Process for Rendering Acetylene Gas Inactive when Brought into Contact with Metals with which it Forms Explosive Compounds.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 17th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 17th Apr., 1817
Date of Application, 8th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 17th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 17th Apr.. 1817
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Process for Rendering Acetylene Gas Inactive when Brought
into Contact with Metals with which it Forms Explosive
Compounds.
I, GEORG ISAAC, of Knesebeck Strasse 89, Charlottenburg, near Berlin, in the
Province of Brandenburg, German Empire, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My present invention relates to a process for rendering acetylene gas inactive
when brought into contact with metals with which it enters into explosive
compounds, such as copper, silver and quicksilver.
As is known, solid compounds of a highly explosive nature are formed
immediately acetylene gas is brought into contact with copper, silver, or quicksilver,
r alloys containing these metals, and which solids can be easily made to explode
by being hit or heated. The violence of these explosions has hitherto been a block
to the commercial exploitation of acetylene gas, since, as is known, several people
have already lost their lives owing to this cause, and, before the present invention,
no means existed of removing this danger.
It is the object of the present process to remove the explosive property from
acetylene gas.
It is my view that the reason acetylene gas becomes highly explosive when
brought into contact with the metals mentioned is that, as a rule, the gas contains
a considerable amount of aqueous vapour and which arises from the present method
of producing the gas from carbide of lime (calciumcarbid) and water. "Corpora
non agunt nisi fluida" runs a well-known chemical axiom and which is also applicable
to the present case. The amount of aqueous vapour contained in acetylene gas
makes the latter chemically more effective and possibly the water also plays a
chemical part in that it aids in the necessary conversion of the copper into oxide
of copper for forming acetylene copper (CuO.C2H2) by means of the amount
of oxygen which it contains. But, be this as it may, it is a fact that the property
previously mentioned of forming explosive compounds is completely taken away
from ordinary acetylene gas saturated with steam by the water being drawn away
from the gas by means of a known drying agent such as concentrated oil of vitriol,
calcium chloride phosphoric acid-anhydride.
I have also found that ordinary acetylene gas always contains ammonia which
likewise aids the formation of the explosive compounds. It is therefore preferable
to remove this body also from the gas, and the simplest way of doing this is to use
the concentrated oil of vitriol serving to dry the gas, but other agents can also be
used.
In consequence of the proportionately not inconsiderable quantity of ammonia
contained in raw acetylene, pretty considerable quantities of sulphate of ammonia
can be obtained where sulphuric acid is used for absorbing purposes and where
work is carried on on a large scale and this sulphate of ammonia is a very valuable
secondary product. Seeing, however, that raw acetylene usually, for reasons
easily explained, also contains sulphide of hydrogen which is decomposed by
sulphuric acid in separating the sulphur, it is preferable in order to obtain as pure

page_text: a sulphate of ammonia as possible, to first remove the sulphuretted hydrogen gas
which is done preferably by passing the raw acetylene gas through finely powdered
iron ore.
Dated this 8th day of July 1806
J. E. EVANS-JACKSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Process for Rendering Acetylene Gas Inactive when Brought
into Contact with Metals with which it Forms Explosive
Compounds.
I, GEORG ISAAC, of 89 Knesebeck Strasse Charlottenburg, in the Province of
Brandenberg, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, Chemical Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to a process for rendering acetylene (carbide) gas inactive
when brought into contact with metals with which it ordinarily enters into explosive
compounds, such as copper, silver, and quicksilver.
As is known, solid compounds of a highly explosive nature are formed
immediately acetylene gas is brought into contact with copper, silver, or quicksilver,
or alloys containing these metals, and which solids can be easily made to explode
by being hit or heated. The violence of these explosions has hitherto been a
block to the commercial exploitation of acetylene gas, since, as is known, several
people have already lost their lives owing to this cause, and before the present
invention, no means existed of removing this danger.
It is the object of the present process to reinove the explosive property from
acetylene gas.
It is my view that the reason acetylene gas becomes highly explosive when
brought into contact with the metals mentioned, is that, as a rule, the gas contains
a considerable amount of aqueous vapour and which arises from the present method
of producing the gas from carbide of lime (calciumcarbid) and water.
"Corpora
non agunt nisi fluida" runs a well-known chemical axiom and which is also applicable
to the present case. The amount of aqueous vapour contained in acetylene gas
makes the latter chemically more effective and possibly the water also plays a
chemical part in that it aids in the necessary conversion of the copper into oxide
of copper for forming acetylene copper (Cu,O.C2H2) by means of the amount of
oxygen which it contains. But, be this as it may, it is a fact that the property
previously mentioned of forming explosive compounds is completely taken away
from ordinary acetylene gas saturated with steam by the water being drawn away
from the gas by means of a known drying agent such as concentrated oil of vitriol,
calcium chloride, phosphoric acid-anhydride.
I have also found that ordinary acetylene gas always contains ammonia which
likewise aids the formation of the explosive compounds. It is therefore preferable
to remove this body also from the gas, and the simplest way of doing this is to use
the concentrated oil of vitriol serving to dry the gas; but other agents can also be
used.
In consequence of the proportionately not inconsiderable quantity of ammonia
contained in raw acetylene, pretty considerable quantities of sulphate of ammonia
can be obtained where sulphuric acid is used for absorbing purposes and where
work is carried on on a large scale and this sulphate of aminonia is a very valuable

page_text: secondary product. Seeing, however, that raw acetylene usually, for reasons
easily explained, also contains sulphide of hydrogen, which is decomposed by
sulphuric acid in separating the sulphur, it is preferable, in order to obtain as pure
a sulphate of ammonia as possible, to first remove the sulphuretted hydrogen gas.
This is done preferably by passing the raw acetylene gas through finely powdered
iron ore.
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 :-
1. A process for rendering acetylene gas inactive when brought into contact
with metals with which it ordinarily forms explosive compounds, such as copper,
silver, quicksilver, or alloys containing these metals, and consisting in the acetylene
gas which contains aqueous vapour and ammonia being treated with such substances
as absorb these bodies (water and ammonia) or form a chemical combination with
same, substantially as described.
2. In a process for rendering acetylene gas inactive when brought into contact
with metals with which it ordinarily forms explosive compounds, such as copper,
silver, quicksilver, or alloys of same, the previous elimination of the sulphuretted
hydrogen by means of iron or the like, substantially as described.
Dated 16th November 1896.
J. E. EVANS-JACKSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.