US2572102A - Centrifugal separation of kettle soap - Google Patents

Centrifugal separation of kettle soap Download PDF

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Publication number
US2572102A
US2572102A US774380A US77438047A US2572102A US 2572102 A US2572102 A US 2572102A US 774380 A US774380 A US 774380A US 77438047 A US77438047 A US 77438047A US 2572102 A US2572102 A US 2572102A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
soap
electrolyte
conditioned
mass
kettle
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US774380A
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English (en)
Inventor
John W Bodman
Frederick J Squire
Jr George W Busby
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Lever Brothers Co
Original Assignee
Lever Brothers Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to BE484854D priority Critical patent/BE484854A/xx
Priority to NL75777D priority patent/NL75777C/xx
Application filed by Lever Brothers Co filed Critical Lever Brothers Co
Priority to US774380A priority patent/US2572102A/en
Priority to GB23810/48A priority patent/GB662648A/en
Priority to CH283769D priority patent/CH283769A/fr
Priority to FR971685D priority patent/FR971685A/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2572102A publication Critical patent/US2572102A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D13/00—Making of soap or soap solutions in general; Apparatus therefor
    • C11D13/02—Boiling soap; Refining
    • C11D13/04—Continuous methods therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the manufacture of soap and more particularly to the rapid separation of a batch of kettle soap into neat soap and a nigre or pitch lye.
  • the conventional method of making soap is to boil fats and oils, referred to in the soap making art as glycerides, in large kettles with the requisite amount of caustic soda.
  • This step is usually referred to as the saponification or the killing change inasmuch as most of the glycerides are saponified in this step.
  • a number of further so-called changes are subsequently carried out, during which the saponified materials are washed by means of salt solutions, strong caustic solutions and weak caustic solutions in order to insure a complete saponification of the glycerides and to remove glycerine and excess electrolyte from the soap.
  • These changes have the general purpose of progressively assuring complete saponification of the glycerides and the removal of undesirable materials from the saponified soap product.
  • the finishing operation in the conventional soap making procedure consists in adding a certain amount of water and, if desired, small quantities of lye or salt, to grained soap curd produced by the preceding operations, boiling the mixture of soap curd and water with live steam in a kettle and then allowing the mass to settle so that a neat soap of the desired composition rises to the top and a nigre separates by gravity to the bottom of the kettle.
  • a nigre usually contains an appreciable amount of fatty acids in the form of soap, as well as excess electrolyte, coloring matter, and dirt.
  • the conditioning step which is carried out at or near the boiling temperature of the soap, comprises adding water and, if desired, small quantities of electrolyte, to produce a soap mass having a total fatty acid content of between about 40 and 66%, preferably between about and 59%, by weight of the composition, the electrolyte content being sufficient to maintain the conditioned soap in a homogeneous condition by means of a pump and circulating lines or other mechanical means of agitation.
  • the subsequent step of treating the conditioned soap is carried out by adding to, and mixing with the 'condi-. tioned soap measured amounts of electrolyte sufficient to further reduce the total fatty acid content of the mixture to between about 38 and 62 preferably between about 45 and by weight and then charging it to a centrifuge at a uniform rate of feed.
  • the soap-electrolyte mixture is maintained at a temperature above about F. because at lower temperatures its viscosity would become too great for separation with reasonable efficiency. Optimum efficiency of separation is attained by maintaining the mixture at a temperature between about and 200 F.
  • the electrolyte may be added in the form of a and nigre or lye that is susceptible to efficient separation by the application of centrifugal force, the neat soap and nigre or lye being separated on the light and heavy sides, respectively, of the bowl.
  • a kettle of soap may be finished and settled in a battery of centrifuges at a rate of approximately 2500 pounds of neat soap (63% total fatty acids) per hour per centrifuge, whereas the normal kettle settling process would usually require from 50 to 60 hours per kettle.
  • the proportions of soap removed from the mass in the heavy effluent may be varied from only a trace of fatty acids to amounts up to and sometimes exceeding 35% of the total fatty acids in the soap mass.
  • the ratio electrolyte to soap in the soap-electrolyte mass will determine the constitution of the heavy effluent.
  • the soap that is separated tends to become grained, and the heavy efiluent will be a pitch water or lye containing water, salt, caustic soda, glycerol and relatively small amounts of soap.
  • the heavy effluent is designated as a nigre or a pitch, depending on the amount of soap it contains.
  • the process of this invention is peculiarly adapted to the production of a uniform neat soap.
  • a set of conditions namely, the total fatty acid content and electrolyte content of a conditioned soap, and the amount of electrolyte with which it is subsequently treated, has been found to yield a finished soap of a desired constitution
  • the same conditions can be reproduced in the conditioning and subsequent treatment of other batches of kettle soap, even though they may vary considerably, to produce a uniform grade of finished soap. Since the first two conditions can be determined analytically and the third is quantitative, the personal factor in the final finishing of the soap is effectively eliminated.
  • Figure 1 is a flow sheet illustarting a preferred method of carrying out the process of the invention
  • Figure 2 is a flow sheet illustrating another method of carrying out the process of the invention.
  • Figure 3 is a schematic view of a portion of the equipment illustrated in Figure 2 whereby the process can be carried out with the addition of dry electrolyte.
