98 



FARMERS' REGISTER, 



[No. 2 



defecation was 2500 litres, (570 jrallons): 22 lbs. 

 of quick lime had been put into the boiler. The 

 precipitation had been tolerably good, but the 

 scum when put into the filter was smeary,* and 

 would not run. Sulpliuric acid diluted with water 

 was then added ia small quantities, until the li- 

 quor indicated but a weak proportion ol' alkali. 



From that moment the blood operated, the 

 juice granulated well, and filtered with great ease 

 and clearness. The Havor was sensibly improved; 

 when put to boil it did not altogether present the 

 same taciiilies as the alkaline syrup, but the proof 

 was obtained without burning. 'Fhe sugar crys- 

 tallized well in the mould, was perl'ectly clear, 

 had no bad taste or smell, and, in short, was infi- 

 nitely superior to that obtained Irom lime alone. 

 The syrup which flowed fro.m this sugar was also 

 well tasted and free from any unpleasant smell, 

 and it was thought, by its strong saccharine fla- 

 vor, to be capable ofcrystallizaiioii when reboiled, 

 which ultimately proved to be correct, as succeeding 

 experiments will show. 



To obtain the above results the enormous quan- 

 tity of two ordinary bottles of sulphuric acid at 

 66'^ was used in the clarification. The follow- 

 ing experiment was made on the same quantity 

 of juice. 



Experiment 2. 



Another boiler was defecated, as in the prece- 

 ding case, with 22 lbs. of quick lime; then precipi- 

 tated and evaporated till the clarification was con- 

 centrated. The only ditl'erence was, that after 

 putting in the lime, the animal charcoal arising 

 from two former charges was added. The juice 

 of this delecation indicated an excess ol" alkali 

 that was nearly neutralized by the diluted sulphu- 

 ric acid. This time, it was imao-iued, that half a 

 bottle of the acid (say 24 to 28 oz.) would be 

 sufficient to render the alkali nearly neuter, where- 

 as in the first experiment 106 or., were required to 

 produce the same eti'ect. This is an enormous 

 difference, and evidently dejiends on the animal 

 charcoal, which acts on the alkalis as an acid, in 

 the detticating process. This mode of applying 

 animal charcoal is important andcuriousjas show- 

 ing, that thougli it had alreeidy acted in a former 

 mstance, it still retained its neutralizing quality, 

 and that the use of it in delecation had reduced the 

 proportion of sulphuric acid to a quarter of that 

 required without the carbon. The suaar was 

 equally good with that of the preceding experi- 

 ment, and the molasses reboUed, capable of an 

 abundant crystallization. 



This experiment was repeated several times, 

 and always with the same results. 



Experiment 3. 



Another boiler was defecated with 22 lbs. of 

 quick lime, as in the preceding cases, with the ad- 

 dition of the acid, only that the quantity this time 

 was not confined to just enough to produce neu- 

 tralization, but to a small portion beyond this. 

 The clarification, notwilhstandiniT, proceeded well. 

 The blood produced its proper effect, and the juice 

 filtered with ease; but in boiling, there was a 

 great head of iioth on the syrup, which it seemed 



* Smeary — a technical term, equivalent to gras, fatty. 



impossible to keep down. In spite of every pre- 

 caution to the contrary, the contents of the cop- 

 per were much burnt. The syrup was drawn 

 from the boiler, and then put into the moulds. 

 These, instead of showing, after cooling, a smooth, 

 solid surface, exhibited only a froth, which did 

 not dry, though the grain formed well enough; and 

 when the moulds were opened some days alter, a 

 pasty, but very fine sugar was discovered, and so 

 smeary, as very imperfectly to purge itself of the 

 molassess. These, mixed with tlie molasses of 

 the preceding experiments, did not alter their agree- 

 able flavor, but deprived them of their jiroperty of 

 reboiling. 



Observe, that in this experiment the excess of 

 acid was very small, and hence may be shown the 

 injury which this agent is capable of producing, 

 when not used in proper quantities. The sugar 

 is most ali'ected by it when at a high temperature; 

 for when cold, it has little or no effect. Much of 

 of the loss and disappointment occurring in cer- 

 tain sugar m.aking establishments have arisen from 

 this source, the not knowmgthe proper proportions 

 of sulphuric acid. 



Experiment 4. 



22 lbs. of lime were applied to 750 gallons of 

 juice, the boiler being at the time at 65" of Reau- 

 mur, (178^ of Fahrenheit); at 70'' (1S<> F.) the 

 scum had coagulated well, and the juice showed 

 by its clearness and easy precipitation, that the 

 proportion of lime was sufiicient. Sulj)huric acid 

 diluted was then added, to neutralize, as much as 

 possible, the excess of the lime; and to effect this 

 completely, the enormous quantity of 4^ kilogram- 

 mes (159 ounces) was found necessary. The ad- 

 dition of the sulphuric acid increased the precipi- 

 tation, and when boiled, the liquor was nearly 

 without scum, and altogether, the defecation was 

 good. Two boilers were thus treated, and their 

 united contents boiled together; the result was per- 

 fecdy satisfactory. The molasses had no bad 

 smell or taste; on the contrary, they aflorded every 

 hope of succeeding, if reboiled, and this was con- 

 firmed by alter experience. 



The results of this experiment being so advan- 

 tageous, it is hardly to be expected they will be 

 materially improved upon; and, accordingl}^, we 

 are told it is the method in conunon use in most of 

 the principal establishments in France. M. Du- 

 brunfiiut has described the various plans pursued 

 by M. M. Chaptal, Dombasle, the Duke of Ra- 

 gusa, and M. Bernard, concluding with his own: the 

 clarification, in this last case, taking place in boilers 

 of 114 gallons, (500 litres,) which is considered 

 by the author as the most convenient size. The 

 boiler being charged, it is heated, and then clarified 

 with lime; when enough of this has been used to 

 make the juice perfectly clear, the temperature 

 may be lOO"^ to 201° (Fahrenheit,^ the lime being 

 applied as recommended, at 178"^. The sulphuric 

 acid is then added, having been diluted with six 

 times its bulk of water. It is appiied in small 

 quantities, stirring briskly each time. Every time 

 that the acid is applied, it will be necessary to ex- 

 amine the juice, which is done in the following 

 manner. The operator should be provided with 

 a spoon and a very white porcelain saucer. On 

 the surface of this saucer, a few drops of syrup 

 of violets should be placed, by means of a small 



