the remaining cartilaginous mass with water until dissolved.

When the finest quality of all varieties of glue, namely, colorless gelatine, is to be manufactured, the bones should not be comminuted in a stamping mill, because in consequence of the unavoidable development of heat, they acquire a slightly empyreumatic odor which adheres to the gelatine prepared from them, and cannot be removed.

In factories working on a small scale, the bones are comminuted by hand, being placed upon a grate-like support of heavy iron rods and crushed with a wooden hammer, the face of which is studded with big-headed nails. In larger establishments the crushing rolls previously described are used, and in order to lessen the effect of heating as much as possible, the crushed bones are allowed to fall directly into a vessel filled with water.

Fat being a very valuable constituent of bones, it should be gained as completely as possible, by boiling or steaming the bones, or by extracting them by means of a solvent, such as benzine or carbon disulphide.

1. BOILING BONES.

This is the older and more incomplete process of extracting the fat. The bones are placed in a boiler, covered with water so that it stands a few inches deep over them, and the whole is boiled over an open fire. The melted fat collecting on the surface of the water is skimmed off. By boiling, a portion of the glue-yielding substance is, of course, converted into glue, and passes into the water. In order not to lose this glue, the same water is repeatedly used for boiling fresh quantities of bones, and is finally used for feeding pigs. By this method 4 to 5 per cent. of fat is at the utmost obtained.

The bone fat obtained by direct boiling of the bones, is, if entirely fresh material has not been used, of very inferior quality. It is dark yellow to deep brown and of a disagreeable odor. It is only fit for certain purposes, and to be utilized in the manufacture of soap has to undergo a special process of purification, whereby it is rendered white and odorless.

2. STEAMING BONES.

In order to obtain a larger quantity of fat than is possible by boiling, the bones are preferably steamed, i. e., subjected to the action of high-pressure steam. This is effected in a closed cylinder of thick boiler-plate, into which steam of ½ to 1 atmosphere pressure is admitted. The cylinder is provided with a perforated false bottom upon which the bones are placed. By steaming for two or three hours, all the fat is extracted from the bones and collects, together with the condensed water formed by the steam coming in contact with the cold bones, underneath the false bottom. However, by the continued action of high-pressure steam upon the bones, a considerable portion of the glue-yielding tissue is converted into glue, which passes into the resulting liquor. This, however, is no drawback if only fat and glue are to be obtained from the bones, since by continued steaming, a liquor still richer in glue results, and need only be evaporated. But, as a rule, the greater portion of the bones, especially the granulated parts, are to be utilized in the manufacture of animal charcoal, and, hence, great care has to be observed in steaming.

Animal charcoal is produced by calcining bones in vessels from which the air is excluded, whereby the glue-yielding tissue is converted into carbon, which is distributed upon the bone-earth. Since the value of animal charcoal depends on the quantity of carbon it contains, a product prepared from bones highly steamed, will evidently be of little value, as a considerable portion of the glue-yielding substance has been converted into glue.

If the bones are to be used for the production of animal charcoal they should be subjected to the action of high-pressure steam only long enough to extract the fat, but the resulting glue-liquor is very thin and difficult to work. The watery glue-liquor is first drawn off, and the fat which comes last is caught by itself. The thin glue-liquor is evaporated in vacuum.

3. EXTRACTION OF BONES.

To avoid the loss of glue-yielding substance which is unavoidable in steaming bones, even if only for a short time, in many plants the fat is now extracted by treating the bones with benzine or carbon disulphide. No loss of glue-yielding substance being involved by this process, bones thus treated yield the best quality of animal charcoal.

The fat obtained by extraction with carbon disulphide has such a disagreeable odor as to render it almost worthless. In addition this solvent is very volatile, consequently very inflammable, and is also very poisonous. For these reasons its use for the extraction of fat has been almost entirely abandoned.

Figs. 31 and 32 show an apparatus for the use of benzine which is the invention of Messrs. Wm. Adamson and Charles F. A. Simonis, of Philadelphia, Pa. It is for the purpose of treating animal and vegetable substances with hydrocarbons for extracting therefrom oily, fatty and resinous matter; and the object of this invention is to cause hydrocarbons to trickle through such substances instead of flooding the same, so that it will take up the oily, fatty and resinous matter without any of the albuminous or gelatinous ingredients.

Fig. 31 is a vertical section of apparatus wherewith this invention may be carried into effect; Fig. 32, an inverted plan view of part of Fig. 31.

Fig. 31.

Fig. 32.

A is a vessel, preferably of cylindrical form, and containing an upper perforated diaphragm, a, and lower perforated diaphragm, b, the former having a central opening, through which the material to be treated may be introduced between the two diaphragms, and this opening having a detachable perforated cover, d.

On the top of the vessel there is an opening, e, furnished with a detachable cover, f, and at the bottom of the vessel there is an outlet-pipe, h, furnished with a suitable cock or valve, i.

Liquid hydrocarbon, preferable such as is of a volatile character—benzine, benzole, or gasoline, for instance—is introduced into the vessel above the diaphragm a through a pipe, H, and perforated ring, I, or otherwise, the hydrocarbon passing through the diaphragm and falls in a shower on the substance contained in the vessel.

The hydrocarbon will trickle through the mass, taking up whatever oily, resinous, or fatty matter it comes in contact with until it falls through the lower diaphragm into the space D, whence it may be drawn off from time to time through the outlet-pipe, h.

In extracting oily, fatty, or resinous matter from vegetable or animal substances by hydrocarbons, it has been the practice either to subject them to hydrocarbon vapors, or to immerse or steep the substances in hydrocarbon until the latter takes up the oily, fatty, or resinous matter.

The vapor plan is preferable in treating wet animal substances, such as offal; but for dry vegetable or animal matter—seeds, for instance, or the residuum resulting from the rendering of tallow—we prefer the plan before described.

The flooding or steeping of animal or vegetable matter in liquid hydrocarbon results in a mixture or emulsion of gelatinous, albuminous, and fatty or oily matter, combined with animal or vegetable tissues, the whole forming an amalgamated mass; hence, whatever fatty or oily matter is extracted is accompanied by more or less of the suspended gelatine or albumen, either of which is more difficult to remove from the oil or fat, and has a tendency to discolor the same.

This difficulty, it has been found, can be obviated by preventing the hydrocarbon from remaining in a quiescent state in contact with the material; in other words, by causing it to trickle through the mass, which, by this plan, retains its granular condition, and gives out its oil or fat to the hydrocarbon without the albuminous or gelatinous matter.

