IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF AMMONIA AND ITS COMPOUNDS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Pellatt Rickman, of No. 17, St. Bride's Street, in
the City of London, and Jacob Baynes Thompson, of No. 115, Pomeroy Street,
New Cross, in the County of Kent, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF AMMONIA AND ITS COMPOUNDS."
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Pellatt Rickman and
Jacob Baynes Thompson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
17th September 1879.
JAMES PELLATT RICKMAN, of No. 17, St. Bride's Street, in the City of London,
and JACOB BAYNES THOMPSON, of No. 115, Pomeroy Street, New Cross, in the
County of Kent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF AMMONIA AND ITS
COMPOUNDS."
Our Invention relates to a process for the production of ammonium chloride,
whence we can obtain ammonia and compounds, thereof, the process being of the
following description :-We intimately mingle common salt with pulverised carbon-
aceous matter which may be coal dust, and we expose the mixture to moderate
heat in a slow burning furnace similar to those employed as gas producers,
supplying the furnace with a small amount of air mingled with water vapour.
A reaction takes place producing fumes of ammonium chloride mixed with other
matters, and these fumes can be condensed in a suitable chamber into the form
of a powder, which may be afterwards cleared from its impurities by sublimation,
or otherwise. The ammonium chloride thus obtained may be afterwards decom-
posed in any known manner for the production of ammonia and its compounds.
Although we have described common salt as the material which we mix with
the carbonaceous matter, preferably on account of its cheapness, other chlorides,
such as calcium chloride or other haloid salts may be employed as above
described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Pellatt Rickman and Jacob Baynes Thompson in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 15th March 1880.
JAMES PELLATT RICKMAN, of No. 17, St. Bride's Street, in the City of London,
and JACOB BAYNES THOMPSON, of No, 115, Pomeroy Street, New Cross, in the
County of Kent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF AMMONIA AND ITS
COMPOUNDS."
Our Invention relates to a process for the production of ammonium chloride,
whence we can obtain ammonia and compounds thereof, the process being of the
following description. We intimately mingle from 4 to 8% of common salt with
pulverised carbonaceous matter which may be coal dust, and we expose the mixture
to moderate heat in a slow burning furnace similar to those employed as gas
producers or coke ovens, supplying the furnace with a small amount of air mingled
with water vapour. It is not necessary that the whole of the fuel employed should
consist of the mixture of carbonaceous matter and salt as above described. The
lower part of the furnace may be occupied by a body of coke, and the mixture of
coal dust and salt may be laid as a layer on the coke, and fed in from time to time
as it is consumed. A reaction takes place producing fumes of ammonium chloride
mixed with other matters, and these fumes can be condensed in a suitable chamber
into the form of a powder, which may be afterwards cleared from its impurities by
sublimation, or otherwise.
Instead of collecting the product in the form of a powder, it may be obtained in
solution by bringing the fumes of the furnace in contact with water, either
by passing them through a shower chamber or by causing them to bubble
through water. In the latter case an artificial draught has to be produced of
sufficient force to cause the fumes to descend some depth in the water, and this
may be effected by a pump, exhauster, fan, or steam ejector.
The ammonium chloride thus obtained may be afterwards decomposed in any
known manner for the production of ammonia and its compounds.
Although we have describled common salt as the material which we mix with
the carbonaceous matter preferably on account of its cheapness, other chlorides,
such as calcium chloride or other haloid salts may be employed, as above
described.
In ordinary coke ovens ammonium chloride may be produced as well as coke by
adopting the process above described, that is to say, mixing salt with the coal and
introducing steam along with the air which is usually supplied to maintain the
slow combustion.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we claim,―
The manufacture of ammonia and its compounds from ammonium chloride produced
by the slow combustion of carbonaceous matter mixed with common or other haloid
salt in the presence of water vapour, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Pellatt Rickman and Jacob Baynes
Thompson, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eighth day of March,
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.