  • a batch of kettle soap from a change prior to the finishing operation is introduced into a soap relay tank It] in any suitable manner and conditioned by adding a measured quantity of water and, if desired, small amounts of electrolyte, such as salt or caustic.
  • the soap mass so conditioned is boiled with live steam entering tank I by way of line H and is closed thereby so that neither a pitch lye nor a nigre will settle out while the mass is agitated by pump circulation or the like.
  • the conditioned soap mass is withdrawn from the bottom of tank through line l2, passed through a strainer l4 and pumped by means of a positive displacement pump i6 through an insulated circulating line I! and throttle valve It? to be reintroduced into the top of tank [0.
  • the conditioned and circulating soap mass is bled off circulating line If by way of a line that is preferably, but not necessarily, of smaller cross section than circulating line H.
  • the soap mass passing through line 20 enters a positive displacement pump or other metering device 2
  • the conditioned soap and the electrolyte pass from positive displacement pumps 2
  • the conditioned soap and electrolyte are thoroughly mixed in circulating line 31, maintained in'circulating motion by means of centrifugal pump 36 and heated by passage through heat exchanger 39 to maintain it at a temperature of not less than about 180 F. and preferably at between 190 and 200 F.
  • the conditioned soap-electrolyte mixture circulating in circulating line 3? is drawn off at a uniform rate by way of line 52 and introduced into one or more centrifuges '44 after passing through a throttle valve 66.
  • Neat soap is .removed from the light side of the bowl of centrifuge Mi, as shown diagrammaticaly by arrow 41, and a nigre or lye is removed from the heavy side, as shown diagrammatically by arrow 19.
  • the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 likewise includes the introduction of a batch of kettle soap from a change prior to the finishing operation into a soap relay tank l0 and the conditioning of said soap by the addition of a measured quantity of water, and if desired, small amounts of electrolyte such as salt or caustic.
  • the soap mass in tank H1 so conditioned is boiled with live steam entering tank [0 by way of line H and is closed thereby so that neither a pitch lye nor a nigre will settle out while the mass is agitated by pump circulation or the like.
  • the conditioned soap mass is withdrawn from the bottom of the tank [0 through line I 2, passed through a strainer [4 and pumped by means of a centrifugal pump through an insulated circulating line I! into the top of tank In.
  • the conditioned and circulating soap mass is bled off circulating line I! into line 5
  • Valves 52 and 54 may be provided in lines I1 and 55, respectively, to insure a satisfactory rate of circulation through line ll and a constant head on the suction side of pump 51.
  • a predetermined proportion of electrolyte from tank 26 is introduced by way of a second positive displacement pump 59 and line 60 into the mixing and feed funnel 56, the desired proportion of conditioned soap and electrolyte entering funnel 56 being maintained by proper adjustment of the speeds of positive displacement pumps 57 and 59.
  • Funnel 56 is supported by a weight controlling device shown schematically at 6!.
  • the soap-electrolyte mixture from funnel 56 passes through line 62 by way of a centrifugal pump 64 to a mixer and heat exchanger 66 wherein the conditioned soap and electrolyte are thoroughly mixed and maintained at a temperature of not less than about 180 F. and preferably between about 190 and 200 F.
  • the conditioned soap-electrolyte mixture thereupon passes through line 61 at a rate determined by throttle valve 69, which is air actuated and controlled through the medium of a needle valve on the lever arm of weight controlling device 6! to maintain a constant level in funnel 515, and passed into a centrifuge 44 at a uniform rate of feed.
  • Neat soap is removed from source of dry electrolyte 10, shown schematically in Figure 3, is provided to deposit the electrolyte upon a screen H which can be vibrated or shaken in any suitable manner and at a predetermined rate to deposit the desired proportion of dry electrolyte upon a plate 12 from whence it will be guided into funnel 56.
  • multistage, or orifice type of mixer ma be sub stituted for circulating line 31 and centrifugal pump 36 of Figure 1 or the mixer and heat exchanger 66 of Figure 2; and the electrolyte added to the soap mass in tank It! need not be the same as that added to the conditioned soap mass by means of the metering arrangement.
  • the operations described herein may, if desired, be carried out a number of times. the process could first be carriedout so as to separate a grained soap and pitch water or lye, and then the operation may be repeated so as to separate neat soap and a nigre.
  • Example 1 A batch of 8000 lbs. of kettle soap was boiled in a soap relay tank, conditioned by adding 180 lbs. of water, and maintained in a homogeneous state by circulating it through an insulated circulating line by means of a positive displacement pump. The conditioned soap mass was found, upon analysis, to have a total fatty acid content of 58.75% and to contain 0.42% free NazO, 0.23% Cl and 0.28% glycerine. 2910 lbs. per hour of the circulating soap mass were then bled off the Thus, for example, H
  • Example 2 free NazO, 1.42% Cl and 0.83% glycerine. 2186 lbs. per hour of the circulating soap mass were then continuously bled off and passed into a feed funnel mounted on a weight controlling device. An 11.2% aqueous salt solution was .added at a rate of 294 lbs. per hour to the conditioned soap mass in the feed funnel. The conditioned soap and added salt solution were then thoroughly mixed and maintained at a temperature of 190 to 200 F. in a mixer and heat exchanger. The mixture was discharged to a centrifuge at a uniform rate of 2480 lbs. per hour.
  • the neat soap was found to contain 62.28% total fatty acids, .02% of free NazO, 0.65% Cl and 0.49% glycerine.
  • the nigre was found to contain 5.21% total fatty material, 0.32% sodium hydroxide and 11.75% sodium chloride.