In the apparatus before described, for instance, an occurrence of the objectionable flooding of the material, tending to bring about the results previously mentioned, is obviated by never permitting the extract in the lower portion of the vessel A to reach the lower diaphragm b. By drawing off the extract from time to time, any impediment to the free discharge of the hydrocarbon with such oily and resinous matter as it has taken up, through the lower diaphragm, is prevented, and a continuous dripping of the hydrocarbon through the mass secured.

The extract obtained by the trickling or filtering process is much more concentrated than that obtained by the steeping and flooding process.

Adamson’s Method for Treating Substances with Hydrocarbon Vapor for the Purpose of Extracting Oils, Fats, etc. This improvement is intended to prevent the fetid or other odors imparted to the vapor from the substances treated from being recommunicated to the said substances, and to the extracts obtained therefrom through the medium of the vapor from the re-used hydrocarbon. The vapor is obtained from benzine, benzole, etc.

Fig. 33 represents, partly in section, the apparatus whereby the invention may be carried into effect.

A is a vessel in which the substances have to be treated by hydrocarbon vapor, the said substances being introduced into the vessel through a manhole, x, and deposited on a perforated diaphragm, B, the manhole being provided with a suitable cover. A steam-coil, D, is placed in the vessel in a space beneath the diaphragm, and liquid hydrocarbon is introduced into the said space, and is there vaporized by the steam-coil. The vapor rising through the perforated diaphragm permeates the substance upon the same, so as to extract therefrom the oily, fatty, or resinous matter, which passes downward through the diaphragm into the space below the same, whence it may be drawn off from time to time through the discharge-pipe j. Liquid hydrocarbon may be introduced from a tank, or from a source explained hereafter, into the top of the vessel A, so that it will pass through the material and be vaporized when it reaches the coil; the said material being in this case subjected to a downward current of liquid hydrocarbon and an upward current of vapor.

Previous to this invention it was Mr. Adamson’s practice to cause the vapor, after acting upon the substances in the vessel, to pass through a worm in a condenser, the lower end of the worm communicating with the vessel, A, beneath the diaphragm, as shown in Fig. 35, p. 85, so that the hydrocarbon was used over and over again. But in practice this has been found objectionable in many cases for the following reason:—

In treating animal offal, for instance, for the extraction of fats, fetid odors are imparted to the hydrocarbon vapor, and remain, to a considerable extent, in the condensed vapor when the latter is restored to the vessel A; hence, the fetid odors were recommunicated both to the fatty extracts and to the material. The same objections have been experienced in treating meat for preservation and vegetable matter for the extraction of oil by hydrocarbon vapor.

This difficulty is obviated in the following manner: The vapor-pipe D´ communicates with a vessel H at the top of the same, and the vapor is met by numerous small jets of cold water—in the present instance, from a perforated tubular ring, m, into which the water is forced through a pipe n.

Many different appliances may be used, such as roses, revolving jets, etc., for causing a spray through which the vapor must pass, and by which it must be condensed. The result of this will be a supply, I, of tainted water on the bottom of the vessel, H, and a quantity, J, of washed and purified hydrocarbon above the water, the latter having taken up the fetid odors.

The washed hydrocarbon may be drawn off through a pipe, g, into any suitable vessel, and thence introduced through the pipe h into the vessel A, or may pass directly into the latter to be again vaporized therein, the vapor after permeating the material and passing through the pipe D´ being simultaneously condensed and washed in the vessel H, preparatory to being returned in the condition of purified liquid hydrocarbon to the vessel A.

Fig. 33.

By the practice of this process, the inventor is enabled to obtain a purer extract than heretofore, and, at the same time, the substances acted upon are more free from noxious odors.

Changes may be made in the apparatus shown in Fig. 33, as, for instance, the vessel A may consist of a horizontal hollow cylinder, and the vaporizing of the hydrocarbon may be accomplished otherwise than by a steam-coil.

Fig. 34.

Adamson’s Method for Treating Substances with Liquid Hydrocarbon for the Purpose of Extracting Oils, Fats, etc. This invention relates to a method of treating animal and vegetable substances with liquid hydrocarbons, such as benzene, benzole, etc., for the purpose of extracting from such substances oils, fats, etc.

The object of this improvement is to prevent the fetid and other odors imparted to the liquid hydrocarbon by the substances treated from being recommunicated to the substances and to the extracts therefrom by the liquid hydrocarbon when re-used.

In Fig. 34, there is shown a sectional view of apparatus whereby this invention may be carried into effect.

A is a vessel into which the substances to be treated are introduced through a manhole, x, provided with a suitable detachable cover, and through an opening in the upper perforated diaphragm, B, a detachable perforated plate, b, being placed over the opening after the substances have been passed through the same, the substances being supported by the lower perforated diaphragm, B´, beneath which is a space for receiving the extract and liquid hydrocarbon after the latter has percolated through the mass in the vessel. The extract, which occupies the lowest position in the vessel, may be removed therefrom from time to time prior to being purified by distillation or otherwise. The liquid hydrocarbon is permitted to pass from time to time through a pipe, d, into a vessel, D, where it is met by jets of water from a pipe, f, the hydrocarbon and water being thoroughly agitated in the vessel by a revolving paddle-wheel, E. This washing of the liquid hydrocarbon may be accomplished by different appliances. For instance, the paddle-wheel may be dispensed with, and water forced upward into the vessel from below in the form of numerous small jets. The water and hydrocarbon after this washing operation are permitted to pass into the subsiding-vessel, H, the hydrocarbon being above and the water below, the fetid and other odors divided by the hydrocarbon from the substances in the vessel, A, having, during the washing operation, been transferred to the water, which may be drawn off from time to time.

The washed and purified hydrocarbon may be pumped directly through a pipe, m, into the vessel, A, to be re-used for treating the substances therein; or it may be pumped, first, into a reservoir, and permitted to flow from the same into the said vessel, A.

More or less hydrocarbon is wasted by being drawn off with the extract, and to make up for this loss a supply may be introduced at intervals from a tank through the pipe, h.

By the practice of the process described above, the inventor is enabled to obtain a purer extract than by the ordinary process of treating substances with liquid hydrocarbon. At the same time the substances treated will be much more free from noxious odors than when the hydrocarbon is used over and over again without washing.

It is not essential strictly to adhere to the apparatus shown in Fig. 34, as the construction of the apparatus will, in fact, depend in a great measure on the locality in which it is to be situated.

Adamson’s Process for Removing Hydrocarbons from Substances which have been treated therewith. This process consists of washing from animal and vegetable substances the hydrocarbon which they retain after being treated therewith for the extraction of oils, fats, etc., and for other purposes.

