IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFAC- TURE OF CARBONATES OF AMMONIA, AND IN THE USEFUL APPLICATION OF SUCH CARBONATES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Gossage, of Widnes, in the County of
Lancaster, Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFAC-
TURE OF CARBONATES OF AMMONIA, AND IN THE USEFUL APPLICATION OF SUCH
CARBONATES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Gossage at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th
August 1855.
I, WILLIAM GOSSAGE, of Widnes, in the County of Lancaster, Chemist, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF CARBONATES OF AMMONIA, AND IN THE USEFUL APPLICATION OF
SUCH CARBONATES," to be as follows :-
The alkaline carbonates, to the manufacture of which my improvements
are applicable, are the bicarbonate, sesquicarbonate, and single carbonate
of ammonia. In the Specification of an Invention of "Improvements in the
manufacture of certain alkaline carbonates, and in the useful application of
such carbonates," for which Invention I obtained Letters Patent, dated the

page_text: 21st February 1854, I have described as part of my improvements the manu-
facture of bicarbonate and sesquicarbonate of ammonia in aqueous solution,
by introducing ammoniacal gas and carbonic acid gas (produced by the com-
bustion of carbon, or produced by the decomposition of bicarbonate or sesqui-
carbonate of potash or of soda,) into such an apparatus as I designated in the
said Specification as an "absorbing tower," a proper supply of water being
also introduced into such apparatus.
By means of my present Invention, I also manufacture single carbonate of
ammonia in aqueous solution, by introducing ammoniacal gas and carbonic
acid gas in suitable proportions, together with a proper supply of water, into
such an apparatus as I have designated in the said Specification as an
absorbing tower."
66
In the Specification of my said former Invention I have described as part
of my improvements the useful application of bicarbonate and sesquicar-
bonate of potash, also of bicarbonate and sesquicarbonate of soda, for the
purpose of supplying carbonic acid gas by their decomposition by heat, such
gas being applied to the manufacture of sesquicarbonate or bicarbonate of
ammonia, and such compound or compounds of ammonia so produced
being used for the decomposition of common salt, and production thereby of
bicarbonate or sesquicarbonate of soda and sal-ammoniac.
My present Invention comprises the useful application of sequicarbonate
and bicarbonate of ammonia for supplying carbonic acid gas, also ammonia by
their decomposition by heat, for the purpose of applying such products to the
decomposition of common salt, for the production of bicarbonate or sesqui-
carbonate of soda and sal-ammoniac.
My present Invention also comprises the useful application of any of the
carbonates of ammonia herein-before mentioned (either alone or in the state
of mixture with caustic ammonia) for the purpose of decomposing salts of
iron, manganese, zinc, or lead, and thereby producing carbonates or mixtures
of carbonates and oxides of the metals of which the salts shall have been so
decomposed, the carbonate of ammonia being subsequently reproduced in a
state to be used over again for the same purpose by the decomposition of the
resulting salt of ammonia by means of lime, and the combination of the
ammoniacal gas evolved with carbonic acid gas.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Gossage in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th February 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
GOSSAGE, of Widnes, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturing Chemist,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Gossage, Her special license that I, the said William Gossage,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Gossage, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF CARBONATES OF AMMONIA, AND IN THE USEFUL APPLICATION OF SUCH CARBONATES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Gossage, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Gossage, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):
In the Specification of "Improvements in the manufacture of certain
alkaline carbonates, and in the useful application of such carbonates," (for
which I obtained a former grant of Letters Patent, dated the Twenty-first day
of February, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four,) I have described as
constituting part of my said improvements the manufacture of bicarbonate and
sesquicarbonate of ammonia in the state of aqueous solution, by introducing
ammoniacal gas together with carbonic acid gas in suitable proportions into
such an apparatus as I designated in my said Specification as an "absorbing
tower," a suitable quantity of water being also supplied into such tower.
The first part of the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part