  • a process which comprises conditioning a batch of substantially completely saponified kettle soap by adding thereto sufiicient water to reduce the total fatty acid content to from about to about 59% by weight, agitatin said conditioned soap mass to maintain it in a homogeneous condition, withdrawing a continuous stream of said conditioned soap from said mass, adding to said stream of conditioned soap a continuous stream of electrolyte proportioned to said stream of soap to further reduce the total fatty acid content to from about 45 to about by weight, intimately mixing and agitating said soap and said electrolyte, maintaining said mixture at a temperature of about to 200 F., and centrifuging said soap-electrolyte mixture to separate neat soap therefrom.
  • a process which comprises conditioning a batch of substantially completely saponified kettle soap by addin thereto sufficient water to reduce the total fatty acid content to from about 50 to about 59% by weight, agitating said conditioned soap mass to maintain it in a homogeneous condition, withdrawing a continuous stream of said conditioned soap from said mass, adding to said stream of conditioned soap a continuous stream of electrolyte proportimed to said stream of soap to further reduce the total fatty acid content to from about 45 to about 55% by weight, intimately mixing and agitating said soap and said electrolyte, maintaining said mixture at a temperature above about 180 F., and centrifuging said soap-electrolyte mixture to separate neat soap therefrom. 3.
  • a process which comprises conditioning a batch of substantially completely saponified kettle soap by adding thereto sufficient water and electrolyte to reduce the total fatty acid content to from about 50 to about 59% by weight, agitating said conditioned soap mass to maintain it in a homogeneous condition, withdrawing a continuous stream of said conditioned soap from said mass, adding to said stream of conditioned soap a continuous stream of electrolyte proportioned to said stream of soap to further reduce the total fatty acid content to from about 45 to about 55% by weight, intimately .mixing and agitating said soap and said electrolyte, maintaining said mixture at a temperature of about 190 to 200 IT, and centrifuging said soap-electrolyte mixture to separate neat soap therefrom.
  • a process which comprises conditioning a batch of substantially completely saponified kettle soap by adding thereto sufficient Water and electrolyte toreduce the total fatty acid content to from about 50 to about 59% by weight, agitating said conditioned soap mass to maintain it in a homogeneous condition, withdrawing a continuous stream of said conditioned soap from said mass, adding to said stream of conditioned soap a continuous stream of electrolyte proportioned to said stream of soap to further reduce the total fatty acid content to from about 45 to about 55% by weight, intimately mixing and agitating said soap and said electrolyte, maintaining said mixture at a temperature above about 180 F., and centrifuging saidsoapelectrclyte mixture to separate neat soap therefrom.
  • a process which comprises conditioning a batch of substantially completely saponified kettle soap by reducing the total fatty acid content thereof to from about 50 to about 59% by Weight, agitating said conditioned soap mass to maintain it in a homogeneous condition, withdrawing a continuous stream of said conditioned soap from said mass, adding to said stream of conditioned soap a continuous stream of aqueous electrolyte proportioned. to said stream of soap to further reduce the total fatty acid content tofrom about 45 to about 55% r by weight, intimately mixing and agitating said soap and said electrolyte, maintaining said mixture at a temperature above about 180 F., and centrifuging said soap-electrolyte mixture to separate neat soap therefrom.
  • a process which comprises conditioning a batch of substantially completely saponified kettle soap by reducing the total fatty acid content thereof to from about 50 to about 59% by weight, agitating said conditioned soap mass to maintain it me homogeneous condition, withdrawing a continuous stream of said conditioned soap from said mass, adding to said stream of conditioned soap a continuous stream of dry electrolyte proportioned to said stream of soap to further reduce the total fatty acid content to from about to about 55% by weight,v intimately mixing and agitating said soap .and said electrolyte, maintaining said mixture at a temperature above about 180 F., and centrifuging said soap-electrolyte mixture to separate neat soap therefrom.
  • a process which comprises conditioning a batch of substantially completely 'saponified kettle soap by reducing the total fatty acid content thereof to from about 40 to about 66% by weight, agitating said conditioned soap mass to maintain it in a homogeneous condition, withdrawing a continuous stream of said'conditioned soap from said mass, adding to said stream of conditioned soap a continuous stream of electrolyte proportioned to said stream of soap to further reduce the total fatty acid content to from about 58 to about 62% by weight, intimately mixing and agitating said soap and said electrolyte, maintaining said mixture at a temperature above about 180 F., and centrifuging said soap-electrolyte mixture to separate neat soap therefrom.
  • a process which comprises conditioning a batch of substantially completely saponified kettle soap by reducing the total fatty acid content thereof to from about to about 59% by weight, agitating said conditioned soap mass to maintain it in a homogeneous condition, withdrawing a continuous stream of said conditioned soap from said mass, adding to said stream of conditioned soap a continuous stream of electrolyte proportioned to said stream of soap to further reduce the total fatty acid content to from about 45 to about by weight, intimately mixing and agitating said soap and said electrolyte, maintaining said mixture at a temperature above about F., and centrifuging said soap-electrolyte mixture to separate neat soap therefrom.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
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US774380A 1947-09-16 1947-09-16 Centrifugal separation of kettle soap Expired - Lifetime US2572102A (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
BE484854D BE484854A (enrdf_load_html_response) 1947-09-16
NL75777D NL75777C (enrdf_load_html_response) 1947-09-16
US774380A US2572102A (en) 1947-09-16 1947-09-16 Centrifugal separation of kettle soap
GB23810/48A GB662648A (en) 1947-09-16 1948-09-10 Improvements in the manufacture of soap
CH283769D CH283769A (fr) 1947-09-16 1948-09-14 Procédé de finissage du savon de cuve.
FR971685D FR971685A (fr) 1947-09-16 1948-09-15 Perfectionnements à la fabrication de savon

