weak alcohol ; an abundant precipitate then forms. These bases serve to expel the 

 ammonia and prevent acidity toward' the boiling. The vessel in which I operate is 

 provided with a worm which allows of heating by steam. Upon heating, the ammo- 

 nia is expelled and drawn along by the alcoholic vapors, and passes into a recipient 

 containing alcohol acidulated by sulphuric acid or sulphate of alumina. The ammo- 

 nia condenses and forms a useful product, and the alcoholic vapors pass into a re- 

 frigerator to become condensed into a liquid state. This operation being finished, I 

 remove the base in excess and at the same time decompose, by a suitable acid or by 

 a current of carbonic acid, the small quantity of saccharine matter produced. I 

 separate the deposit, and pour the clear liquid in a separate boiler heated by steam, 

 which boiler serves at the same time as an evaporating apparatus and an alembic, 

 so that the alcohol is condensed for a subsequent operation, and the saccharine mat- 

 ter is concentrated into a syrup, which may then either be boiled or submitted to 

 the ordinary process of clarification, and also to that of filtration, when it is freed 

 from alcohol at about thirty degrees Banine", in case its nature does not permit of 

 avoiding this manipulation. 



All the operations are performed in closed vessels. The precipitates are separated 

 by decantation. If the precipitates are light and voluminous, I accelerate their de- 

 posit by adding, a short time after they are formed, a body coagulable in alcohol, 

 such as albumen or gelatine, which bodies are capable of drawing all the particles 

 in suspension into a perfectly coherent deposit. When a sufficient quantity of the 

 deposits is accumulated in a vessel they are washed with strong alcohol to separate 

 from them the sugar with which they are impregnated, then the alcohol is expelled 

 by heat, before the deposits are passed off through an opening made for that purpose, 

 When I employ carbonic acid, to avoid the loss of alcohol, I cause the acid to be 

 absorbed by a base as it escapes from the liquid. This mode of operating permits 

 the employment of animal black in its most efficient state, namely, when new and in 

 fine powder. For this purpose it is necessary to add it to the sirup, which permits it 

 to act before the alcohol, by which it is precipitated with all the impurities. 



The means adopted for condensing the alcohol should be such as to allow of a rapid 

 evaporation of the liquids, and prevent a large quantity of alcohol being used with- 

 out having to employ various epurating agents, as herein stated. By means of 

 alcohol and lime, a sugar of great whiteness may be obtained from beetroot. For 

 this purpose it is necessary to introduce linie in excess into the liquid separated from 

 the deposit formed by the alcohol, then to boil, condense the ammonia and alcoholic 

 vapours, as before described, afterwards to neutralize the excess of base, separate 

 the deposit, evaporate, and boil. Instead of adding the lime to the alcoholic solu- 

 tion, it may be added to the sirup at 27 to 30 Baum6 after the evaporation of the 

 alcohol; I then clarify, filter, and boil. It will be easily understood from the 

 above description, that the principle on which this invention is based is the em- 

 ployment of any liquid dissolving sugar without deteriorating its saccharine prop- 

 erties, and in which the solubility of the matters in combination is modified; and 

 also the employment of any body forming m such dissolving liquid an insoluble 

 compound with one of the foreign elements of the sugar, and easy of elimination. 



Having thus described the nature of the invention communicated to me, and the 

 manner in which the same is to be performed, I would observe, in conclusion, that I 

 do not confine myself to the precise agents herein named, but what I claim and de- 

 sire to secure by letters patent is, the application to the treatment of saccharine 

 fluids of alcohol and agents capable of effecting in conjunction with alcohol the 

 elimination of mineral or organic matters which are mixed with the sugar in the 

 juices of sacchariferous plants, as hereinbefore described. 



In witness whereof, I, the said William Annand Gilbee, have hereunto set my 

 hand and seal, this twenty- second day of September, one thousand eight hundred 

 and fifty-eight. 



[L. .] W. A. GlLBEB. 



