Decomposition of Metallic Salts and similar Compounds.
Year: 1888

page_text: Decomposition of Metallic Salts and similar Compounds.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to desulphurize ores or metallic compounds carrying
a large percentage of sulphur, or to separate the sulphur in a large degree, and to
decompose metallic salts or salts of metals and like compounds more or less chemically
combined, and, when desired, to recover all or part of the component parts of such
materials separated or decomposed in a state of more or less purity with respect to
each other.
«
or
"salts of metals
دو
"
and
metallic
"metallic salts "
ores,"
By the terms
compounds "I mean to cover what is known as "pyrites," "sulphides," or "sulphates,"
and "mattes speiss" and like substances in their varying forms, and all material
more or less chemically combined that may be rendered molten or fluid and
susceptible to the action of my process, and especially those carrying large percentages
of sulphur; but as a matter of convenience I will use the term "sulphide" or
compounds," meaning to cover generically all such substances as above stated.
"
It is a well known fact that various kinds of copper, iron and other ores and
matte contain large percentages of sulphur, which in their reduction to a metallic
state have to be desulphurized or separated from their sulphur and the compound
or compounds composing them decomposed. This separation or "desulphurization,"
as it is commonly called, is accomplished, principally, by repeatedly roasting the ores
or sulphides and matte when it has been reduced to such, and thus by burning or
distilling the sulphur, and also largely by smelting the raw sulphides and the roasted

page_text: ores with various fluxes to chemically combine with the sulphur and carry it off in
the slags in the case of the treatment of the copper sulphides, as the copper is usually
the metal desired to be recovered.
The copper sulphides or sulphide ores, with more or less iron in a sulphide state
and other materials which accompany it, are reduced much in the way above
described to a matte, carrying various substances in addition to the copper, such as
iron, residues, and the sulphur, which is usually of a large percentage and more or
less gold and silver. The process of reducing the ores to this matte is expensive and
tedious, and the matte when obtained has to be treated chemically or electrically to
further desulphurize and decompose it to obtain the copper in a metallic state and
to separate and finally recover the gold and silver from it.
In all cases of treatment at the time of smelting in any of the various ways where
the sulphides and materials under treatment are reduced to a fused or fluid state the
elements or materials forming the molten compound are rendered free to move
because of their high temperature, and are of different densities; but as the difference
in the densities of the several elements composing the compound is not great enough
to overcome the cohesion between them they are held by this affinity from separation
into their several or respective parts by gravity. For this reason it will be understood
that there is a difference in the separation of materials, the component parts of which
have different specific gravities and are chemically combined or united-as the salts
of metals and like substances, as before described-which will not settle or separate
by their own gravitation in the order of their specific gravity while in a molten or
fluid state, because they are held in union as a whole or compound by chemical
affinity, and mixtures the component parts of which also have different specific
gravities, and which under like conditions will separate by their own gravitation in
the order of their specific gravity.
I have discovered that by a process of subjecting the fused sulphides or materials
to a sufficiently developed centrifugal action the chemical union or affinity of the
component parts of these compounds may be very largely, if not wholly, broken or
overcome, and the sulphur and other materials may be all or both separated by the
force so developed in a state of greater or less purity with regard to each other
and in order of their specific gravity, thus largely or wholly decomposing the
compound.
As the principle or force employed in my process is founded upon the law of
gravitation, it is obvious that it is necessary to have the sulphides or materials fluid
or in a state of fusion while being acted upon. The heat also reduces the chemical
affinity or the intensity of the chemical union of the sulphur and its base or basis
or the materials combined and renders it more susceptible to an action to overcome
their union and separate them.
As an illustration in the desulphurization or decomposition of molten copper or
iron sulphides or matte by my process, the copper and iron have a specific gravity
about four times that of sulphur, and for a comprehensive understanding I will call
the specific gravity of the sulphur one unit and that of the iron and copper three
units greater, and I will call the chemical affinity uniting them with the sulphur
nine hundred units, or three hundred times as great as the difference in the specific
gravity. Now, by subjecting this molten compound to a highly developed centrifugal
action, the chemical affinity between the various elements of it is not increased, and as
by the law of such action the centrifugal force increases as the square of the number
of revolutions to which the material being treated is subjected the difference in the
force exerted on two or more elements of the compounds, by reason of their different
specific gravity, will soon be multiplied by such action until it exceeds and overcomes
their chemical affinity or the nine hundred units, when they will be separated into
their several elements in a state of greater or less purity and in the order of their
specific gravity. They may then be divided while in a molten state and are being
acted upon and held separate by centrifugal force, or they may be retained under
centrifugal action until cooled or hardened; but will be necessary to either divide
the several constituents or elements of the compound after they are separated and

