i.v-1- CANDLE 



the glycerine is decomposed, largo volumes of sulphurous acid are given off, and the fat 

 is changed into a mixture of fat acids, with a very high melting point. This is 

 washed, to free it from charred matter and adhering sulphuric acid, and is then 

 transferred into a still, from which the air is excluded by moans of steam. The 

 steam used by us is heated in a series of pipes similar to those used in the hot-blast 

 apparatus in the manufacture of iron, the object of heating the steam being only to 

 save the still, and reduce to a small extent gaseous loss in distillation.' ' We still,' 

 says the patentee, ' employ this process, and in some cases reduce the quantity of acid 

 employed to 4 Ibs., and even 3 Ibs., to a cwt. of the fat.' 



Vegetable tallow melts at a degree of heat somewhat above that of animal tallow, 

 but considerably below that of vegetable wax. Mr. Wilson treats his tallow by 

 putting 6 tons of it into an iron still capable of holding 9 tons, heats it gradually 

 to 350 F., and then adds gradually 1,440 Ibs. of sulphuric acid of 1'8 specific gravity. 

 At the expiration of about 2 hours, the tallow is pumped into a vessel, containing 

 water slightly acidulated with sulphuric acid ; and is therein agitated by free steam 

 passing through it for 2 hours. The materials are then loft to repose for 6 hours ; 

 both these vessels, and the former, should be provided with a cover and a means of 

 conveying the gases which may be evolved into a chimney. The vegetable tallow is 

 next distilled in such a manner that the atmosphere is excluded. This is best effected 

 by the use of steam highly heated, which he introduces into the still, in numerous 

 jets below the tallow. The distilled products are received into condensers, and they 

 may be used alone, or they may be mixed with other matters for making the best 

 class of candles. The patentee improves paraffine by a like process. He makes candles 

 with 2 or 3 wicks, by mixing palm-oil pressed with tallow, or the above distilled fat, 

 for burning in candle lamps. 



In 1854, Mr. Tighlman obtained a patent for the exposure of fats and oils to the 

 action of water at a high temperature, and under great pressure in order to cause the 

 combination of the water with the elements of the neutral fats ; so as to produce at 

 the same time free fat acid and solution of glycerine. See GLYCERINE. 



Ho proposed to effect this by pumping a mixture of fat and water, by means of a 

 force-pump, through a coil of pipe heated to about 612 F., kept under a pressure of 

 about 2,000 Ibs. to the square inch ; and he states that the vessel must be closed, so 

 that the requisite amount of pressure may be applied to prevent the conversion of 

 water into steam. Mr. Wilson improved upon this process, by passing steam into 

 fat at a high temperature ; and by this process hundreds of tons of palm-oil are now 

 treated. The glycerine and fat distil over together, but no longer combined ; and the 

 former, being separated, is subjected to a redistillation, by which it is purified. This 

 distillation is effected by transmitting through the fat contained in an iron still, steam 

 at about 600 or 700 F., heated by passing through iron pipes laid in a fire. The 

 steam is transmitted till the oily matter is heated to about 350 ; the vapours pro- 

 duced being carried into a high shaft by a pipe from the cover of the iron vessel. 

 The hot oily matter is then run into another vessel made of brick lined with lead, and 

 sunk in the ground, for the purpose of supporting the brick-work under or against the 

 internal pressure of the fluid. It has a wooden cover lined with lead, directly beneath 

 which, and extending across the vessel, is a leaden pipe, 1 inch in diameter, having a 

 small hole on each side, at every 6 inches of its length ; and through this pipe is intro- 

 duced a mixture of 1,000 Ibs. of sulphuric acid, specific gravity 1'8, and the same weight 

 of water. The introduction of the mixture, which falls in divided jets into the heated 

 fat, produces violent ebullition ; and by this means the acid and fat are perfectly 

 incorporated before the action of the acid becomes apparent by any considerable 

 discolouration of the fat. As the ebullition ceases, the fat gradually blackens ; and the 

 matter is allowed to remain for 6 hours after the violent ebullition has ceased. The 

 offensive fumes produced are carried off by a large pipe, which rises from the top of 

 the vessel, then descends, and afterwards rises again into a high chimney. At the 

 downward part of this pipe a small jet of water is kept playing, to condense such 

 parts of the vapours as are condensable. At the end of the six hours above mentioned, 

 the operation is complete, and the product is then pumped into another close vessel 

 and washed, by being boiled up (by means of free steam) with half its bulk of water. 

 The water is drained off, and the washing repeated, except that in the second washing 

 the water is acidulated with 100 Ibs. of sulphuric acid. The ultimate product is 

 allowed to settle for 24 hours ; after which it is distilled in an atmosphere of steam 

 once, or oftoner until well purified ; and the product of distillation is again 

 washed, and after being pressed in the solid state, is applied to the manufacture of 

 candles. 



The following definitions of terms applied to candles are by Mr. Wilson : 



Belmont Sperm. Made of hot-pressed, distilled palm-acid. 



Belmont Wax. The same material, tinged with gamboge. 



