Patent GB-827523-A (GB)
Title: New organic copper compounds and solutions and mixtures containing the same, and processes for the preparation of such compounds
Inventor: PEROLD IZAK STEPHANUS
IPC: C05D9/02
Filed: 1957-03-27
Abstract: A new water-soluble alkali metal (or ammonium) copper tartrate complex compound having the probable formula <FORM:0827523/IV (b)/1> wherein R is the alkali metal or ammonium cation is obtained by the de-ionizing or deactivating of copper (Cu) from copper sulphate or other known copper salt or compound by causing the said salt or compound to react with tartaric acid in the presence of water and of sodium hydroxide or other alkali metal hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide so as to form in solution the alkali metal (or ammonium) copper tartrate complex compound.  The complex may be recovered by crystallizing out from the solution or by evaporating the solution to dryness and is of greenish-blue crystalline form.  When copper sulphate is used in the preparation 6 gram-molecules of alkali and 2 gram molecules of tartaric acid are required per gram atom of copper and in this case a gram molecule of alkali sulphate is also formed but this need not be removed from the complex.  Other copper compounds which may be used are the chloride, nitrate, carbonate, hydroxide, oxide and (to a lesser extent) phosphate of copper.  An example is given in which finely divided solid sodium hydroxide (6 mols.) is added to a stirred aqueous solution of tartaric acid (2 mols.) (or the tartaric acid is added carefully to a stirred aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide) and 1 mol. of powdered copper sulphate is added carefully to the hot solution the copper tartrate complex (together with sodium sulphate) being then recovered by evaporating the solution to dryness at 100 DEG  C. to 120 DEG  C.  The complex may be added to a suitable pre-selected medium or solvent to provide a composition which will enable copper to be readily assimilated by plants or animals (see Groups I and VI).ALSO:A composition suitable for application to the soil comprises a mixture of a water-soluble alkali metal (or ammonium) copper tartrate complex with suitable solvent or medium, e.g. irrigation water, soil or a fertilizer e.g. superphosphate, the said complex being obtained by reacting copper sulphate or other known copper salt or compound with tartaric acid in the presence of water and of an alkali metal (or ammonium) hydroxide (see Group IV(b)).  The composition may additionally contain either or both of the alkali metal (or ammonium) cobalt citrate complexes disclosed in Specification 827,522 and/or the alkali metal (or ammonium) copper citrate complex disclosed in Specification 827,521.ALSO:A composition serving as a source of copper for correcting copper deficiencies in animals (including humans) or other living organisms comprises a solution or mixture of a water-soluble alkali metal (or ammonium) copper tartrate complex, the solution or mixture being obtained by adding a predetermined quantity of the complex to a medium or solvent which will serve as a vehicle for the complex without interfering with the assimilation or utilization of copper by the organism, the said complex being obtained by reacting copper sulphate or other known copper salt or compound with tartaric acid in the presence of water and of an alkali metal (or ammonium) hydroxide (see Group IV (b)).  The medium used for the composition may be one from which the living organism draws or is intended to draw sustenance or nutrition, e.g. drinking water in the case of animals.  The drinking water for animals may suitably contain from 7.5 to 25 grams of the complex per 1000 litres of water.  The composition may additionally contain either or both of the cobalt citrate complexes disclosed in Specification 827,522 and/or the copper citrate complex disclosed in Specification 827,521.