page_text: while under the influence of a sufficient centrifugal action to prevent them from
chemically reuniting; or to retain them under such action until they are sufficiently
cooled to become hardened, in which condition they cannot be reunited.
In all cases of the desulphurizing of sulphides by roasting, &c., as above described,
little or none of the sulphur is saved; while by my process it may be separated and
collected in a greater or less state of purity as one of the component parts of the
compound acted upon with comparatively little trouble.
In the use of my process herein described it is obvious that the centrifugal action
must be developed in all cases to a sufficient degree, so that the difference in the
specific gravity of the two or more elements of the compound being acted upon and
to be decomposed or separated will exceed and overcome in a greater or less degree
the intensity of the attraction or chemical affinity holding them in union; and of
course it will be understood that in carrying out my process I must bring the materials
to be treated to a fused or fluid state while being acted upon, and that to subject
them to the centrifugal action required I place them in a suitable vessel adapted to
be rotated and revolve them very rapidly.
For a clear understanding of my process, I have annexed the accompanying
drawing, and will here describe the illustrated apparatus for carrying it out; but I
do not wish or intend to claim this apparatus. It is obvious, however, that any
centrifugal machine may be used that is adapted to stand the great strain and
possessing the conditions required for the work.
In making an apparatus for carrying out my process I provide a revoluble tub or
vessel, A, adapted to receive the molten materials, preferably mounted upon the
upper end of and carried by a vertical spindle, (represented by D,) which is provided
with a belt-wheel, (represented by D¹) by which it is revolved, carrying with it the
revoluble tub or vessel A. The spindle Ď is journalled and supported by a suitable
box, E, which is preferably secured to a suitable frame-work by the cushions e, so as
to be flexible. The tub or vessel A is made of sufficient strength to withstand the
great centrifugal force while in use, and preferably is arranged to stand vertically
with an opening in its top somewhat smaller than the diameter of the body of the
vessel, so as to leave an annular overhanging ring or portion, as is shown in the
drawings. I also prefer to provide this vessel with a suitable lining, B, of cast-iron,
and make the lining and outer shell separable in two or more parts by any well-
known means, which in this case is at the point S. The object of making it separable
is to facilitate the removal of the valuable or hardened material within. I further
-preferably provide a curb, K, to catch the molten material as it is discharged from
the vessel A, if there be any discharged, and a revolving table, J, to carry it away.
I also prefer to provide a water or steam pipe, G, to keep the exterior of the vessel A
.cool, and such other parts as may be necessary to the convenient operation of the
machine, all of which may be varied to suit the operator or conditions of operating.
In carrying on my process I take the molten compounds that I have herein
described to be separated or decomposed. I preferably first cause the vessel A to
revolve very rapidly by means of a belt conveying motion from any suitable source
of motive power and the pulley D¹. I pour the molten compound C into the vessel
through the hole in the top, and as it falls on the bottom of the vessel it will be
thrown instantly to the sides of the vessel by centrifugal force, and as it continues
to flow in it will continue to be thrown to the sides of the vessel and assume a
vertical position, forming an annular wall H, as shown in the drawings until the
vessel has become filled to the inner edge of the annular overhanging ring or
portion.
As the molten material or compound is thus revolved in the vessel, rotating at a
high rate of speed, the centrifugal force developed or exerted on the various elements
of the compound will be sufficient to overcome the attraction or chemical affinity of
the various particles which differ from each other in density or specific gravity, so
that the compound will be wholly or in part decomposed and separated according to
their specific gravity as indicated by the letters 0, P in the drawings, the heavier
elements will be thrown to the exterior and the lighter will occupy the interior of

page_text: the molten mass and the charge may be divided in the way that may best suit the
operator, either by revolving the machine until the charge is cooled and hardened,
and then assorting them after their removal from the vessel, or he may continue to
pour more of the molten compound in the vessel allowing the lighter properties to
be discharged and retaining the heavier.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
'
1. A process of desulphurizing materials, which consists in bringing such materials
to a state of fusion and subjecting them to a. sufficiently powerful centrifugal force
to overcome wholly or in part the chemical affinity of the combination, substantially
as described.
2. The process of decomposing metallic salts or salts of metals and like compounds,
which consists in subjecting them to a highly developed centrifugal action while in a
molten state, substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1888
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.