US906098A - Sterilization of grain by fumigation. - Google Patents

Description

To all whom it may concern:

JACOB BLOOH, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

STERILIZATION OF GRAIN BY FUMIGATION.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

Application filed February 7, 1908. Serial No. 414,834.

Be it known that I, JAooB BLOCH, merchant, a subject of the German Emperor, and a resident of Berlin, Germany, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in the Sterilization of Grain by Fumigation, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to an improved process of treating grain, more especially wheat, barley and oats, for the purpose of destroying the blight and other parasitic fungi adhering to it.

According to most prior processes the rain is treated with liquids, more articuarly with a solution ofco per vitrio which is, for instance, spraye over the grain. Such processes, however, possess numerous disadvantages; for the li uid acts very irregularly, many of the individual grains being inadequately acted upon, so that the spores are not completely annihilated. Furt ermore, the after-drying of the treated material is attended with much trouble and expense and the workmen, moreover, are exposed to the injurious action of the vitriol or other solution used. Again, mixtures of sulfur, saltpeter and carbonaceous substances have been burned for the purpose of bleaching the grain, in order to impart to old grain a fresher appearance. There has, however, been no intention here of destroying pathogenic spores, nor could this be accomplished,

since by combination of the said substances the only gaseous products that result are carbon oxid, carbon dioxid and nitro en, 7 e. gases hardly exerting a sterilizing e ect. According to the present invention, on the contrary, the grain is inclosed on all sides, an is there under a temperature of about 60 centigrade subjected -to the action of previously in a suitably manner developed fumes of a powder substantiallyconsisting of 18 parts sulfur, 15 parts saltpeter, 15 parts sal-ammoniac, 15 parts colophony and 15 parts copper vitriol.

necessary in prior apparatuses.

laced in a chamber In this manner the parasitic spores on the grain will be annihilated, without, however, the germinating ower of the grain being injuriously affected In the well-known fumigatin process the temperature is only inconsidera ly elevated, the apparatus is not thoroughly closed, and the grains themselves are not heated to any great extent. In my process, on the other hand, it is of the utmost importance that the temperature be sufficiently raised to about 60 centigrade, so as to completely vaporize the less volatile ingredients of the mixture.

The higher temperature is of essential influence upon the efficiency .of the whole process. The grains sweat and thus the active agent adheres the better; but at the same time the degreeof humidity is not such as would call for special drying after the fumigation. The high temperature in itself, moreover, greatly aids in the annihilation of the spores.

Uniform action is promoted by the walls, joints etc. of the a paratus being made with a closer fit than as been customary or In this manner, too, the esca e from the apparatus of fumes injurious to t e health of the workmen is prevented, even after long use-of the contrivance.

. Havin thus described my invention, I declare t at what I claim as new is The process of fumigating rain, consisting in submitting the latter to f imes generated from a mixture containing substantially 18 parts sulfur, 15 parts saltpeter, '15 parts colophony, 15 parts sal-ammoniac and 15 parts JACOB BLOCH.

Witnesses:

. HENRY HASPER,

WOLDEMAR HAUcrr.