An Improved Method or Process for Obtaining Metals or Metallic Alloys by Electrolysis
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 9th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method or Process for Obtaining Metals or Metallic
Alloys by Electrolysis.*
I, EDWARD JORDIS, of Rambergstrasse 5 Munich, in the Empire of Germany,
Chemist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This improved process is as follows:-When the solutions of metallic lactates;
or solutions of mineral acid or other metallic combinations, which by treatment
with the calculated quantity of lactic alkali ammoniacal or metallic salts have
been transformed into lactates; are subjected to electrolysis under proper conditions
with or without the addition of other organic or inorganic metallic alkaline or
ammoniacal salts, metals or metallic alloys such as brass are separated in a perfect,
solid and adhesive form, the colors of which metal or alloys will depend on the
ingredients added. Iron for instance derived from a purely lactic solution appears
dark but on adding 1 to 2% of ammonium sulphate [(NH)₂SO₁] it will have a
white appearance.
As in such solution zinc and iron may be directly coppered
and brass after the mercurification may be silvered there results the important
advantage that the poisonous solution of cyanide of potassium may be dispensed
with.
As an example of this process for the silvering of brass.
1% solution of nitrate of silver mixed with the calculated quantity of ammonium
lactate to which is added ammonia till alcaline reaction takes place whereby no
sediment is caused, is, with the aid of a silver anode electrolized with a current
of 0.075 ampère per 100 square centimeters of cathode surface. The silver is
deposited in desired quantity, having a faintly glittering and purely white appearance
without a shade of yellow which when treated with red hematite and suitable
polishing substances give the brightest lustre.
is
In the direct coppering of iron and zinc a 1% solution of sulphate of copper
mixed with the calculated quantity of ammonium lactate and 2% free lactic acid the
desired quantity of copper may be deposited to adhere to the iron with a current
of 0.5 to 0.7 ampère per 100 square centimeters of cathode surface. An addition
of ammonium sulphate will render the colour lighter.
Zinc may be coppered under the same conditions with a current of 0.2 ampère
per 100 square centimeters of cathode surface, the other heavy metals require.
similar conditions.
Mixtures of metallic salts produce alloys thus lactates of zinc and copper mixed
in various proportions in an ammoniacal solution give a product of differently
coloured alloys with varying amounts or proportions of zinc and copper respectively
according to the current employed and the proportions of the ingredients.
Dated this 8th day of June 1895.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents for Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method or Process for Obtaining Metals or Metallic
Alloys by Electrolysis.
I, EDWARD JORDIS, of Rambergstrasse 5, Munich, in the Empire of Germany,.
Chemist, 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 improved process is as follows: When the solutions of metallic lactates;
which can be made either directly by dissolving metallic lactate salts or can be
formed by double reaction between a mineral acid metallic salt and a lactate of an
alkali or ammonia or alkaline earth, for instance especially by double reaction
between a metallic sulphate and calcium or barium lactate, or which can be
produced by direct solution of a metal in lactic acid of corresponding concen-
tration, if necessary by using the electric current-are subjected to electrolysis,
: the dissolved metal is obtained on the cathode and possesses a different appearance
according to the conditions employed. Especially when using pure metallic lactate
solutions without adding further ingredients, the metals separated are generally
dark colored, for instance, nickel, iron, copper etc., and partly for instance: zinc in
a velvet like form of decorative effect. By adding suitable ingredients to the
metallic bath-for instance lactate of ammonia or of other alkali or sulphate of
ammonia or other alkali, or other salts, for instance of elements, which under the
conditions observed are not separated, for instance, aluminium, magnesium and
. others the color of the metal to be obtained is rendered lighter to any degree
wanted up to that of the brightest quality of the metal so that many tints or shades.
up to pure metal may be obtained. By addition of these ingredients, which may
be mostly called conductive substances, the resistance of the bath which is
considerable in pure lactate solutions sinks to a small amount.
