Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Apr., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 24th May, 1887
I, PAUL MARIE EUGÈNE AUDOUIN of Boulevard Henri IV., Paris, in the
Republic of France, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this 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 an explosive compound or mixture adapted for military
and other purposes and which is called "Emilite."
It is known that Picric acid has been used as explosive compound or as a basis in
various explosive mixtures or compounds and for various other purposes. The said
acid was formed in the first instance from coal oils of less than 15° to 20° Cartiar.
The same was afterwards, and is generally at the present time, formed from phenol
(phenic acid) the latter being procured from coal oils, refined in a well known manner
and treated with nitric acid.
The present invention differs from the above process or processes in that it does not
employ the phenol, or picric acid derived therefrom but consists in treating the
residue left after the manufacture of said phenol, said residue being a mixture of
various compounds of carbon and having up to the present time been found to be of
little or no commercial value. These residual compounds are used in part or entirely
and are in this invention derived from the coal oil by alcaline treatment similar to
that used for the extraction of phenol, the latter being obtained as a bye-product in
this process. The compounds of carbon so derived and employed in this invention
are distinguished by 1) being soluble in alcalies 2) their boiling points lying between
185° and 250° Centigrade 3) remaining liquid at ordinary atmospheric temperature.
These last two characteristics are sufficient to distinguish the compounds employed
from phenol which solidifies at 40° C and boils at 180°°C.
This group of bodies has been already studied from a general scientific stand point,
but this invention lies in their application and treatment by the action of nitric acid
for the production of a solid compound or compounds for use as an explosive or in
the manufacture of explosive compounds or mixtures.
The compounds of carbon which I employ, are obtained from coal oils by treatment
with alcali, such as potash, soda, lime, or even ammonia followed by saturation of

page_text: such aleali by sulphuric, hydrochloric, carbonic or other acid. The assemblage of
compounds of carbons so obtained subjected to more or less rectification for the
elimination principally of resinous matters, and is either thereupon treated with
nitric acid of commerce of suitable strength, or such treatment is applied after a
preliminary transformation into sulphoconjugate products.
The apparatus for nitrification is of usual construction and may consist of stoneware
or enamelled or other vessels, and same may be coated inside with a protective layer
of compound of aluminia or silica resisting acids; and are preferably provided with
means for heating and cooling and for agitation or stirring of the contents and for
condensing or utilizing the nitrous vapours.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
1) The preparation of explosive products from a mixture of compounds of carbon
derived from coal oil or other organic source, the characteristics of which compounds
are 1) that they are liquid at ordinary atmospheric temperature 2) that their boiling
points lie between 185° and 250° C, 3) that they are soluble in alcalis.
2) The hereindescribed process for the manufacture of an explosive body, consisting
in the treatment of coal oil for the separation of phenol, and the subsequent
rectification of the residue after the said separation and the treatment thereof with
nitric acid, substantially as set forth.
3) As a new product of manufacture, the explosive compound formed substantially
as set forth, from a mixture of compounds of carbon, which are liquid at ordinary
atmospheric temperature, the boiling points of which lie between 185 and 250° C. and
which are soluble in alcalies.
D. 41 LL
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