IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHLORINE
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederic Ducimetière Monod, Chemist, of Marseille,
Town in the French Empire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF CHLORINE."
Sealed the 3rd March 1857, and dated the 13th September 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederic Ducimetière
Monod, at the Office of the Commissioners of. Patents, with his Petition,
on the 13th September 1856.
I, FREDERIC DUCIMETIÈRE MONOD, Chemist, of Marseille, Town in the
French Empire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHLORINE," to be as follows:-
Hitherto the manufacture of chlorine has been divided into two distinct
operations or rather manufactures. The first consists in decomposing salt by
sulphuric acid, and in receiving the resulting gas in earthen vessels containing
water, or in other condensing apparatuses, in order to form muriatic or
hydrochloric acid. The second consists in transferring these acids to another
apartment or workshop, where they are poured into earthenware vessels, or
others capable of resisting the action of acids and of heat, manganese is then
introduced into the same vessels, and the whole is heated either directly or by
steam.
The object of my Invention is to combine these two manufactures in one in.

page_text: the following manner: -I receive muriatic acid gas produced from salt and
sulphuric acid in any suitable apparatus through pipes leading to nearly the
bottom of a vessel, constructed of some acid-resisting material, into which water
had been previously introduced through an orifice subsequently stopped and
luted. At a few inches from the bottom of the vessel is a perforated stone,
upon which manganese is placed through an aperture made in the side of the
vessel, and which must be properly closed and luted after the introduction of
the manganese.
The vessel having been thus prepared, muriatic acid gas is admitted through
the pipes to nearly the bottom of the vessel, where it is condensed by the water
contained therein. As soon as this water has acquired a certain degree of
acidity and has become heated, the manganese begins to be decomposed, and
produces chlorine, which escapes from the acidulated water and passes off
through tubes in the upper part of the vessel, which lead it into a leaden
chamber, to be washed and purified; this leaden chamber contains water to
a certain height, and the last-named tubes descend to within about one inch of
the water level. The chlorine is conducted away from this chamber to reser-
voirs or otherwise, to be used as required.
I intend to claim as new my process and apparatus for the manufacture of
chlorine by the direct employment of hydrochloric acid gas for the de-
composition of the manganese.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederic Ducimetière Monod in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 12th March 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERIC
DUCIMETIÈRE MONOD, Chemist, of Marseille, Town in the Empire of France,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Frederic Ducimetière Monod, Her special licence that I, the said Frederic
Ducimetière Monod, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Frederic Ducimetière Monod, 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

page_text: 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 CHLORINE," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Frederic Ducimetiére Monod, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, 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 Frederic Ducimetiere Monod, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say:-
Hitherto the manufacture of chlorine has been divided into two distinct
operations or rather manufactures. The first consists in decomposing salt by
sulphuric acid, and in receiving the resulting gas in earthen vessels containing
water, or in other condensing apparatuses, in order to form muriatic or
hydrochloric acid. The second consists in transferring these acids to another
apartment or workshop, where they are poured into earthenware vessels, or
others capable of resisting the action of acids and of heat, manganese is then
introduced into the same vessels and the whole is heated either directly or by
steam.
The object of my Invention is to combine these two manufactures in one, in
the following manner :-I receive muriatic acid gas produced from salt and
sulphuric acid in any suitable apparatus through pipes leading to nearly the
bottom of a vessel or receiver, constructed of some acid-resisting material, into
which water had been previously introduced through an orifice subsequently
stopped and luted. At a few inches from the bottom of the vessel is a per-
forated stone or bed, upon which manganese is placed through an aperture
made in the side of the vessel, and which must be properly closed and luted
after the introduction of the manganese. The vessel or receiver having been
thus prepared, muriatic acid gas is admitted through the pipes to nearly the
bottom of the vessel, where it is condensed by the water contained therein.
As soon as this water has acquired a certain degree of acidity and has become
heated, the manganese begins to be decomposed, and produces chlorine, which
escapes from the acidulated water, and passes off through tubes in the
upper
part of the vessel, which lead it into a leaden chamber, to be washed and

page_text: purified. This leaden chamber contains water to a certain height, and the
last-named tubes descend to within about one inch of the water level. The
chlorine is conducted away from this chamber to reservoirs or otherwise to be
used as required.
In the annexed Drawing, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 2 a
plan, of an apparatus suitable for receiving the muriatic acid gas for carrying
the Invention into effect. A, A, are tubes, made of plastic material, for con-
ducting the muriatic gas into the receiver B, which is made of stone or other
material not liable to be injured by the action of acids.
I prefer to form this receiver of a square shape and of only six pieces of
stone, one whole stone forming the bottom, one the top, and one for each of
the sides; these stones are fitted together by grooves, but so closely as to
prevent any leakage of the liquid contents, the grooves being made fluid-tight
by thin vulcanized india-rubber packing, and afterwards luted, if necessary,
with some cement not injuriously affected by acids, as for example, a cement
made of red lead and oil, or asbestos, may be inserted wherever a leak appears.
The bottom stone should be held between the others and well luted, and the
receivers should be bound or held together by iron bands or clamps. C, C, are
openings into which tubes pass; D, opening for tube U; E, E, opening for
tubes J, J; F, stone bed for holding the manganese, resting on feet H, HI, II,
at a little distance from the sides of the receiver, being just sufficiently cut
away at the parts where the tubes I, I, pass. An opening is formed in the
stone F for the tube U to pass through. The tubes I, I, are bevelled off at
bottom, and spread or widened out at the upper end where the tubes A, A,
meet. To prevent the escape of gas in case of fracture, these tubes may be
enclosed in other or outer tubes. J, J, are leaden tubes for conducting the
chlorine gases from the receiver B to the leaden chamber M, containing water,
which rests on a pedestal T; K, K, are sockets through which the tubes J, J,
pass; L, safety tube, made of glass, passing through O and reaching to near
the bottom of the chamber M; N, mouth for discharging any excess of water
from the chamber M; R, glass inspection tube, supported in bearings Q, Q
for noting depth of water in M, and also the period when the chlorine gas
begins to enter it; S, S, leaden tubes, supported in bearings P, P, for convey-
ing away the chlorine gases. All the bearings or sockets and tubes should be
luted with a fatty cement and bladder to prevent escape of gas.
The chamber M is intended to stop and condense any particles of muriatic
acid gas or vapors which may happen to escape from the receiver B, but it
may be dispensed with, and the tubes J, J, made to carry away the chlorine
gas directly; U is a removeable leaden tube, widened out at top, which may

page_text: be introduced through the opening D for pouring water into the receiver; after
using this tube it is to be withdrawn and the opening D luted before beginning
the operation. V, door through which the manganese is introduced; X, dis-
charge tap.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim the process and
apparatus herein-before described for the manufacture of chlorine by the
direct employment of muriatic or hydrochloric acid gas to the decomposition
of the manganese.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederic Ducimetière Monod, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of March, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-seven.
FRED DUCIMETIÉRE MONOD. (L.S.)
Witness,
CH. ARMENGAUD, Ing* Civil,
Boulvard de Strasbourg, 23,
à Paris.