Phosphoric acid.--It is sometimes advisable to apply a form of
phosphoric acid as a clarifying and precipitating agent after the
lime. This may be used in various forms depending upon the individual
desires of the operator.
The compound usually found on the market may consist of one of the
following (or a combination of them):
H3PO4 (ortho phosphoric acid).
CaH4(PO4)2 (mono-calcium phosphate).
Ca2H2(PO4)2 (dicalcium phosphate).
Na2HPO4 (sodium phosphate).
The sodium phosphate contains very little acidity, and the main
purpose of its use is based on the principle that the sodium is
readily given up for any soluble calcium that may be present. This
forms the insoluble calcium phosphate, which is easily removed as
a precipitate or filtered off. The "Reserve Factory" in Louisiana
has been using this reagent in their clarification for a long time,
where a very good grade of granulated sugar is made.
Besides these forms of phosphorous, various compounds may be found
on the market, under trade names, which have as their base the above
acid. "Clariphos" is one of these compounds, which has found extensive
use in many of the Louisiana sugar factories.
Another is known as "phospho-gelose," which is a combination
of dicalcium phosphate Ca2H2(PO4)2 and infusorial silica. It is a
patented preparation and is made by the absorption of phosphoric acid
by a powdery compound known as "Kieselguhr." After the absorption,
the compound is heated to expel the water, and then resaturated. This
work is repeated several times until the finished product, which is
very hydroscopic, contains about 25 per cent of phosphoric acid.
Kieselguhr.--This is a fine light powder containing a high percentage
of silica. It is used purely for its mechanical effect in forming
particles upon which the impurities may collect, and thus be more
readily carried to the bottom. This material often prolongs the
workings of the filter presses by collecting the gummy material,
which would otherwise gather on the filter cloths. Kieselguhr was
used in the beet-sugar industry of Europe many years ago, and is
extensively used now for the same purpose in the United States.
Hydrosulphites.--These are preparations of great bleaching power,
found on the market under various trade names. One of these, widely
used in the United States, in both the beet and cane-sugar industries,
is known as "Blankit." This is dehydrated sodium hydrosulphite with
the chemical formula, Na2S2O4. It has a much greater bleaching and
reducing action than sulphurous acid, and oxydizes very readily in
combination with moisture, forming sulphate. On this account it is
well to purchase the reagent in small parcels for this climate, and
to carefully guard the stored material from moisture. This substance,
which is a white powder, dissolves very easily in water, forming an
alkaline liquid, although this point is sometimes hard to distinguish
on account of hydrogen atoms liberated.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account