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-- GCASTOR-OIL INDUSTRY. se Ss 18 
tities of moisture are present. These quantities vary with the 
character of the material as well as with the way in which the 
moisture is held, that is, whether or not the moisture is internal and 
evenly distributed throughout the Kernels or oil-bearing particles, on 
the one hand, or whether, on the other hand, the moisture is distrib- 
uted over the surfaces of the particles. 
To obtain the former condition, the beans are heated in an atmos- 
phere highly charged with moisture in order to prevent drying out, 
while in the latter case they should be heated in a dry atmosphere 
vith ample facilities for the removal of moisture. In order, then, to 
add the proper amount of moisture for optimum crushing conditions, 
a jet of live steam should play into the descending current of material 
just before it enters the expeller. Such operation has the added 
advantage of (1) increasing the quantity of oil obtained and (2) 
securing the economical advantage of using the latent heat of steam 
to effect the heating of the beans just previous to their delivery to 
the expellers, thus economizing in the heating operation. Such pro- 
cedure, of course, gives a dry interior to the oleaginous material and 
a wet surface. 
With further application to improved castor-bean technology, it 
is evident that this drying effect on the beans would improve and 
greatly simplify decortication by es the seed coats more 
easily separated from the kernels. 
The heaters are located close to the presses in order to prevent loss 
of heat and to avoid heating the beans for a longer time and to a 
higher temperature than is absolutely necessary. The lower the 
temperature to which the beans are subjected and the less the 
moisture in the oil, the better is the finished product. Heat darkens 
the oil and siieaie increases the acidity. 
PRESSING. 
In the past, plate presses and cloths were used for castor-bean 
crushing. On account, however, of the nonfibrous character of the 
beans with their attendant property of ‘“‘creeping’’ under pressure, 
the cloths would break and the meats would squeeze out. When 
castor beans are crushed in such hydraulic presses to give a cold- 
drawn oil, it is stated that a yield of about 17 pounds of oil to the 
bushel is obtamed. Regrinding the cake and heating to 180° to 
200° F. for a second pressing yields an additional 3 pounds of oil, 
leaving about 5.5 per cent of oil m the cake. These figures probably 
refer to the 46-pound bushel, but the quality of the oil is not up to 
that from cage presses or expellers. Pressures great enough to yield 
17 pounds of No. 1 oil per 46-pound bushel are lable to mtroduce 
objectionable, impurities. However, with pressure sufficient to yield 
16 pounds of No. 1 oil, this oi! need not be discounted. | 