Different apparatus may be employed for carrying out this process, and it may be conducted in the same vessel in which the material is treated with hydrocarbon.

The vessel, which is shown in Fig. 35, has been found to answer well for this purpose.

This vessel is furnished with a suitable detachable cover, a, and with two perforated or wire-gauze diaphragms, b and d, both extending across the interior of the vessel, one near the top and the other near the bottom of the same.

A steam-coil, B, communicating with any adjacent steam-generator, is contained in the vessel below the lower diaphragm, to vaporize the hydrocarbon, the vapor passing through the substance between the two diaphragms and out through a pipe, D, which passes through a condenser, E, the latter restoring the hydrocarbon to a liquid form, in which it is reconveyed to the vessel through a pipe, D´.

In practicing the washing process a pipe, m, to introduce water into the vessel, and one or more outlet-pipes, n n′, two in the present instance, are necessary. There may also be a pipe, p, through which air can be introduced into the vessel, under the circumstances explained hereafter.

When the treatment of the material in the vessel with hydrocarbon vapor or liquid hydrocarbon has been completed, steam is cut off from the coil B, the pipes D and D´ are closed, and the cover a may be removed.

Fig. 35.

Water is now admitted through the pipe m to the space in the vessel below the diaphragm d, and the cocks of the outlet-pipes n n′ are opened.

The water permeates the material, passes upward through the same, and carries with it the hydrocarbon, the latter having a tendency to rise with the water.

As the water, and whatever hydrocarbon accompanies it, pass through the upper diaphragm, b, the hydrocarbon will at once rise to the surface, and will pass through the upper outlet-pipe, n, into any suitable receptacle, the water passing off through the lower outlet-pipe.

If this mode of separating the hydrocarbon from the water is practiced, the admission of water to the vessel should be such in respect to the outflow that the liquid will remain at or near a uniform level, that is, the surface of the liquid should bear the relation shown in the drawing to the upper outlet.

The water and hydrocarbon, however, may be drawn off indiscriminately into a suitable receptacle, and then separated by decantation; but it is advisable in all cases that the water should extend above the mass of material in the vessel, so that the hydrocarbon can at once rise to the surface as it escapes from the substance.

When the material is of such a character as to be closely packed and not easily displaced by the upwardly-flowing water (and this is especially the case with seeds which have been treated with hydrocarbons), it is necessary to agitate the mass, so that the water can gain access to every part thereof. This agitation the inventor prefers to effect by air under pressure introduced through a pipe, p, although mechanical appliances may be used for the purpose.

It will be understood that the process may be conducted in a vessel separate from which the substances have been treated with hydrocarbon. A vessel similar to that shown, for instance, but without the coil and pipes, D D´, may be used, and may be furnished with trunnions (shown by dotted lines) and adapted to bearings, so as to be easily tilted when its contents have to be removed; or the vessel may have an opening near the lower diaphragm for the withdrawal of its contents, a suitable detachable door being adapted to the opening.

F. Seltsam’s apparatus. In this process the solvent is boiled with the bones, previously coarsely crushed and the dust sifted out, in a strong closed vessel, so as to obtain a higher temperature, greater penetration and avoidance of loss. The vapor ascending condenses in the pores, extracts the fat and collects under the false bottom as a layer of solution which is subsequently distilled. The apparatus is shown in Fig. 36. The cylinder, A, is capable of withstanding a pressure of 10 atmospheres, and serves for the generation of steam and as an extracting vessel. It is filled with bones and hermetically closed. The required quantity of solvent is then brought by means of the pump, B, from the reservoir, C, through the pipe, D, into the cylinder, A, and the latter is heated. The vapors formed force the air through the pipe, E, into the condenser, F, where any vapor which may be carried along is condensed and passes through the pipe, G, back into the reservoir, C.

Fig. 36.

When all the air has been expelled from the apparatus and the pores of the bones, the cock on the pipe, E, is closed. The cylinder, A, is then heated so that a pressure of a few atmospheres prevails in it. The vapors now act energetically upon the bones, the dissolved fat collecting upon the cylinder; the cock on the pipe, H, is then opened, and the superheated fluid discharged under high pressure into the distilling apparatus, J, and the solvent is distilled off from the fat by means of steam. The vapors of the solvent pass through the pipe, K, into the condenser, F, and from there back into the reservoir, C.

When the manometer on A indicates no pressure, the cock on the pipe, H, is closed and the cylinder, A, again heated, the pipe, E, being open, so that any solvent still adhering to the bones may escape to the condenser, F.

Fig. 37.

Figs. 37 and 38 illustrate Seltsam’s apparatus as improved by Th. Richter, whereby the operation becomes entirely free from danger, the vaporization of the solvent being effected by steam only, and the work is carried on continuously.

There are two extracting vessels, A and B, of thick boiler-plate, and provided with false bottoms, G, upon which the bones are placed, steam being admitted into the space between the true and false bottoms. The extracting vessels are surrounded by the jackets, C, and are further provided with the vacuum gauges, E, and the air-cocks, F.

There are, in addition, two other vessels, H and J, which contain water, a vessel, K, for the solvent, and an air-pump, L. The operation is carried on as follows:

Fig. 38.

The extracting vessels, A and B, are charged with bones, all the cocks, with the exception of M and N closed, and the air-pump, L, is set in motion, whereby a vacuum is formed in A. When this is sufficiently large, water is admitted from H through the cock O into the space P. The water-cock is then closed and the steam-cock, Q, opened. The steam entering the space, R, brings the water in P to the boiling-point, and the air-pump sucks off the steam formed after the cock, N, is opened. The air-pump is then stopped and all the cocks closed, except S. The solvent now passes from the vessel, K, into the space P, and after closing the cock S, is evaporated by the admission of steam into R. The water-cock is then opened and cold water admitted into the jacket C, the solvent saturated with fat being thereby condensed in P. The water is then discharged from C and steam introduced into R₁, whereby the solvent is evaporated and forced into the extracting vessel B by means of the air-pump, L, after closing the cocks M and V.

The process is then repeated in B, after a vacuum has been created in the same manner as in A.

In the meanwhile the vacuum in A is interrupted by opening the air-cock F and the fat drawn off through P by opening the cock U.

The bones freed from fat are removed through the manhole D, and A is charged with fresh material while the operation is carried on in B. Thus the operation is continuous, the solvent passing without any loss whatever from one extracting vessel to the other.

Fig. 39.

