IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OR PROCESSES OF APPLYING. ELECTRIC CURRENTS TO CHEMICAL DECOMPOSITIONS AND COMBINATIONS, INCLUDING THE MANUFACTURE OF ALKALIS."
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Camille Alphonse Faure, of 14, Brook Street,
in the Parish of Lambeth, and County of Surrey, Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OR PROCESSES OF APPLYING.
ELECTRIC CURRENTS TO CHEMICAL DECOMPOSITIONS AND COMBINATIONS,
INCLUDING THE MANUFACTURE OF ALKALIS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Camille Alphonse Faure
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 10th June 1872.
I, CAMILLE ALPHONSE FAURE, of 14, Brook Street, in the Parish of
Lambeth, and County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OR PROCESSES OF
APPLYING ELECTRIC CURRENTS TO CHEMICAL DECOMPOSITIONS AND COMBINATIONS,
INCLUDING THE MANUFACTURE OF ALKALIS," to be as follows:-
I apply and use electric currents in combination with cells fitted up .
with element plates, and with diaphragms for the decomposition and

page_text: combination by the process known as electrolysis of the salts or mate-
rials to be treated and supplied with oxides or materials necessary or
assistant to the reactions or combinations required. For producing or
exciting the electric currents I prefer to employ my improved thermo-
pile or thermo-electric battery, an Invention in respect of which con-
currently with this application, or at or about the date hereof I am
applying for Letters Patent. The particulars of the said Invention are
set forth in the Provisional Specification having reference thereto.
my method
The present Invention I will explain by a description of
of producing the alkali known as caustic soda. I construct, fit up, and
furnish one or more large cells in the following manner :-For the body
or frame of the cells I employ wood, slate, earthenware, or any other
convenient non-conducting material, and midway between two sides and
across the cells I place a porous double diaphragm or internal cell for
the reception of a solution of chloride of sodium or other the salt or
material to be treated. On each side of the double diaphragm and
parallel thereto, and between it and the parallel external wall of the cell
I place an element plate. The element plates are perforated with holes,
so that the products of the action within the cells may be taken from
the back; and in order to prevent too much mixing between the liquids
the element plates are sometimes backed with porous diaphragms or
covered with canvas. Between the double diaphragm and the clement
plates I dispose different substances capable of assisting the action by
giving oxygen or by combining with the chlorine; and also I use for
the element plates such materials as will combine with the products of
the action. Thus the clement plates being made of iron the chlorine
will combine with the iron of one of the plates forming chloride of iron,
and the sodium will be deposited at the other, or rather will combine
with the oxygen of some oxide of iron, which I place for the purpose
against the said plate, and which will become reduced to metallic iron.
The result will be on one side a flow of chloride of iron, and on the other
caustic soda.
In a separate vessel I purpose to treat with lime the chloride of iron
so produced, when it will become oxide of iron, which I purpose to
utilize by putting it into the cell at the negative pláte, where it will be
reduced to metallic iron, as above stated. In this way the same iron

page_text: the purpose of purifying iron or other metals by the same process of
oxidization and reduction.
Instead of baving the element plates porous or drilled for the purpose
of evacuating the products of electrolysis, I sometimes gather all these
products in front of them, and either at the top or bottom of the plates,
and evacuate them by one or more openings. Then the liquid so
evacuated is gradually replaced by fresh solutions from the double
diaphragm chamber, or from special pipes provided for the purpose.
In some instances I use a single diaphragm in one cell, and the
pour
liquid into the two chambers thus formed, and in which chambers or
compartments lay the plates and substances, such as oxides, carbonates,
et cetera, which assist the action. The cell or cells may be disposed so
that the element plates may be either vertical or horizontal.
I would remark that the element plates instead of being of the same
metals or materials may be different from each other, and proper oxides
or materials for assisting the electrolysis may be used, so as to obtain an
electric current independently of a separate battery, but tending to
produce the same desired effect. This arrangement I intend sometimes
to use independently, and sometimes in combination with a separate
battery.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Camille Alphonse Faure in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th December 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CAMILLE
ALPHONSE FAURE, of 14, Brook Street, in the Parish of Lambeth, and
County of Surrey, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Camille Alphonse Faure, Her special
license that I, the said Camille Alphonse Faure, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Camille Alphonse Faure,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,

page_text: 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 PROCESS OR PROCESSES OF APPLYING ELECTRIC CURRENTS TO CHEMICAL
DECOMPOSITIONS AND COMBINATIONS, INCLUDING THE MANUFACTURE OF Alkalies,”
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Camille Alphonse
Faure, 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 Camille Alphonse Faure, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the samo ]
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say:
-
I apply and use electric currents in combination with cells fitted up
with element plates, and with diaphragms for the decomposition and
combination by the process known as electrolysis of the salts or mate- 2
rials to be treated and supplied with oxides or materials necessary or
assistant to the reactions or combinations required. For producing or
exciting the electric currents any convenient means may be employed,
including my improved thermo-pile or thermo-electric battery, an
Invention described in the Provisional Specification accompanying the 2
application for Letters Patent, No. 1740, A.D. 1872.
The present Invention I will explain by a description of my method
of producing the alkali known as caustic soda. I construct, fit up, and
furnish one or more large cells in the following manner:-For the body
or frame of the cells I employ wood, slate, carthenware, or any other 3
convenient non-conducting material, and midway between two sides and
across the cells I place a porous double diaphragm or internal cell for
the reception of a solution of chloride of sodium, or other the salt or
material to be treated. On each side of the double diaphragm and
parallel thereto, and between it and the parallel external wall of the 3
cell I place an element plate. The element plates are perforated with holes,
so that the products of the action within the cells may be taken from
the back; and in order to prevent too much mixing between the liquids.

