Patent GB-411469-A (GB)
Title: Improved arrangements of reaction chambers for the treatment of materials
IPC: B01J19/02
Filed: 1932-12-02
Abstract: The treatment of initially solid materials such as ores, ceramic materials, or inorganic pigments with heated gases having a halogenizing action for recovery of the contained metals as volatile halides or for purification purposes by removal of impurities as volatile halides is effected in a reaction chamber the gas inlet of which is so arranged that the gases pass in a free jet to the material to be treated and form a reaction zone in the material which is separated from the chamber walls by protective zones in which the intensity of the reaction <PICT:0411469/III/1> <PICT:0411469/III/2> <PICT:0411469/III/3> is reduced, the path of the gases from the gas inlet to the reaction zone also being surrounded by protective zones, whereby the walls of the reaction chamber are protected from attack by the heated gases, and may be constructed of ceramic materials such as quartz, sand, clay, or sillimanite.  As shown in Fig. 1, the gases may be supplied through a pipe 16 located in a bell or dome comprising carbon, graphite, or carbides, and a trough shaped reaction zone 20 spaced from the walls be formed in the mass of material, which is supplied through inlet openings 35.  Volatile products escape at 21.  The junction of the bell or dome with the chamber walls is cooled by liquids or gases, and in the form shown cold halogenizing or inert gases are supplied by pipe 30 to cooling chambers 25 and pass through openings 32 to form a protective zone round the jet of hot gases.  A substance such as silica or alumina more resistant to the hot gases than are the chamber walls may be interposed between the latter and the bell or dome.  The reaction chamber may be disposed in a heat-insulating shell.  Advantageously the heating-apparatus for the gases is located on the inside of the bell or dome.  Preferably, as shown in Fig. 3, two graphite pipes 50, 51 mounted respectively in cover plates 150, 151 and carrying loosely at their ends a plate 59 are electrically heated.  The inner pipe may have the higher electrical resistance.  The gas to be heated is supplied from a pipe 71 through pipe 50, through the space between the pipes and through ports 57 in the plate 59, and through ports 74, 73 to the space surrounding pipe 51.  Protecting flanges 60, 61 are provided, and cooling gas is supplied from a pipe 64 and passes through ports 66, 67.  The cover plates are provided with depending flanges 68, 167, which rest on or float in chemically p  inert material carried by recesses in the chamber walls.  Halogen salts such as sodium, potassium, calcium or barium chlorides, or the corresponding fluorides, or mixtures thereof having a low melting point may be used.  In modifications arcs may be struck between adjacent projections on the pipes 50, 51 to enhance the heating effect, or a number of separate pipes be spaced round a circle.  By the means described gases may be heated to temperatures above 1500 DEG  C.  Fig. 7 shows apparatus for continuous working and adapted for selectively volatilizing the constituents of an ore.  Raw material is supplied from hoppers 94 and passes progressively through the chamber along the inclined face 110, residues being discharged at 97.  Heating points 91--93, 193 for the halogenizing gases are stepped sideways and downwardly, and may increase in number from the top to the bottom, so that the temperature rises progressively. Corresponding cooled outlets 99--103 are provided for the volatilized halides.  In section the apparatus may be rectangular, semicircular, elliptical or polygonal, and in a modification, the face 110 is vertically disposed.  Halogenizing gases specified are chlorine, bromine, iodine, and fluorine, their hydrogen compounds, and carbontetrachloride. Using the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the treatment of iron ores with chlorine heated to 2000 DEG  C. with volatilization of iron chloride, and the treatment of beryllium, titanium, zinc, cadmium, mercury, and vanadium ores is referred to. The apparatus shown in Fig. 7 may be used to chlorinate an ore containing iron sulphide and oxide, vanadium, and titanium.  At 91, chlorine is supplied at 300 DEG  C., and iron chloride derived from the sulphide escapes at 99.  At 92 chlorine is supplied at 550--600 DEG  C. and vanadium chloride escapes at 100.  At 93 chlorine is supplied at 800--850 DEG  C., and iron chloride derived from the oxide escapes at 101, 102.  Chlorine is supplied at 193 at 1100 DEG C., and titanium chloride escapes at 103.  The Specification, as open to inspection under Sect. 91, is not limited to the use of halogenizing gases, and reactions employing hydrogen and carbon monoxide are referred to.  This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.