A New or Improved Process for the Utilization of Oxide ofed, or in the. Manufacture of Sulphuric Acid.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 13th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Process for the Utilization of Oxide of Iron
obtained as a By-product in the Smelting and Extraction of
Copper from Pyrites, or from Spent Oxide produced in the.
Manufacture of Sulphuric Acid.
I, JOHN BRADBURY, of 361, Stretford Road, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Chemical Engineer and Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention to be as follows :-
This invention consists in treating the material with hydrochloric, sulphuric, or
nitric acids in a suitable vessel provided with a steam coil or other means for.
heating the same. If the by-product should contain the oxide in the ferric state"
the acid is heated and the oxide gradually added with occasional stirring until the
whole arrives at boiling point, care being taken to have excess of the oxide present.
After a time the heat is withdrawn, and the heated vessel is covered up and allowed
to remain until the insoluble matter subsides; the supernatent liquid is then drawn
into suitable vessels for transit or use. Should the oxide, however, be in the
ferrous state a small quantity of nitric acid must be added to the boiling solution
to convert it into the ferric. state. The nitric acid can be easily recovered by
drawing the fumes through a scrubber or condenser, which also prevents the escape
of nitric acid fumes into the atmosphere. This saturated solution can be used either
by itself or in conjunction with other materials, such as, lime or alkalies, for the
precipitation, purification, and decoloration of water, sewage, or other foul liquids ;
also for the manufacture of the various shades of oxide of iron by precipitation
with an alkali or other substance, or for the making of Prussian blue. I also
employ this liquor for the purification and decoloring of sugar, syrup, brewing
sugar, glucose, and other saccharine syrups and liquors. Any excess of iron is
removed by using lime, or phosphate of lime. Tannic acid may be used after the
neutralization by the lime or other suitable substance.
Dated the 28th June 1890.
EDMUND CHADWICK,
A cent
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Process for the Utilization of Oxide of Iron
obtained as a By-product in the Smelting and Extraction of
Copper from Pyrites, or from Spent Oxide produced in the
Manufacture of Sulphuric Acid.
I, JOHN BRADBURY, of 361, Stretford Road, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Chemical Engineer and Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention consists in treating oxide of iron obtained as a by-product in the
smelting and extraction of copper from pyrites, or from spent oxide produced in the
manufacture of sulphuric acid, with hydrochloric acid in a suitable vessel provided
with a steam coil or other means for heating the same. If the by-product should
contain the oxide in the ferric state the acid is heated and the oxide gradually
added with occasional stirring until the whole arrives at boiling point, care being taken
to have excess of the oxide present. After a time the heat is withdrawn, and the
heated vessel is covered up and allowed to remain until the insoluble matter
subsides; the supernatent liquid is then drawn into suitable vessels for transit or

page_text: use.
Should the oxide, however, be in the ferrous state a small quantity of nitric
acid must be added to the boiling solution to convert it into the ferric state. The
nitric acid can be easily recovered by drawing the fumes through a scrubber or
condenser, which also prevents the escape of nitric acid fumes into the atmosphere.
This saturated solution (ferric chloride) can be used either by itself, or in con-
junction with other materials, such as, lime or alkalies, for the precipitation,
purification, and decolouration of water, sewage, or other foul liquids; also for the
manufacture of the various shades of oxide of iron by precipitation with an alkali
or other substance, or for the making of Prussian blue. I also employ this liquor
for the purification and decolouration of sugar, syrup, brewing sugar, glucose, and
other saccharine syrups and liquors. Any excess of iron is removed by using lime,
or phosphate of lime. Tannic acid may be used after neutralization by lime or
other suitable substance.
The precipitation of sewage is accomplished by means of ferric chloride employed
in the proportion of about 15 or more grains to a gallon of sewage, the amount
being regulated according to the quality of the sewage to be treated. After the
ferric chloride has been run into the sewage they are passed through any suitable
apparatus that will cause a thorough mixing of the same, after which process the
mixture is conveyed to tanks to allow of precipitation, from whence the effluent
passes through a bed of ordinary cinders or other filtering medium, from which it
issues clear and odourless.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
Manufacturing ferric chloride from oxide of iron obtained as a by-product in the
smelting and extraction of copper from pyrites, or from spent oxide produced in the
manufacture of sulphuric acid, substantially as described.
Dated the 12th February 1891.
EDMUND CHADWICK,
Agent.