The Opelousas courier., 1903-07-18
New Commercial Value Of
Many Of the Minor Metals
the ELECTRIC FURNACE HAS BROUGHT INTO IMPORTANCE
MANY INDUSTRIES WHICH PREVIOUSLY EXISTED ONLY FOR
THE PURPOSE OF SUPPL YING EXPERIMENTAL LABORATORIES,

plants is sodium. This is made by elec
trolyzing fused caustic soda, the metal
rising to the top Of the fused mass,
being skinned off from time to time.
The technical difficulties attending the
manufacture Of this metal are chiefly
those which pertain to the control CT
the temperature. Either a too high or
too low temperature spoils the opera.
ton. If the temperature Of the fur
mace is carried twenty degrees above
the melting point a reconciliation of
the sodium takes place, and no metal
rises to the surface. Consequently the
manipulation Of the whole process
must be careful and exact. By means
Of recent improvements, however, the
temperature is exactly measured and
regulated so there is no chance Of fail
IRE. The manufacture of sodium has
thus caused IN increased activity in
the production Of caustic soda.
This latter is produced likewise on a
large scale by means Of the electrolytic
process. The production Of all caustic
alkalis and chlorine by electrolysis has
been an interesting industrial question
for years in all parts of the country,
but the direct treatment Of fused salt
offers new studies. From the process
is obtained the pure chlorine, which is
used for making bleaching powder, and
good caustic soda. Fused lead is used
as a cathode to the sodium, and the So
dunn alloy is rapidly removed, so that
it will not become diffused into the
mass Of lead. The four anodes in each
cell are formed Of graphite.
The manufacture of zinc by the cleo
trical process affects the mining Of this
material, and the extensive prepara-
tons for making the metal on a large
scale indicate the confidence felt in the
process. The ores used for this pur-
pose must be rich and varied in metal.
lie substances suitable for the work.
but plenty of such waste ore is found
in different parts Of the country. Prob
ably the richest and most promising
are the complex Broken Hill ores,
which yield a large percentage Of the
materials required. The present
method Of treatment is to fuse the
chloride by the electrolytic process,
and then obtain the pure zinc by meth
DDS Of refining which are we'll UNDER
stood. The treatment of the rich ores
in this way has already yielded sufi-
cient results to make the work a def
mite success. How large a production
of zinc may be obtained in the next
few years by this process is impossible
to state at this time.
MANGANESE AND PHOSPHORUS.
The manufacture of manganese and
phosphorus by the somewhat similar
electrolytic process has also taken i'm
portant strides forward in the past few
years. The former is made very much
like aluminium. The oxide is dissolved
in q bath Of fused calcium fuoride, and
then it is submitted to electrolysis. In
order to assist in the rapid reduction a
slight amount Of carbon is added. In
the process the regulation Of the tenn
Derature is SO important that If it is
raised much above the fusing point the
manganese will become volatile and be
lost. The operator must follow care
fully the regulations found necessary
to produce this metal. The artificial
production of the metal is a highly i'm
portant process, for the use of manga
nese In the trades and industries is
on the increase.
Phosphorus from the electric furnace
is worked out on quite an extensive
scale abroad and in this country. The
method is very simple, and the results
very satisfactory. The phosphate min
eral is first obtained and then ground
q very fine powder. In this condi-
ton it Is mixed with carbon and sand
and then heated in the electric furnace
to an intense temperature. When at
the proper heat the phosphorus is dis
titled off and collected under water.
The details of the work are not neces-
sary to show that the process is one
promises to create a considerable
in the price and distribution Of
pure phosphorus in commercial FORM
New York Times.