page_text: recited Letters Patent applies to the manufacture by like means of single
carbonate of ammonia in the state of solution with water. For this purpose
I introduce ammoniacal gas (obtained by the decomposition of sal-ammoniac,
or of some other suitable salt of ammonia, by means of lime,) together with
carbonic acid gas (obtained by the combustion of carbon, or by the decom-
position of limestone, or of bicarbonate or of sesquicarbonate of soda, or of
potash, by heat,) into the lower part of such an "absorbing tower as I have
herein-before mentioned, and I cause the materials contained in such tower to
be continually moistened with water, or with solution of carbonate of ammonia,
and I cause uncondensed gases to be conducted from such first" absorbing
tower" (after having percolated through the mass of materials contained
therein) into a second "absorbing tower," in passing through which the said
uncondensed gases are caused to percolate through a mass of materials which
are continually moistened with dilute muriatic or sulphuric acid, and the gases
still remaining uncondensed after such second percolation are withdrawn from
such second tower by means of a draft obtained by the aid of a chimney, or by
other suitable means.
at
I prefer to keep the temperature of the said first "absorbing tower"
about 100 degrees of Fahrenheit's thermometer, and of the said second
"absorbing tower" at about 130 degrees. I can effect this regulation of
temperature by the use of warm liquids for condensation or by other means.
I regulate the proportionate quantity of ammoniacal gas and of carbonic acid
gas supplied to such first "absorbing tower," so that the compound obtained
by the union of such gases may be chiefly, if not entirely, single carbonate of
ammonia. The liquid which flows from the said first "absorbing tower" is
an aqueous solution of the carbonate of ammonia produced, and the liquid
from the said second "absorbing tower" is solution of sulphate or muriate of
ammonia.
The first part of my said Invention also applies to the manufacture or
production of bicarbonate of ammonia and single carbonate of ammonia,
by the decomposition of a solution of sesquicarbonate or of bicarbonate of
ammonia by heat. In order to effect such manufacture or production, I
prefer to prepare a solution of sesquicarbonate or of bicarbonate of ammonia,
or of a mixture of these carbonates, by some of the means described for such
purpose in the Specification of the Patent formerly granted to me, and which
is herein-before referred to. I introduce such solution into a still, and I
apply thereto a temperature ranging from 100 to 130 degrees of Fahrenheit's
thermometer, or thereabouts, and I agitate the contents of such still (either
by the injection of steam therein or by other means), when carbonic acid and

page_text: ammonia become expelled by vaporization from such solution, and I cause the
vaporized product to be conducted or to flow into a receiver wherein bi-
carbonate of ammonia becomes condensed. I prefer to assist the condensation
of such vaporized product by causing the same to be absorbed by cold water,
and I cause the said receiver to be kept at a temperature below 80 degrees of
Fahrenheit's thermometer, by the use of well-known means. I continue such
process of distillation until the solution of ammonia remaining in the said
still becomes chiefly single carbonate of ammonia, and I can either employ
such solution for such useful applications as require the employment of single
carbonate of ammonia; or I cause it to be passed through a refrigerating
apparatus into the upper part of an "absorbing tower," and in such last-
named mode of proceeding I cause carbonic acid gas to be supplied to the
lower part of such tower, and to percolate through the mass of materials con-
tained therein, such materials being moistened with the cooled solution of
carbonate of ammonia, which solution thereby becomes impregnated with an
additional quantity of carbonic acid, and converted into solution of sesqui-
carbonate or bicarbonate of ammonia, or a mixture of these carbonates, and
the solution so obtained is suitable for the production of a further quantity
of bicarbonate of ammonia by the means herein-before described for that
purpose.
The second part of my said Invention relates to the useful application of
carbonates of ammonia (obtained by the means herein-before described, or by
the means described in the Specification of my said former Patent, herein-
before referred to,) either alone or in mixture with caustic ammonia, for the
purpose of decomposing salts of lead, manganese, or zinc, and thereby pro-
ducing carbonates or mixtures of carbonates and hydrated oxides of the
metals of which the salts shall have been so decomposed; in all such appli-
cations carbonate of ammonia being subsequently reproduced from the salt
of ammonia resulting from such decomposition, as herein-after described.
In effecting the decomposition of salt of lead for the production of carbonate
of lead, or a mixture of carbonate and hydrated oxide of lead, I find chloride
of lead to be well adapted as a salt of lead for such purpose.
I take a
quantity of chloride of lead, and if I wish to produce carbonate of lead I add
thereto as much single carbonate of ammonia in solution as I find to be suffi-
cient for its decomposition; but I prefer to effect this decomposition by means
of a solution containing one proportion or equivalent of caustic ammonia for
each three proportions or equivalents of single carbonate of ammonia present
therein, and I thus obtain a precipitate consisting of one proportion of hydrated
oxide of lead and three proportions of carbonate of lead, being analagous in its

