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Previous Next The best candle and soap tips online! TECHNICAL TREATISE ON SOAP AND CANDLES. NEW SOAPS BY NEW METHODS. 349 the two together, for which they took out a patent in 1865. Their process consists in agitating the saponifiable materials with caustic or carbonated alkalies in solution in water in a closed vessel while under heat and pressure, in such a manner as to cause a thorough mixing of the fats with the alkaline solution, and producing an instantaneous combination of the fatty acids with the base of the alkaline solution. We suppose a quantity of fatty matter inclosed in a vessel with a solution of carbonate of soda in water, and heat applied to produce a pressure of 220 to 280 pounds per square inch,and a temperature of 176.6° to 204.4° C. (350° to 400° F.)i A combination between the fatty acids and the soda of the solution will take place only at the upper surface of the solution when in contact with the under surface of the grease, the heavy lye occupying the lower part of the vessel, and soap will only be produced when the fat and alkali unite. If we now agitate in such a manner as to stir together and thoroughly mix the contents of the vessel, the whole will be instantly converted into a homogeneous and even quality of soap. It is advisable to use no more water than is wanted in the soap. The inventors use a boiler or cylinder similar in shape to a plain cylinder steam boiler, resting horizontally and heated in any convenient manner; one or both heads of the cylinder is made so as to be removable, and is about the full size of the inner diameter of the cylinder, so as to admit of the insertion of a revolving shaft a a a (Fig. 61), which should be as long as the cylinder itself. The bearings of this shaft should be in the centre of the cylinder, and either or both ends worked through a stuffing box c, for the convenience of applying to the pulley h, power to revolve the shaft. On the shaft are fastened arms g g, with floats /, or stirrers, extending nearly to the sides of the cylinder; the arms, floats, or agitators on one side of the shaft when revolved carry the fat down into the alkali, while the agitators on the other side carry the alkali up into the fat, thus, while under heat and pressure, thoroughly mixing the wThole and causing the conversion of the whole contents of the vessel instantly into a uniform, even, and good quality of soap. At the fire end of the cylinder are placed two safety valves, one e, on the top of the cylinder, the other d, on an outlet pipe inserted in the head of the cylinder; the}- also use'a mercury balh k, of about four inches in length of gas pipe, and which is screwed into the boiler or cylinder in any convenient place for the insertion of the thermometer bulb. At the opposite end of the cylinder is an opening r, for the insertion of a supply pipe; at the fire end is also an opening I, for the insertion of a second outlet pipe, and which is intended to be used only when it is desired to draw oft' the whole contents of the cylinder. The contents of the cylinder when operated upon should be subjected to a pressure of about 220 to 280 lbs. per square inch, and under a heat of about 176.6° to 201.4° C. (350° to 400° F.). When the shaft is revolved, all of the ingredients in every part of the cylinder are immediately and thoroughly mixed, and the same will take place by means of any other revolving machiuery. Perfect saponification is at once effected, and the soap produced is of uniform and good quality. When the machinery is first put in operation, it is necessary to allow some carbonic acid gas to escape by one of the safety valves, if carbonate of soda is used, in order to prevent undue pressure by the liberation of the carbonic acid when combination of the fatty acids with the alkali takes place. If any of the liquids be allowed to escape before the temperature reaches 162.7° to 190.5° C. (325° to 375° F.), they should be returned to the cylinder. The safety valve on the outlet pipe d, may be so loaded as to allow an escape of soap at a pressure of 250 to 270 lbs., and a quantity of lye and oil may be pumped in at the opposite end, the agitation by the revolving shaft being still kept up, and thus a continual stream of soap is kept up as long as the feeding is continued. The product may then be prepared for market by the cooling, moulding, and cutting processes in ordinary use. By this process the soap is made in less than one hour from the time the ingredients are introduced into the boiler, 350 Previous Next
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