GB345249A - Improvements in the extraction of organic substances - Google Patents

Abstract

Organic substances of high molecular weight such as sugars, alkaloids, saponins, and bitter principles are extracted from dried animal or vegetable materials such as plants, fruit, seeds, animal organs, &c., by treatment with anhydrous or substantially anhydrous liquid ammonia. The process is specially suitable for extracting sugars from materials already in the dry state, for example, dry carob beans. The ammonia employed may contain up to 10 per cent of moisture. According to examples (1) dried slices of sugar beet are extracted at 20 DEG C. with liquid ammonia under a pressure of 8 atmospheres. The solution containing the sugar thus obtained is purified, for example, with decolouring carbon, and the ammonia is allowed to evaporate leaving crystalline cane sugar. The residue of the beet, in which the organic acids have been converted to their ammonium salts, is suitable as a food for animals. (2) By extracting tobacco leaves with liquid ammonia at 20 DEG C. and 8 atmospheres pressure, a mixture of nicotine with unknown resinous substances is obtained. (3) Shredded beans of lupines are treated with liquid ammonia. On spraying the solution into a vessel kept at a pressure below atmospheric, a product rich in lupinine is obtained. The extraction residue is suitable as a food for cattle. (4) A pure saponin is extracted from Quillaja bark by means of liquid ammonia. (5) Roasted and ground coffee beans are extracted with liquid ammonia in a diffusion apparatus such as is employed for leaching sugar from beet. The alkaloids and flavours are dissolved, and on evaporating the ammonia a water-soluble extract is obtained. (6) Dry St. John's bread is leached with liquid ammonia in a series of diffusion vessels, and a concentrated solution of the sugar contained therein is obtained. The ammonia is evaporated and the sugars are bleached and purified, for example, by treatment with decolourizing carbon following the addition of some water and the neutralization of any traces of ammonia left. (7) Dry Spanish flies (cantharis vesicatoria) are extracted with liquid ammonia. By evaporating the ammonia an extract is obtained which may be employed instead of the dry powdered flies for pharmaceutical purposes. (8) Dried milk is extracted with liquid ammonia, the extract on evaporation yielding the whole sugars of milk, and the residue being free from sugars.ALSO:The residue obtained after extracting the sugar from dried slices of sugar beet by means of liquid anhydrous or practically anhydrous ammonia at 20 DEG C. and 8 atmospheres pressure is used as a food for animals. Lupinine &c. is extracted from shredded beans of lupines by means of liquid ammonia, and the residue which is free from bitterness is also used as a cattle food.ALSO:Organic substances of high molecular weight such as sugars, alkaloids, saponins and bitter principles are extracted from dried animal or vegetable materials such as plants, fruit, seeds, animal organs, &c. by treatment with anhydrous or substantially anhydrous liquid ammonia. The process is especially suitable for extracting sugars from materials already in the dry state, for example, dry carob beans. The ammonia employed may contain up to 10 per cent of moisture. According to examples (1) dried slices of sugar beet are extracted at 20 DEG C. with liquid ammonia under a pressure of 8 atmospheres. The solution containing the sugar thus obtained is purified, for example, with decolourizing carbon, and the ammonia is allowed to evaporate leaving crystalline cane sugar. (2) By extracting tobacco leaves with liquid ammonia at 20 DEG C. and under 8 atmospheres pressure, a mixture of nicotine with unknown resinous substances is obtained. (3) Shredded beans of lupines are treated with liquid ammonia. On spraying the solution into a vessel kept at a pressure below atmospheric, a product rich in lupinine is obtained. (4) A pure saponin is extracted from Quillaja bark by means of liquid ammonia. (5) Roasted and ground coffee beans are extracted with liquid ammonia in a diffusion apparatus such as is employed in leaching sugar from beet. The alkaloids and flavours are dissolved, and on evaporating the ammonia a water-soluble extract is obtained. (6) Dry St. John's bread is leached with liquid ammonia in a series of diffusion vessels, and a concentrated solution of the sugars contained therein is obtained. The ammonia is evaporated and the sugars are bleached and purified, for example, by treatment with decolourizing carbon following the addition of some water and the neutralization of any traces of ammonia left. (7) Dry spanish flies (Cantharis vesicatoria) are extracted with liquid ammonia. By evaporating the ammonia an extract is obtained which may be used for pharmaceutical purposes. (8) Dry milk is extracted with liquid ammonia, the extract on evaporation yielding the whole sugars of milk, and the residue being free from sugars.