Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-09
HOW SODA IS MADE.
NEARLY ALL OUR SUPPLY OBTAINED
INDIRECTLY FROM SALT.
A Description of the Methods Employed
at the FuTnace-AbatinS q Nuisance.
Profit In q Waste Product-Washing
Soda-Tha Common Ricarbonata.

| of these compounds occur in many parts OF
| the earth, it has been found more profitable
and more desirable to manufacture them,
oven Though the process is a long and COM
plicated one, rather than to merely mine and
purify the materials. Among the more inn
portant localities where they are found native
may be mentioned the soda lakes of Egypt
and Central Africa, the borders of the Cas-
plan and Black seas, In California, Mexico
and many parts of South America. The
crude soda coming from the different places
goes under various names as Tro Ma, Natron,
| Urao, &c.
Another source Of supply is the ashes OF
sea weeds and of plants growing on the coast.
The sea weeds are collected by the inhabi-
tants, dried, burned and the ashes treated
with water, lixiviated, as is technically
termed. The water is then boiled down or
concentrated, when the soda crystallizes out.
Though the yield Of soda from given guam
tity Of sea weed is very small, it being said
that it takes twenty-four tons of dried weeds
to make so to 100 pounds of soda, still there
are great many people engaged in the bust
ness; at one time over 10000 people in
the Orkney islands alone followed it
for a livelihood OF course, there are
!
| time which somewhat increase the income.
but the soda is the main one. The soda from
this source also has several names, among
| the more common of which are Barilla, Sal
sola Soda and Varec.
In specially constructed furnace well
warmed oil Of vitriol or sulphuric acid is
added in certain proportions to heated COM
mon salt. A violent action takes place and
immense quantities of an exceedingly suffo-
eating gas are given off. When the reaction
has ceased the mixture is shoveled or raked
into another part Of the furnace, where it
is heated to much higher temperature.
More of thesame gas is now given off and the
substance formed on the mixing of the acid
and salt, chemically known as bisulphate of
soda, is converted into the normal sulphat,
OF soda, or, as it is commonly called, Glau
ber's salts. This is the 'salt caken of the fac
tory hands. For a long time the gas giver
OH was source of great trouble 1t is very
soluble IN water forming muriatic acid, and
| 1t Is from this source that we obtain the acid
found in commerce. Now, at first the ga.
was allowed to escape directly into the atmos
phere from the factory chimneys and uniting
with the watery vapor fell as a rain of muri-
attic acid, killing all vegetation within a long
distance, and even the fish in the neighboring
streams. Thus many fertile parts of the
country were converted into barren wastes.
This continued until law was passed com
pelling the manufacturers to abate the nui-
sance, which was accomplished by passing
the gas through 'scrubbersn These are high
towers filled with coke, over which water is
kept constantly trickling. The water ab-
serbs the gas and thus the difficulty is over
come. The resulting liquid tcrude muriatic
acid is largely used in making bleaching
powder, and is really about the only source
OF profit now to the soda manufacturers. We
have here very good Illustration of the
TACT that substance which is regarded as q
waste product and thrown away often turns
out to be more valuable than the main sub
stances ought to be obtained when its com
position has been determined and use found
for it. How we'll do we see this same fact
demonstrated in the case Of the manufacture
Of common Illuminating gas. A few years
ago men were paid for carting away waste
material which today produces several times
the amount Of profit that ell the coke and
gas together pay.
But to go on with our process; the 'ssalt
cake" is mixed with chalk or marble and
coal, the mixture is put into what is known
as reverberatory furnace and fused The
suiphate OF soda Is converted into the car
Donate OF soda, and the chalk into the oxysul-
phlde OF calcium. The mixture Of these two
substances, which has dark color due to the
presence OF some undeconposed coal. is called
black ash, while the process Itself is tech
nlcaIly known as batting" The BLACK
ash" is then dissolved in water and allowed
to stand so that some Of the impurities and
the coal can settle This solution after care
ful decantation is evaporated to dryness and
the resulting solid heated to redness. Soda
ash or crude-carbonate Of soda Is the result,
and it is from this substance that our wash
Ing and baking sodas are directly made.
To obtain washing soda the soda ASH is dis
solved in hot water untE the water WI not
dissolve any more and the solution allowed
20 stand until ell the solid impurities have
settled to the bottom. The clear liquid Is
then carefully drawn of into very shallow
iron pans so that large surface may be ex-
posed to the air and the evaporation Of water
60 on more rapidly. The refined carbonate
of soda gradually crysta1i,zes bot forming
large masses. These masses O. CRYSTALS are
now collected, and after the adhering liquid
has been drained from them they are PACKED
ing soda In this condition taey contain
over 60 per cent Of water, hence when one
buys ten pounds Of washing soda be pays for
SIX pounds Of water and but four pounds CT
soda.
To make baking soda they dissolve the soda
ash IN hot water and let i. stand and settle,
as n making washing soda, but (: Is further
purified By fltering il through layers Of
black sand and bone black The soda 10 then
crystallized out and drained After drain
ing it Is ground into coarse powder and
formed into caAes having hcles r,raning
through them These cakes are placed On
perforated shelves in specially Constructed
air tight ROOMS, which have q capac;r Of
about ten tons Of soda. After tie room has
been filed the door Is closed end locked aub
carbouic acid gss formed By burning coal.
Is forced in By means of blower. TIE soda
remains IN this atmosphere for from three
weeks TO month, at tie end ot which tine
it has absorbed enough Of Toe gas 20 change
IL from the carbonate 70 tie b.carboaate Ct
soda, which latter Is or baking soda Tie
room Is now opened and tie cakes taken on.
Each cake is broken into halves and the fresh
surfaces examined BY an expert, who judges
by thsi- appearance to what grade the pieces
belong. The sorting over, tee CAKES are put
into machine resembling coffee NIL,
where they are ground to q coA.e powder.
This powder is conveyed 10 other mills,
which grird il very dne. Il b tten packet