Other
substances soluble in water behave similarly, but sugar and other
readily crystallizable substances pass through much more readily than
uncrystallizable or difficultly crystallizable. To apply this properly
to the extraction of sugar, the cane is first cut into fine chips, as
already described, and put into the diffusion cells, where water is
applied and the sugar is displaced.
[Illustration: Fig. 1--APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE OF SORGHUM BY THE
DIFFUSION PROCESS.]
THE DIFFUSION BATTERY,
as used at the Parkinson factory, consists of twelve iron tanks. (See
diagram.) They are arranged in a line, as shown in diagram, Fig. 1. Each
has a capacity of seventy-five cubic feet, and by a little packing holds
a ton of cane chips. The cells are supported by brackets near the
middle, which rest on iron joists. Each cell is provided with a heater,
through which the liquid is passed in the operation of the battery. The
cells are so connected by pipes and valves that the liquid can be passed
into the cells, and from cell to cell, at the pleasure of the operator.
The bottom of each cell consists of a door, which closes on an annular
rubber hose placed in a groove, and filled with water, under a pressure
greater than that ever given to the liquids in the cell. This makes a
water tight joint whenever the trap door bottom is drawn up firmly
against it.
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