Casein: Anon. (Sci. Amer. cx, No. 11, 227.)

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1914
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 68 KB
• Volume: 178
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0016-0032
• DOI: 10.1016/s0016-0032(14)90803-1

✦ Synopsis

H. Hunt, of St. Etienne, France, forwards an interesting report on some recent notable developments in the production and industrial uses of casein. Casein, the principal albuminoid matter of milk, is now obtained by electrolysis, according to the following recently invented process: In the middle of a large vat of skimmed milk, heated to 8o ° C., there is placed a porous vessel containing a 5 per cent. solution of sodium hydroxide; an iron cathode is plunged in the soda and a carbon anode in the milk. An electric current set~ free the phosphoric acid contained in the milk, and the casein precipitates. As compared with the method of obtaining casein by the use of acids or rennet, the cost of this process is very low, the yield is greater, and the casein produced contains no foreign ingredients. Vegetable casein, now produced on a large scale from the soya bean, can be put to the same uses as animal casein. The principal use of casein is in the manufacture of galalith (milk-stone), used as a substitute for ivory, tortoise-shell, celluloid, etc. Penholders, frames, purses, phonograph discs, and a great variety of other articles are nOW made of galalith. It is also used as a chemical fertilizer. Several other casein products have recently been introduced.