Alfred Leuner’s apparatus. Fig. 39, works on the Soxhlet principle, without pressure, using solvent and steam simultaneously. The bones are placed in A above the perforated false bottom B. D is a steampipe by means of which the bones are steamed as a preliminary, the surplus steam escaping through the outlet pipe E. After steaming, water and benzine are run in from the reservoir F, into the space under the false bottom, and heated by the steam coil P. The vapors evolved are condensed in the worm K, and at first run back over the bones through the cock L, the vapor passing upwards to the worm through R, and the condensed liquid being divided into separate streams by the spreading plate O. After some time the cock G is opened so that the condensed liquid runs into the reservoir F, instead of flowing back into A. When all the solvent has volatilized nothing but water condenses in the worm, which is known by means of a sampling cock attached to A, the draw-off cock E is then opened and the watery gelatinous solution and oily matter run off into a suitable separating receptacle. The bones in A are then discharged through a manhole, and A being refilled, the whole operation is repeated.

Extraction with hydrochloric acid. If the bones are to be chiefly worked for glue, extraction with hydrochloric acid, which has been referred to in Chapter III, under “Bones and Cartilages” may be highly recommended, the bones being thereby freed from their mineral constituents and the glue-yielding substance remaining behind in a pure state. The bones are allowed to remain in contact with the acid till they are flexible and translucent. This may be readily recognized by laying upon the material in the vat a bone split in two. When the latter by the treatment with acid shows the characteristic appearance of swollen cartilage, i. e., has become translucent, extraction may be considered complete.

The solution is then drawn off through a tap immediately above the bottom of the vat into stoneware vessels, and conveyed to the evaporating pans. The tap is then closed and enough water to cover the cartilage is admitted into the vat, and the whole allowed to stand for a few hours in order to extract as much as possible the solution of bone-salts remaining in the cartilage. The fluid is then drawn off. It is a quite concentrated solution of bone-salts and, mixed with an equal volume of hydrochloric acid, may be used for the extraction of fresh quantities of bones, or be mixed with the fluid first drawn off and evaporated.

The further washing of the cartilage is effected by repeatedly pouring water over it, the operation being continued until the water running off shows no acid reaction. Washing has to be done very carefully, since glue-solution obtained from cartilage containing but a very small quantity of acid will not congeal. It is, therefore, advisable to add to the last wash-water 1 per cent. of soda, this quantity being quite sufficient for the neutralization of the last traces of acid.

Sulphurous acid process. In this country sulphurous acid is largely employed in the manufacture of glue derived from bones. When ordinary bones are treated with a current of moist sulphurous acid gas, they absorb from 10 to 12 per cent. of their weight of the gas in the course of 12 hours. The amount may increase to 15 or 20 per cent. on longer treatment, but the excess will then disappear on exposure to air. Messrs. Grillo and Schroeder of Düsseldorf, who patented this process in 1894, believe that this is simply due to the calcium phosphate present in the bones, and remark that an absorption of 11 to 12 per cent. on the gross weight amounts to 16 or 17 per cent. of the inorganic constituents, and corresponds to the equation:

Ca₃(PO₄)₂ + SO₂ + H₂O = 2CaHPO₄ + CaSO₃,

the sulphurous acid simply acting in the same way as sulphuric acid does in the manufacture of superphosphate, but being a milder acid than sulphuric, the alteration of the organic constituents which are available for glue-stock can be almost entirely avoided. The acid phosphate is soluble in water, therefore the bones after treatment are easily disintegrated by boiling water when a large portion of the lime remains in the sediment, while the gelatine is dissolved.

The process as commercially conducted is very similar to the well-known sulphite method of treating paper pulp, and is carried on in iron cylinders or better in close wooden vats lined with lead.

Fig. 40.

The gas is usually generated in an impure form, with a large admixture of air and carbonic acid, by combustion of pyrites and coal, of crude sulphur, or even of only highly pyritous fuel.

On the other hand, since it is well established that the absorption of a diluted gas is less ready, and is more wasteful than that of a gas in a pure state, the employment of a definite quantity of sulphur dioxide in a concentrated state, either prepared by the regulated burning of sulphur, or the decomposition of sulphuric acid, yields more regular results, and a product of better quality. Liquid sulphur dioxide, which is now obtainable at a moderate price and in quantity, has the advantage that it yields a continuous current of pure gas of any required rapidity by simply opening a valve, and that the exact amount used can be ascertained by taring the containing vessel before and after the operation (S. Rideall).

The washed bones are brought into the above-mentioned cylinder or vat and treated with a saturated solution of sulphurous acid. The duration of the action of the acid varies according to the condition of the material and can only be determined by experience. The result of the process is a liquor almost as clear as water, which, after evaporation in the vacuum pan, is equal as regards clearness and lustre, to the best quality of glue prepared from waste of hide and skin. The fat extracted from the bleached bones is lighter in color and has not the disagreeable odor of ordinary bone fat, and consequently brings a better price.

For the generation of sulphurous acid Dr. Bruno Terne, of Mass., has constructed a very simple apparatus shown in Fig. 40. The sulphur is burned in S; A is the escape pipe of stone; T, the collecting reservoir; P, the steam-pump for acid; R, chimney for the sulphur burner.

4. CONVERSION OF CARTILAGE INTO GLUE.

The conversion into glue of the swollen cartilage obtained by treatment with hydrochloric or sulphurous acid may be effected by continued boiling in open pans or in an apparatus recommended by Wm. Friedberg, and shown in Fig. 41.

The boiler K of thick boiler-plate has a diameter equal to its height. Underneath the perforated false bottom S, which serves for the support of the bones, lies a perforated steam coil R—D for the introduction of steam. To this steam coil is fitted a branch-pipe d, which reaches into the upper portion of the boiler into which also enters the water-pipe W. The apparatus is further fitted with a water-gauge, an air cock, sampling cock and manhole for the introduction of the cartilage.

Fig. 41.

The mode of operation with this apparatus is as follows: The boiler is filled three-quarters full with cartilage. Enough water to fill the boiler one-quarter full is then admitted through the pipe W, and the steam-cock D opened. The steam passing out through the numerous perforations in the coil R, is at first condensed in the water, but soon brings the latter to the boiling-point, and from this stage on begins the formation of glue. The glue dissolves in the water, and a sample of the solution is from time to time drawn off through the sampling cock and tested as to its concentration. When the solution possesses the required concentration, the admission of steam through R is interrupted, and the cock d of the branch-pipe opened, as well as the cock of the discharge pipe H, the latter being opened gradually. The discharge pipe H is connected with the perforated plate F, which is covered with a closely-woven cloth and thus acts as a filter, retaining all the solid particles suspended in the glue solution.

By opening the cock d of the branch-pipe, the steam-pressure acts only upon the surface of the fluid, the latter being consequently pressed with great force through the filter-cloth.

