GB471172A - Improvements in or relating to a process of and apparatus for making soap - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0471172/III/1> In a continuous process for the manufacture of soap, a stream of saponified material is released into a chamber in which a partial vacuum is maintained, glycerine is continuously removed from the chamber as vapour and molten or plastic soap is continuously withdrawn, or the vacuum is maintained by the continuous removal of glycerine vapour whilst the soap is maintained in the molten or plastic condition until its removal. Soap from cottonseed oil must be kept above 455 DEG F. and soap from palm oil or tallow above 518 DEG F., until it is removed from the chamber. As shown, tallow, cottonseed oil, or other glyceride is pumped from a tank 11, and aqueous potash or other saponifying agent from a tank 22, to a mixer 14. The pumps 1, 2 are driven through variable-speed gearing 18 set to deliver the materials in proper proportions. The mixture is saponified under pressure in the coil 4 and the resulting mixture of glycerine, steam, and soap is released through a nozzle 51 into a jacketed chamber 5 connected to barometric condensers 7 for the glycerine and 8 for the steam, and to a small vacuum pump 84. Superheated steam or hot inert gas may be admitted to the chamber 5 at 56. The soap, which is free from water, and is of low glycerine-content, is removed by a pump 6 driven by variable-speed gearing 43, and any desired proportion of water may be mixed with the outflowing soap by a pump 3. The soap is extruded at 97 by a screw-conveyer 94 driven by variable-speed gearing 95, and jacketed for cooling. The pump 6 may be dispensed with. If sufficient water is added to the soap, the extruded bar is a plastic solid, but if the proportion of water is less than about 12 per cent, a friable mass is produced which readily breaks into soap powder. Specification 396,769 is referred to.