944 



SUGAR 



or mats, as the case may be, and discharged through a grating in the floor into a 

 copper pan, about 8 feet in diameter. This dissolving pan is sometimes, although 

 incorrectly, called ' a defecator,' it was formerly called ' a blow-up,' from the practice of 

 blowing steam into it, but the practice and the name are now antiquated. Hot water 

 is added, and the solution is facilitated by the action of an agitator, or stirrer, kept 

 in motion by the steam-engine. The proportions of sugar and water are regulated so 

 that the liquid attains a specific gravity of about 1 '250, or 29 Beaume, as a higher 

 density than this would interfere with subsequent processes. A copper coil or 

 casing to the pan, heated by steam, furnishes the means of raising the liquid to a 



1930 



temperature of 165. The plan of boiling the ' liquor ' is becoming gradually dis- 

 used. If the solution is acid, sufficient lime-water is added to make it neutral. The 

 use of blood, which was formerly added at this stage, is in most cases dispensed with ; 

 the advantage arising from its use is readily obtained from the employment of an 

 increased amount of animal-charcoal in a subsequent process, while the mischief 

 arising from the introduction of nitrogenous matter so prone to decompose is avoided. 

 Some machipery is used for crushing the hard lumps to facilitate solution. 



Removal of insoluble matter. The liquor having been brought to the requisite 

 density and temperature, and also being perfectly neutral, is passed through the bag- 

 filter. 



The apparatus consists of an upright square iron or copper case, a, a, fig. 1931, about 