When the hissing noise caused by escaping steam indicates that all the fluid has been removed from the boiler, the cock d of the branch-pipe is closed, and through a rose fitted above the boiler, water is allowed to flow upon the latter. By this cooling the greater portion of the steam in the boiler is condensed and water may be admitted through W.

Fig. 42.

The operation of glue-boiling is then commenced anew by admitting steam into the steam coil, and continued until the cartilaginous mass has been reduced to about one-third of its original bulk, when the apparatus is opened, fresh material introduced, and the whole operation repeated.

In order to be able to replace the filter without having to empty the entire apparatus, it has been given the shape shown in Fig. 42. The upper portion of the discharge-pipe A is connected with the lower portion by the box-screw H. In the latter is inserted a short cylinder, C, with a perforated bottom upon which is placed the filter-cloth; the latter is kept in position by the ring R.

Fig. 43.

For every apparatus two of the above-described filters will be required. If, notwithstanding a full steam pressure, the glue solution runs off sluggishly, it is indicative of the pores of the filter being choked up. The screw-box H is then removed, the filter taken out and replaced by another one.

The glue solution discharged from the apparatus is in most cases sufficiently clear to allow of its being immediately evaporated. However, for the production of a particularly fine quality of glue, it is advisable to clarify the solution by settling. As the liquor has to be kept warm to allow of the solid particles to settle, W. Friedberg recommends the use of the apparatus shown in Fig. 43. It consists of an iron cylinder with a diameter equal to one-third of its height. The front of the cylinder is furnished with a number of cocks placed at equal distances from each other, and also with a pipe in the slightly conical bottom. It is surrounded by a wooden jacket, the intermediate space being filled with a bad conductor of heat. By this arrangement the liquor is kept warm and in a liquid state for several hours, giving ample time for the solid bodies held in suspension to settle on the bottom. The condition of the liquor is from time to time tested by allowing a small quantity of it to run into a glass from the lowest cock in front. If the sample is perfectly clear, the liquor may be drawn off. If, however, after several hours’ standing only the upper portions of the liquor are clear, while the lower ones are still turbid, further clarification by this means is impossible. The upper portions of the liquor are then used for finer qualities of glue and the lower ones for inferior grades.

By treating the cartilage with high-pressure steam, a liquor is obtained which on cooling congeals to quite a solid jelly, and it might be immediately brought into the forming-boxes, cut into cakes, and dried. However, as the drying of the glue is one of the most difficult operations for the glue-maker, it is of great advantage to obtain the liquor in as high a state of concentration as possible in order to obtain a solid jelly, which causes the least difficulty in drying. For this purpose the liquors leaving the clarifying vat with a strength of about 20 per cent. dry glue are evaporated down to a strength of about 32 per cent. in winter, and 35 per cent. in summer. Evaporation may be effected in open pans or in vacuum.

Fig. 44 shows the arrangement of an open evaporating pan. The copper pan P has the form of a shallow cylinder with a slightly conical bottom, in the lowest point of which is the discharge pipe for the concentrated liquor. During the operation the discharge pipe is closed by the ball-valve V, which can be raised by the lever contrivance M. The pan is surrounded by an iron steam-jacket; the steam passes in at D, and the condensed water runs off at A. H is a sampling cock for taking samples to test the concentration of the liquor.

Fig. 44.

To prevent the workroom from being filled with steam arising from the pan, the latter is covered with a hood of wood which terminates in the pipe S projecting above the roof, and a narrow pipe R branching off from the steam pipe D passes into S.

When vapors commence to arise from the liquor, the cock on the pipe R is slightly opened whereby a jet of steam is blown into the pipe S, the latter then acting as an exhauster, and the vapors in the hood C are carried along by the jet of steam. By this arrangement no vapor passes into the workroom and steam is also very rapidly evolved from the surface of the liquor.

Sufficient steam should be admitted to the pan for the liquor to give out an abundance of vapor without, however, being brought to the boiling-point, as in that case foam would be formed and the liquor in cooling yield a product full of blisters. When the liquor has acquired the proper degree of concentration, the admission of steam to D and R is interrupted and the valve V having been raised the liquor is run into the cooling-boxes. The latter are of wood lined with zinc, or better of stout zinc or heavily galvanized iron. They hold about ½ cwt. and are of two shapes: one deep and nearly square, another long and shallow, for quick cooling of clear liquors. Iron should not be used, as it readily rusts and causes discoloration of the glue.

Cooling is effected by cold water where it is available, but often merely by cold air, aided by fans or blowers, in a room protected from heat or frost. According to S. Rideal, refrigerating machines are now also employed, which, by the evaporation of liquid gases, such as ammonia, sulphurous or carbonic acid, reduce a tank of brine to near freezing-point. The temperature should not be allowed below 33° or 34° F., for if frozen the jelly is hard and difficult to cut. The brine circulates in iron pipes placed near the ceiling of the room; they must be kept as clear as possible of ice and dirt, and the cooling house should be scrupulously clean and sweet.

Spiral evaporators are recommended by Thomas Lambert as forming a ready and economical means of evaporation. The evaporator consists of a spiral steam coil, made of copper, and 2 inches in diameter, revolving on a centre shaft; the lower half of the coil is covered with the glue-liquor in the trough. The shaft rests on two plummer-blocks, one receiving the steam, and the other discharging the spent steam and condensed water. The shaft is hollow to the first coil, and the steam is thus conveyed to the spiral. From the last coil to the end of the plummer-block the shaft is also hollow, and in that portion resting on the block two openings are made. In the inside of the plummer-block, two openings are bored to the outside, each forming a covered channel; as the shaft revolves, all the holes directly face each other at intervals, and thus allow any condensed water in the coils to be blown through. From 25 to 28 coils are generally used in each spiral. The glue-liquors are fed into the trough at one end, and have a temperature of 75° F.; the temperature of the evaporated liquor is 85° F. In the rather slow passage through the trough, the liquors receiving the heat of the revolving coils are raised in strength from 20 per cent. to 32 per cent. dry glue, at which point they are ready for jellying.

Vacuum pans are much used in this country for evaporating glue-liquors, though there are some complaints made of the great waste owing to spray and froth being carried off in the steam. As is well known the boiling-point is lowered by increasing the pressure on the surface of a fluid. By enclosing water in a vessel connected with a constantly working air-pump, it is brought to the boiling-point by heating to between 95° and 104° F. The construction of vacuum pans is based upon this principle, and such apparatus is largely used in many manufacturing processes for evaporating to a certain degree fluids, for instance, sugar solutions, which readily become decomposed at a higher temperature. Vacuum pans are also very suitable for the evaporation of glue-solution, especially in plants working on a large scale.

