IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF AMMONIA OR COMPOUNDS OF AMMONIA
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Tervet of Clippens in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, Oil Works Manager, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE PRODUCTION OF AMMONIA OR COMPOUNDS OF AMMONIA "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Tervet at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th April 1883.
ROBERT TERVET of Clippens in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Oil
Works Manager "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF AMMONIA OR COM-
POUNDS OF AMMONIA,"
This Invention which relates to Improvements in the production of ammonia
has reference to the obtainment of that substance from coal, shale or other
carbonaceous matters, or from the refuse coke or ash resulting from the distillation
of coal and shale or other carbonaceous matters.
The Invention consists in passing hydrogen over or through coal or shale in
retorts either during the process of distillation, or over or through the coke or ash
resulting from the process of distillation.
The hydrogen may be obtained by any of the well known means, such for
example as in the manufacture of water gas, and it is advantageous to employ
hydrogen in large excess of the quantity necessary to combine with the nitrogen
present in the coal, shale, or their cokes or residues to form ammonia.-It is also
preferred to employ an aspirator or equivalent apparatus for causing repeated
circulation of the hydrogen in or through the retorts, condensers, coolers and the
other apparatus in connection therewith, or other vessels containing the coal or
shale, or their cokes or residues.
In working the process the hydrogen may be carried into or through the retorts
and connected apparatus either with steam or carbonic oxide or carbonic acid for
the purpose of protecting the ammonia from subsequent decomposition in which
case less hydrogen may be used.
By means of this process of producing ammonia from coal, or shale or other
carbonaceous matters, the coke or analogous residue is not destroyed.
By means of this Invention the ammonia may be obtained as a sulphur
compound or as a carbon compound.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Tervet in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th October
1883.
ROBERT TERVET, of Clippens, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Oil
Works Manager "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF AMMONIA OR COM-
POUNDS OF AMMONIA"
My said Invention which relates to Improvements in the production of Ammonia
has reference to the obtainment of that substance from Coal, shale, or other
Carbonaceous Matters or from the refuse Coke or ash resulting from the distillation
of Coal, shale, or other Carbonaceous Matters.
The Invention Consists in passing hydrogen over or through Coal, or shale, or
other Carbonaceous matters in retorts either during the process of distillation or
over or through the Coke or ash resulting from the process of distillation.
The hydrogen may be obtained by any of the well known means, such for
example as in the manufacture of Water gas.
The hydrogen may also be obtained by the decomposition of hydrocarbon gas
produced during the distilling process by subjecting the gases to the action of
highly heated or incandescent matter, such for example as the Coke produced.
In working the process it is advisable to employ as large a volume of hydrogen
as Can be economically used for the obtainment of the Ammonia and it is preferred
to employ an aspirator, or blower, or equivalent apparatus for Causing repeated
Circulation of the hydrogen in or through the retorts or equivalent distilling
vessels, the Condensers, Coolers, and the other apparatus Connected therewith in
working this Invention.
It is to be understood that this process is adapted for being practically carried
out, either in the vessels or Chambers in which the distillation of the Carbonaceous
matter is effected or in other vessels Containing their Cokes or residues.
The advantage of working this Invention by means of an aspirator, or blower, is
that by Causing the repeated Circulation of the hydrogen through the distilling
vessels or Chambers or through vessels or Chambers Containing the Cokes or
residues, a smaller absolute volume of hydrogen suffices.
In working the process the hydrogen may be carried into or through the retorts
and Connected apparatus either with steam or Carbonic oxide, or Carbonic acid for
the purpose of protecting the Ammonia from subsequent decomposition in which
case less bydrogen may also be used, but I have found that the purer the hydrogen
is the more rapid is the obtainment of Ammonia.
By means of this process of producing Ammonia from Coal, or shale, or other
Carbonaceous Matters the Coke or analogous residue is not destroyed.
The Ammonia produced by means of the process herein before described may be
separated by washing or scrubbing the gases in acid or water in any of the well 4
known methods for separating it used in chemical works or by the process of hot
scrubbing described in the specification of William Young and George Thomas
Beilby N° 5084 A.D. 1882.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the mode or manner
of practically carrying the same into effect, I would observe in Conclusion that

page_text: what I consider to be novel and and original and therefore Claim as the Invention
secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is :—
The obtainment of Ammonia from Carbonaceous matters whilst undergoing
distillation or from their Cokes or residues by acting upon them with hydrogen
substantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof I, the said Robert Tervet, have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Third day of October in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight
Hundred and Eighty-three.