page_text: the element plates are sometimes backed with porous diaphragms or
covered with canvas. Between the double diaphragm and the element
plates I dispose different substances capable of assisting the action by
giving oxygen or by combining with the chlorine; and also I use for
the element plates such materials as will combine with the products of
the action. Thus the element plates being made of iron the chlorine
will combine with the iron of one of the plates forming chloride of iron,
and the sodium will be deposited at the other plate, or will combine
with the oxygen of some oxide of iron, which sometimes I place for
the purpose against the said plate, and which will become reduced to
metallic iron. The result will be on one side a flow of chloride of iron,
and on the other side caustic soda.
In a separate vessel I purpose to treat with lime the chloride of iron
so produced, when it will become oxide of iron, which I purpose to
utilize by putting it into the cell at the negative plate where it will be
reduced to metallic iron, as above stated. In this way the same iron
may be used over and over again. Or the treatment may be used for
the purpose of purifying iron or other metals by the same process of
oxidization and reduction.
Instead of having the element plates porous or drilled for the purpose
of evacuating the products of electrolysis I sometimes gather these pro-
ducts in front of them, and either at the top or bottom of the plates, and
evacuate them by one or more openings. Then the liquid so evacuated
is gradually replaced by fresh solutions from the double diaphragm
chamber, or from special pipes provided for the purpose.
In some instances I use a single diaphragm in one cell, and pour the
liquid into the two chambers thus formed, and in which chambers or
compartments lie the plates and substances, such as oxides, carbonates,
etc., which assist the action. The cell or cells may be disposed so that
the element plates may be either vertical or horizontal.
I would remark that the element plates instead of being of the same
metals or materials may be different from each other, and proper oxides
or materials for assisting the electrolysis may be used, so as to obtain an
electric current independently of a separate battery, but tending to
produce the same desired effect. This arrangement I intend sometimes
to use independently, and sometimes in combination with a separate
battery.

page_text: ⚫ I will now explain a practical arrangement for carrying the above
process into effect, reference being had to the accompanying illustrative
Drawing.
Figure 1 shows two electrodes in their respective position and proper
working order. These consist of two cast-iron plates or frames con-
veniently ribbed, each terminating at the bottom in a pipe-shaped stand,
the electrode A being electro-positive, and the electrode B electro-
negative. The pipes or stands of the electrodes are used as electric
conductors, and serve also as conduits for carrying away the products of
the electrolysis. With this object they are bolted upon two cast-iron
pipes M and N. These pipes run parallel underneath a series of such
electrodes. The electrodes are fitted in a long tank, of which D is the
bottom, through which the connection between the electrodes and the
pipes is made, and the line E represents the top line of the tank. The
negative electrode B is furnished on its front side, that is to say, facing
towards the electrode A, with a carbon plate or carbon plates G, G,
arranged together in a slanting position, so that the gases produced
during the process may, by their ascending force, be pushed or work off
behind the plates. These gases are passed away at the top by a pipe F.
In front of the scries of carbon plates I dispose a stout sheet of canvass H,
which is drawn tight over the edges of the frame and tightly fastened
behind upon pins provided for the purpose. The positive electrode A is
furnished on its front side, that is to say, facing towards the electrode B,
with a stout cast-iron plate a perforated with holes, and the plate is
bolted on to the frame by means of a bolt J. Like the electrode B this
is also covered on the front with a sheet of canvass drawn round the edges
and fastened behind. A series of such plates or electrodes are repre-
sented in Diagram by the Figures 2 and 3, Figure 2 being an elevation
shewing the plates edgeways, and the tank in section, and Figure 3 a
plan of the same to correspond; the letters A, B, M, N, correspond with
Figure 1, and represent the positive electrode and negative electrode with
their corresponding pipes respectively.
The action is as follows:-A saturated solution of chloride of sodium
(for instance) is poured into the tank up to water level K, Figures 1
and 2, and the supply maintained by a constant addition through a ;
suitable pipe from a tank overhead. The solution will be forced through
the pores of the canvas coverings of the electrodes, and will therefore
flow into the pipes below. If now an electric connection be made with

page_text: any convenient electric battery, and properly with regard to the pre-
determined nature of the electrodes, the chloride of sodium will be decom-
posed by ceding its chlorine to the cast-iron plate of the electrode A, and
a solution of caustic soda will be formed in front of the carbon plate of
the electrode B. As however the salt solution is always pressing through
the pores of the canvas, the products (caustic soda and chloride of iron)
will be forced behind the plates, and from thence (by the continued
|action) will flow into the pipes N, M, below, and by them be conducted
to a proper cistern or receiver. When the cast-iron plate of the elec-
trode A is sufficiently reduced, it can be easily replaced by withdrawing
the frame from the tank and inserting another plate, when everything
will be ready again for fresh operation.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I claim as of my Invention,-
Firstly. The employment of the action or process known as clectrolysis
within tanks or vessels in which there is caused a flow of a solution of
chloride of sodium or other the liquid to be treated through canvass or
other porous substance placed against the electrodes, so as constantly to
renew the liquid in contact with them.
0
Secondly. The employing electrodes constructed with perforated
plates, or built up with plates in such a manner that the products may
readily pass from the front to the back of the plates, and be evacuated
or discharged at the back.
And, lastly. The employing substances which, by combining with the
products of the electrolysis, will assist such action in the manner herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Camille Alphonse Faure, have here-
band and sol this Sith day of December
in
or discharged at the back.
And, lastly. The employing substances which, by combining with the
products of the electrolysis, will assist such action in the manner herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Camille Alphonse Faure, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.