Fig. 45 represents an elevation of a vacuum pan for evaporating glue and gelatine liquors as described by Thomas Lambert. The pan is built of steel plates, and lined outside with wood work, and rests on a floor constructed of rolled steel plates, supported on four columns, with a stairway leading to the working platform. One half of the lower part is shown in section, giving a view of the coils by which the pan is heated. The various parts are as follows: A, the body of the pan; B, the dome; C, exhaust pipe leading from the dome to the condenser; D, condenser; E, air or vacuum pump; F, storage tank for glue or gelatine liquors, warmed with steam coil; G, supply pipe leading from storage tank to vacuum pan; H, discharge valve; I, barometer gauge for indicating vacuum; J, inlet steam pipe for supplying the coils; K, exhaust end of vacuum coils; L, iron staircase; M, steel floor.

Fig. 45.

The accessories to the pan are placed in a convenient position above the working floor and include a steam gauge for noting the pressure in the coils, a gauge for indicating the height of the liquor in the pan, vacuum gauge I, as shown in the drawing, air-cocks and a thermometer. The pan is also fitted with a small apparatus, by which portions of the boiling liquor can from time to time be drawn, without disarranging the vacuum, so that the progress of evaporation can be ascertained.

In working the pan, the storage tank F is first filled with the weak glue liquors to be evaporated; the valve on the supply pipe G is then closed, and the vacuum pump set in motion; a few strokes are sufficient to reduce the internal pressure, and the valve of the supply pipe is then opened, and the liquor allowed to fill up the pan to the desired mark on the gauge. The valve is then closed, the steam-inlet valve J, supplying the coils, opened. As the heat from the coils spreads through the liquor, the vacuum pump is kept steadily at work reducing the inside pressure to within 2 to 2½ inches of a perfect vacuum, as seen on the barometrical scale. In this vacuum the liquor will boil at 120° to 130° F., and the boiling is continued until the withdrawn samples, as tested by the glue-meter, show the desired strength. The pump is then stopped, the vacuum broken by opening the air-cocks, and the concentrated liquor is run through the valve H into suitably arranged receiving tanks, for supplying the trays or glasses for jellying.

For economical working with large quantities of weak liquors, a combination of two, three and even four vacuum pans, forming the double, triple and quadruple effect evaporators, have been designed for concentration purposes. The triple effect is, however, the system mostly in use, and consists of a grouping of three cylindrical pans, each connected by suitably arranged piping, by which the vapors of the first pan are conveyed to and made to heat the coils of a second pan, the resulting vapors from the second, passing on to the third pan, for a similar purpose. All the pans are connected with powerful pumps, producing a nearly absolute vacuum in each. The liquor is evaporated to a given density in the first pan, and then passed on to the second, and ultimately to the third, at which stage 80 per cent. of its water will have been driven off.

To obtain in all cases a product of equal concentration, it is advisable to have an instrument which will indicate the amount of dry glue in the solution. (Fig. 46.)

By immersing a glass aerometer in the glue-liquor, the percentage of glue is indicated by a scale registering from 0 to 70 per cent. with the jelly or glue solution at a temperature of 167° F.

To measure the temperature quickly, a thermometer is added, and for the execution of the entire test, a sheet-iron vessel consisting of a large and two small tubes, a, which when not in use, serve for the reception of the glass instruments contained in a special case. For testing, the small cylinder is placed in the large tube, a, and filled with jelly by means of the cap which serves as a cover. The large tube is filled with hot water to bring the jelly to the required temperature. The two instruments are then immersed in the tubes filled with glue-liquors to be tested, and temperature as well as percentage can be readily read off.

Fig. 46.

The evaporated and cooled glue-liquor is cut into cakes and dried in the same manner as previously described.

5. PROCESS FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS UTILIZATION OF BONES FOR FAT, BONE-MEAL AND GLUE.

Manufacturers frequently sort the bones in such a way that materials of different quality are obtained. Thick, compact bones are utilized for the manufacture of animal charcoal, a comparatively small percentage of bone-meal resulting in crushing such bones.

Incompact, porous bones, on the other hand, yield not only crummy animal charcoal of less value, but in stamping also a larger percentage of bone-meal than compact bones. Hence they are as a rule directly worked for fat, glue and steamed bone-meal, no attempt being made to convert them into such granular pieces as are suitable for the production of charcoal.

For this purpose, the bones are first broken by a crusher or mill into coarse pieces, and the fat extracted by a special process or together with the glue in one operation. The latter method would seem to be the most suitable, time and labor being thereby saved, but it must be borne in mind that fat extracted by itself brings a much better price than that obtained by steaming, and besides the yield of glue is larger from steamed bones which have been previously degreased.

The crushed bones—whether degreased or not—are subjected to the action of high-pressure steam. The apparatus, Fig. 47, used for this purpose consists of a cylinder of thick boiler-plate, 10 to 13 feet high and 3 to 4 feet in diameter. E and A are manholes, which can be closed steam-tight. The pipe D leads to the steam-boiler and opposite to D is a short pipe, H. The cylinder is further fitted with the perforated false bottom, S, and the bent pipe, L.

As a rule, four to six, and in larger plants even more, of such cylinders are combined to a battery. In this case the discharge pipe, L, terminates in a common collecting vessel, and the steam-pipes, D, branch off from a main steampipe. The battery may be enclosed by brickwork, but is preferably placed upon a suitable foundation and surrounded by woodwork, the intermediate space between woodwork and cylinders being filled with sawdust. This plan offers the best means of keeping the heat together, and the further advantage that, in case one of the cylinders becomes defective, it can be readily taken out and replaced by a new one.

Fig. 47.

In order to be able to fill the cylinders rapidly and with the least expenditure of power, it is advisable to place the bone-crusher at such a height that the crushed bones fall directly into carriages which are run upon a small railway over the charging holes of the cylinders, and emptied. In front of the manholes, A, for discharging the bones is also a railway, so that the crushed bones can be directly emptied into carriages and conveyed to the stamping mill.

The cylinder having been filled with bones, is closed steam-tight. The cock, H, is then opened and steam admitted by opening the cock D. The steam passing in at first, is cooled off by coming in contact with the bones and condensed to water. However, the temperature in the cylinder soon becomes so high that the steam is no longer condensed and, having first expelled the air in the cylinder through the pipe H, it escapes through the latter in the form of a powerful jet. When this is the case H is closed and high-pressure steam allowed to act upon the bones.