page_text: composition to the ordinary white lead of commerce. I allow the precipitate
to subside, and I draw off the clear liquor, which contains sal-ammoniac in
solution. I add water or weak solution repeatedly to the precipitate until it
becomes sufficiently deprived of soluble matter. I then collect the precipitate,
and dry it by the means usually employed for drying ordinary white lead, and
I thus obtain a product suitable to be employed as a pigment. I collect the
stronger solutions of sal-ammoniac thus produced (the weaker solutions being
employed in subsequent washing operations in place of water), and I treat these
solutions with lime, for the purpose of evolving ammoniacal gas therefrom,
which ammoniacal gas I apply to the reproduction of carbonate of ammonia
by the means herein-before described, and which carbonate of ammonia so
produced is suitable to effect a further precipitation of carbonate of lead.
In effecting the decomposition of salt of manganese for the production of
carbonate of manganese, I find the chloride to be well adapted as a salt of
manganese for such purpose. When I use solution of chloride of manganese
resulting from the action of muriatic acid on native oxide of manganese, I add
solution of carbonate of ammonia thereto until the whole or nearly the whole
of the iron contained therein has become insoluble. I allow the precipitate
thus produced to subside, and I draw off the clear solution, containing chloride
of manganese.
I add to such clear solution carbonate of ammonia until all
the manganese has become an insoluble carbonate of manganese, which I allow
to subside, and I draw off the clear solution, which then contains sal-ammoniac,
and by repeated washings of the precipitated carbonate of manganese I separate
nearly the whole of the sal-ammoniac therefrom. I collect the stronger solutions
containing sal-ammoniac thus produced, and I treat such solutions with lime,
so as to evolve ammoniacal gas therefrom, which ammoniacal gas I apply to
the reproduction of carbonate of ammonia by the means herein-before described,
and which carbonate of ammonia so produced is suitable to effect a further
precipitation of carbonate of manganese. I collect the precipitated and washed
carbonate of manganese thus produced and dry it; it is then suitable to be
used as carbonate of manganese; but its most important application in the arts
is for the production of binoxide of manganese, to be used for the manufacture
of chlorine. For this purpose I expose the dried carbonate of manganese to
a temperature of about 500 degrees (Fahrenheit) with access of atmospherical
air, when carbonate of manganese becomes converted into binoxide, and such
binoxide being used with muriatic acid for the production of chlorine, yields
chloride of manganese, suitable to be applied to the reproduction of car-
bonate of manganese by the action of carbonate of ammonia, as herein-before
described.

page_text: In effecting the decomposition of salt of zinc for the production of carbonate
of zinc, I find the sulphate and chloride to be well adapted as salts of zinc for
such purpose. I add to the solution of salt of zinc which I employ a solution
of carbonate of ammonia, until the whole or nearly the whole of the zinc therein
has become insoluble as carbonate of zinc, which I allow to subside and draw
off the clear solution, which then contains either sulphate of ammonia or sal-
ammoniac, and by repeated washings of the precipitated carbonate of zinc I
separate nearly the whole of the ammoniacal salt therefrom. I collect the
stronger solutions containing ammoniacal salt thus produced, and I treat such
solutions with lime, so as to evolve ammoniacal gas therefrom, which ammo-
niacal gas I apply to the reproduction of carbonate of ammonia by the means
herein-before described, which carbonate of ammonia so produced is suitable
to effect a further precipitation of carbonate of zinę. I collect the precipitated
and washed carbonate of zinc thus produced and dry it. It is then suitable to
be used in the arts as carbonate of zinc.
The second part of my said Invention also relates to the useful application
of bicarbonate of ammonia, obtained by the distillation of solutions of sesqui-
carbonate or bicarbonate of ammonia, or of both such carbonates, to the
decomposition of common salt, for the production of bicarbonate of soda and
sal-ammoniac. In effecting this part of my Invention, I either cause the
vaporised product resulting from such distillation to become condensed in a
suitable receiver with or without the assistance of water, and I apply the
bicarbonate of ammonia thus obtained for decomposing common salt; or I cause
such vaporised product to be conducted at once into a closed vessel containing
common salt and water, in which bicarbonate of ammonia becomes condensed
in contact with common salt therein. The means by which bicarbonate of
ammonia can be applied to the decomposition of common salt, and consequent
production of bicarbonate of soda and sal-ammoniac, are fully described in the
Specification of my said former Patent herein-before referred to.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention (secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent),
and in what manner the same may be performed by the foregoing particulars
thereof, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details herein-before set forth, as these may be varied to some extent without
departing from the nature of the said Invention. I claim as my Invention,―
First, the manufacture or production of single carbonate of ammonia in
aqueous solution from ammoniacal gas and carbonic acid gas, by the employ-
ment of such an apparatus as I have herein-before referred to, and designated
as an "absorbing tower."

page_text: Second, the manufacture or production of bicarbonate of ammonia by
distillation from aqueous solutions of sesquicarbonate or of bicarbonate of
ammonia, and the simultaneous production of single carbonate of ammonia.
Third, the useful application of carbonates of ammonia (obtained from
ammoniacal gas and carbonic acid gas by the means herein-before described,
or by the means described in the Specification of my former Invention, for
which I obtained Letters Patent, dated the Twenty-first day of February, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four), for the precipitation of carbonate of
lead, of carbonate of manganese, or of carbonate of zinc from suitable salts
of each of such metals.
Fourth, the useful application of bicarbonate of ammonia (obtained by
distillation from aqueous solutions of sesquicarbonate or of bicarbonate of
ammonia), for the decomposition of common salt, and production of bicarbonate
of soda and sal-ammoniac by such decomposition.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Gossage, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twenty-eighth day of February, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-six.
WILL GOSSAGE. (L.S.)