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US774380A US2572102A (en) 1947-09-16 1947-09-16 Centrifugal separation of kettle soap

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US2572102A true US2572102A (en) 1951-10-23

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US774380A Expired - Lifetime US2572102A (en) 1947-09-16 1947-09-16 Centrifugal separation of kettle soap

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US (1) US2572102A (enrdf_load_html_response)
BE (1) BE484854A (enrdf_load_html_response)
CH (1) CH283769A (enrdf_load_html_response)
FR (1) FR971685A (enrdf_load_html_response)
GB (1) GB662648A (enrdf_load_html_response)
NL (1) NL75777C (enrdf_load_html_response)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2852347A (en) * 1949-12-23 1958-09-16 Separator Ab Apparatus for continuous soapmaking

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2300751A (en) * 1941-11-04 1942-11-03 Sharples Corp Manufacture of soap
US2300750A (en) * 1940-05-10 1942-11-03 Sharples Corp Manufacture of soap
US2300749A (en) * 1939-06-29 1942-11-03 Sharples Corp Manufacture of soap
US2348855A (en) * 1940-05-06 1944-05-16 Sharples Corp Manufacture of soap

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2300749A (en) * 1939-06-29 1942-11-03 Sharples Corp Manufacture of soap
GB549387A (en) * 1939-06-29 1942-11-19 Sharples Corp Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of soap
US2348855A (en) * 1940-05-06 1944-05-16 Sharples Corp Manufacture of soap
US2300750A (en) * 1940-05-10 1942-11-03 Sharples Corp Manufacture of soap
US2300751A (en) * 1941-11-04 1942-11-03 Sharples Corp Manufacture of soap

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2852347A (en) * 1949-12-23 1958-09-16 Separator Ab Apparatus for continuous soapmaking

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CH283769A (fr) 1952-06-30
FR971685A (fr) 1951-01-19
NL75777C (enrdf_load_html_response)
BE484854A (enrdf_load_html_response)
GB662648A (en) 1951-12-12

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