The fat contained in the bones melts and trickles down. On the bottom of the cylinder collects a fluid which contains glue, is of a milky turbidity due to admixed drops of fat, and with a quite thick layer of fat upon its surface. From time to time—about every hour—the cock L is slightly opened. By the pressure of the steam the glue-liquor is expelled with great force through the pipe L, the latter being closed when by the peculiar noise it is noticed that only steam escapes.

Steaming and the occasional discharge of melted fat are continued until on testing a sample of the liquor running off, it is noticed to be free from fat. The liquor in the cylinder is then expelled by the pressure of steam, the steam-cock D closed, the manhole A opened, and steam again admitted through D. By the steam-pressure the greater portion of the bones in the cylinder is expelled through the manhole A. The bones coming from the cylinder are pliable and soft, and, after drying, are readily converted by grinding into bone-meal.

For the manufacture of animal charcoal it is of the utmost importance that steaming should be interrupted at the time when the bones are completely degreased. If, however, only fat, glue and bone-meal are to be produced, steaming may advantageously be continued for a longer time.

The longer the bones are subjected to the action of high-pressure steam, the more complete the conversion of glue-yielding substance into glue will be. To be sure, the bone-meal obtained from such bones will contain somewhat less nitrogen than the product from bones not steamed quite so long. However, the content of phosphates will in both cases be the same, and on this depends, in the main, the fertilizing value of bone-meal.

The fluid discharged from the cylinder consists of a mixture of glue-liquor and drops of fat. It is run into a large vat, in which it is kept warm for a few hours, when the fat rises and collects in a coherent mass on the surface. The fat is then drawn off through cocks in the upper portion of the vat, while the glue-liquor is discharged from the bottom of the vat, running first upon a very fine meshed sieve, which retains the coarser bodies held in suspension, and then directly into the evaporator. In the latter the liquor is evaporated to the desired strength, when it is run into the clarifying vats, and finally into the cooling vessels.

With the above-described process, the simultaneous utilization of the bones for animal charcoal is only possible if the crushed steamed bones are passed through a sieve for the purpose of sorting out the granular pieces of suitable size. However, in the process above described, incompact bones are, as a rule, used which give but a small percentage of granulated pieces, and the latter yield an inferior quality of animal charcoal. It is therefore best to use the steamed bones from which the fat and glue have been extracted for the production of bone-meal.

For the manufacture of animal charcoal, the bones have to be carefully sorted, fresh bones rich in organic substance being best for the purpose, and the hardest and thickest pieces should be selected. Previous to carbonization, the bones are degreased by extraction with benzine or carbon disulphide, and then crushed.

Carbonization was formerly effected in iron pots having a capacity of about 25 quarts each. However, by this process a uniform product of good quality cannot be obtained, and, besides, the total quantity of organic substance of the bones is lost. At present carbonization is effected in retorts, whereby large quantities of animal charcoal are in a comparatively short time obtained, and, besides, the products of destructive distillation can be completely utilized. An essential product of distillation is a large quantity of inflammable gases, which can be used for heating the retort-furnace or for illuminating the entire plant, it being, however, best to arrange the conduits so that the gases can be used for either purpose.

A detailed discussion of the methods for gaining and further working of the products of distillation is not within the scope of this work, and only a brief description of a plant for the manufacture of animal charcoal will here be given.

Fig. 48.

Figs. 48 and 49 show the arrangement of a Belgian retort-furnace, Fig. 48 representing a vertical section lengthways, and Fig. 49 a horizontal section. The illustrations, however, are given at different heights in order to show plainly the arrangement of the fire-place and the passage of the fire-gases.

The cast-iron retorts—sixteen in the apparatus shown—are placed in rows alongside and one after another, so as to be swept as uniformly as possible by the fire. As will be seen from Fig. 49 the firing is so arranged that only the upper portions of the retorts are touched by the flames. B is the actual fire-place, and A the ash-pit, both being furnished with closely fitting doors so that the fire may be properly regulated, and the retorts eventually be exclusively heated with gas.

Fig. 49.

The retorts are cylindrical in form, with one end closed. At the open end is fixed the frame or mouth-piece, which carries the door swung on a hinge. The door has a slight projecting rim, some two inches wide, which, with the surface of the frame, is ground perfectly true; on closing, the joint is made gas-tight by a lever arrangement.

The fire-gases escaping from B are distributed as uniformly as possible by the flues, a, carried underneath the pans, E, and finally pass out in the direction of the arrows through a chimney.

At the time when the extraction of fat was exclusively effected by boiling the bones, the pans E served for this purpose, and the spaces D, D₁, D₂, etc., alongside the pans, which were also heated by the fire-gases, were used for drying the bones. However, at present, the extraction of fat is, as a rule, effected by means of benzine or carbon disulphide, and it is advisable to replace the pans, E, by a bonekiln, and eventually to utilize any waste heat for heating the evaporators for glue-liquor.

Fixed to the upper portion of each retort is a pipe, and these pipes lead into a very wide iron-pipe, T. The products of destructive distillation escaping from the retorts combine in T, and besides having a very large diameter, this pipe must be considerably inclined to avoid the accumulation of products of distillation in it. To prevent the products of distillation from depositing in a crystalline form in T, the latter is covered with a bad conductor of heat.

The pipe T is connected with a series of condensing vessels, D, another series of vessels being placed alongside the first one, so that the vapors may be conducted, as desired, into either one of them. Two batteries of such condensing vessels are required, as one of them has from time to time to be disengaged in order to be cleansed.

If the products of distillation would have to overcome the entire pressure of the column of fluid in the condensing vessels, their escape from the retorts would be very much retarded. To avoid this, plates are arranged horizontally a few inches below the level of the fluid, and the pipes dip into the condensing vessels only far enough to permit the escaping vapors to pass under these plates. By this arrangement, the vapors sweep under the plates and are absorbed by the fluids, a strong pressure in the apparatus being thus avoided.

The condensing batteries may of course consist of any number of vessels, but as a rule only a sufficient number to retain all the ammonia is employed, five being in most cases sufficient for this purpose. The last condenser is connected with an exhaust-pump, p p, which is kept in motion by a motor, P.

The pump removes all the bodies remaining in the last condenser and forces them, according to the position of the cock back of the pump, either into a glass-bell or through the pipe H and the nozzles a into the fire-place where they are burned.

To obtain the various products of distillation, the condensing vessels have to be filled with acid, and should therefore be constructed of lead or at least of sheet-iron lined with lead. The products to be obtained depend on the fluid used for filling the vessels; if filled with dilute sulphuric acid, ammonium sulphate is obtained, which may be utilized in the preparation of fertilizers. If hydrochloric acid is employed for the absorption of ammonia, solution of ammonium chloride is obtained, which may be crystallized by evaporation.

The products evolved in the destructive distillation of bones consist of various hydrocarbons and appear either as badly-smelling brown liquors—bone-tar—or as illuminating gas. The vapors contain further considerable quantities of ammonium carbonate and cyanide of ammonium. To obtain the latter, the last condensing vessel is filled with green vitriol solution, the cyanogen compounds remaining behind in the solution. If the gas escaping from the last condenser is to be used for illuminating purposes, it is freed from the greater portion of carbonic acid contained in it by purification with lime.

The mode of operation with Belgian retort furnaces is as follows: The retorts having been filled with comminuted degreased bones, the doors are closed perfectly gas-tight and firing is commenced. The pump is set in motion until a jet of gas blows through the nozzles. When this gas-jet burns with a luminous flame, destructive distillation of the bones is in full blast. The pump is then run with such velocity that the pressure in the interior of the retorts, as indicated by the manometer, is slightly greater than the external air-pressure, and the operation is thus continued so long as inflammable gases escape from the pipe H. The pump is then stopped, and one-half of the charcoal contained in the retorts is withdrawn to the canisters placed ready to receive it. The lids of the canisters are then luted down with a paste of char-dust and water, making an air-tight joint, and the charcoal is allowed to cool.

The retorts having been partially emptied, are at once refilled to the brim with crushed bones and closed gas-tight. There is but little or no loss of heat between withdrawing and charging, and distillation of the freshly-introduced bones commences immediately after charging, and is finished in a much shorter time than in the beginning of the operation.

In making animal charcoal on a large scale there are obtained from 2000 lbs. of raw material:

Animal charcoal, 1180 to 1220 lbs.
Ammoniacal liquor, 178 to 180 lbs.
Gas, 222 to 248 cubic yards.

However, these figures refer only to bones degreased by steaming, whereby a considerable portion of the cartilaginous substance passes into solution in the form of glue. In working bones degreased with benzine, larger yields than those indicated above are as a rule obtained. The ammoniacal liquor contains on an average 10 per cent. of ammonia. The gas freed from carbonic acid yields 2.7 times more light than good coal-gas.

6. PROCESS FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS UTILIZATION OF THE BONES FOR FAT, GLUE AND CALCIUM PHOSPHATE.

This process differs from the one previously described in that, in addition to the total quantity of fat and glue-yielding substance contained in the bones, the mineral salts are also obtained in a pure state, and can be further utilized.

The bones are degreased either by extraction with benzine or carbon disulphide or steaming, the operation in the latter case being continued so long as fat is yielded by the bones. The resulting glue-liquor is used in place of water for boiling the cartilage.

The bones are placed in large wooden vats furnished with well-fitting lids, and hydrochloric acid of 12 per cent. poured over them so that they are covered a few inches deep. With the use of acid of 1.04 specific gravity the greater portion of the salts contained in the bones will pass into solution in 48 to 72 hours, when the solution is drawn off as completely as possible from the vats.

The residue in the vats is treated with less concentrated hydrochloric acid and left in contact with it until the bones are soft and flexible and the thinner pieces have become translucent, this being a proof that all the mineral salts have been extracted, and nothing but pure cartilaginous substance remains behind. The solution is then drawn off, and after pouring repeatedly small quantities of pure water over the cartilage to expel the last remnants of acid liquor, it is subjected to thorough washing until the last traces of acid have been removed.

The resulting cartilage is white, translucent, and water-soaked. If left in this state it would of course soon putrefy, and it is best to work it at once, or if this cannot be done it will have to be treated with carbolic acid in the manner previously described, or dried.

Drying the cartilage is time-consuming work, and can properly be done only by artificial heat in kilns. If carefully protected from moisture, thoroughly dried cartilage may be kept without injury for any length of time. However, before being worked to glue, such material has to be again soaked in water previous to the actual boiling operation, and this process requires considerable time. It is therefore best to preserve it in carbolic acid solution, which only needs to be drawn off when the cartilage is to be worked, and may be further utilized.

If boiled in open vessels with water, 6 to 8 hours are required for the complete disintegration of the cartilage. In a closed apparatus under high pressure solution is effected in a much shorter time and the operation progresses very smoothly. With proper attention the glue obtained from bones degreased with benzine and freed from bone-earth by extraction with hydrochloric acid is, as a rule, very clear, and may be bleached with sulphurous acid.

The extraction of the phosphates from bones may be effected in a very suitable manner as follows: A number of vats filled with bones are placed in terraces one above the other, and the acid is allowed to run first into the uppermost vat. After having been for several hours in contact with the bones it is discharged into the next vat, fresh acid being run into the first one, and so on. By this process a highly concentrated solution of phosphates is in a few hours obtained in the lowest vat, solution still adhering to the bones in the other vats being finally expelled by water.

However, the process of extraction under decreased pressure is the most advantageous, it requiring least time. For this purpose the bones are brought into a vessel which can be closed air-tight and the air is expelled. When but a slight air-pressure prevails in the vessel, the cock of a reservoir filled with hydrochloric acid is opened, the external air-pressure now forcing hydrochloric acid into the extracting vessel.

Bones, as viewed under the microscope, consist of a mass permeated with numerous minute tubes or pores. When the air is expelled from the vessel containing the bones, the air in the pores of the latter is rarefied and the hollow spaces are filled with hydrochloric acid whereby solution of the phosphates is effected.

The yield of glue obtained from cartilage after extraction of the mineral constituents varies according to the compactness of the bones used. Solid and compact bones yield, on an average, 15 per cent. of dry glue, but a comparatively large quantity of calcium phosphate. On the other hand, porous bones rich in cartilage yield from 20 to 25 per cent. of dry glue. The liquor obtained by treating the bones contains, as previously mentioned, calcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate and calcium chloride in solution, and may be utilized in the manufacture of fertilizers or of phosphorus.

For the first purpose which is not very remunerative, but is not very troublesome, the liquor is treated with milk of lime until it is slightly alkaline, whereby a finely divided precipitate of basic calcium phosphate is obtained, whilst calcium chloride remains in solution. The precipitate is allowed to settle, separated from the supernatant fluid and dried. The resulting product contains, on an average, 65 per cent. calcium phosphate, up to 20 per cent. water and 10 to 15 per cent. calcium carbonate, quick lime and accidental impurities. It forms an excellent fertilizer.

If the liquor is to be utilized in the manufacture of phosphorus, it is evaporated in shallow pans of glazed stoneware. In cooling crystals of acid calcium phosphate are formed, which are separated from the mother-liquor. This subject will be more fully referred to in the next chapter.