By observing certain conditions referring to concentration, strength of electric
current, tension and temperature of the bath; it is possible to separate in the
simplest manner a series of brilliant metals, for instance, platinum, nickel, copper,
iron, and others. Lead is obtained in a metallic, dense and homogeneous form
without formation of superoxide. Zinc separated is particularly very clear, bright,
nearly silver white, and either rough or finely crystalline or faintly glittering.
Especially it is possible to separate silver, for instance on mercury, amalgamed
brass, as white matt layer perfectly metallic and dense and in any quantity,
according to weight, it adheres completely, can be. burnished with the bloodstone
and takes easily the brightest lustre. Also without special precautionary measures,
if it was only well rinsed, it remains pure white without a shade of yellow, which
happens so often in baths of cyanide of potassium. In the same way as silver also
brass can be separated and iron or zinc directly coppered so that this process affords
the most important advantage that the poisonous solution of cyanide of potassium
may be dispensed with.
A further advantage is the possibility already mentioned of obtaining glittering
metallic. deposits saving material and work, where it is the question of covering
polished objects with a thin metallic coating, for instance, iron, brass, etc. with
nickel or platinum and others, because supplementary polishing is completely
avoided:
As it is possible to combine lactic acid either directly or indirectly by double
reaction with all the metals and as these lactic salts all give good metal deposits,
lactic acid or its salts are capable of very wide application for galvanoplastic and
electroplating purposes. Over the organic acids hitherto used lactic acid possesses
some further advantages besides these mentioned.
For instance in contrast to tartaric, citric, acetic acid it gets mouldy even in

page_text: diluted solutions only, when it is not pure, especially when in consequence of its
reduction it is soiled with butyric acid or mannite. But the solutions of metallic
lactates, for instance, silver, platinum, nickel, and so forth, can be kept for months
in open receptacles without becoming mouldy or showing any other change than
the commencement of crystallization.
Then the decomposition products of lactic acid, which are produced by the
electric current, for instance when using an insoluble anode such as platinum or one
almost insoluble, for instance, nickel, in consequence of oxidation are completely
inoccuous, no new organic acids, but only carbonic acid and aldehyde being produced
which is not only extremely volatile-boiling point 21° C.-but also soluble in
water and forms only liquid or bodies soluble in water, viz.: aldole or.croton-
aldehyde.
In this lactic acid differs essentially from the acid before mentioned, because
these form either a new acid, for instance, formic acid, or solid such as resinous
bodies which smear the baths and electrodes.
The combination of the baths can as herein before mentioned be effected in
different ways. Generally the price of the lactates will be deciding. While
several lactates for instance iron or nickel lactates subsist in rather concentrated
solution, their crystals or crystal flours formed by evaporation are only partly
soluble with extreme difficulty and in each case no longer in the same volume of
liquid. Others, for instance, silver lactate are decomposed by evaporating, whilst
the silver lactate solution is not changed in the cold. Therefore the bath will be
generally so composed that the lactate is produced by double reaction solution in it.
Accordingly if pure lactate solutions are wanted or if the bath is to be worked
with additional substances the solution between metallic sulphates and lactate of
lime or of barium or that between mineral acid metal salts, and ammonium, or
alkali etc. lactate will be chosen because in the latter case, besides the metallic
lactate, a conducting body is simultaneously produced, for instance here the com-
bination of the mineral acid with ammonium or alkali and has therefore not to be
added. From this it results that it is not always necessary to make the solution
quantitatively. A superfluity of the lactate of the alkali does not matter, with
exception of colourings, but a superfluity of mineral acid metal salts is not suitable,
a few special cases excepted.
The special combination of baths corresponds in each single case to the nature
of the metal to be obtained and of that which has to be covered as well as to the
purpose wanted: vi.: if thick solid layers on only a thin coating is to be made.
This concerns especially baths from which alloys, for instance, brass and others,
have to be deposited as here color and composition of the alloy are obtained quite
differently according to the mixture.
In lactic solution can also be obtained alloys & metals not similarly obtainable
hitherto, for instance lead and antimony, tombac and argentan.
Also the proportions of the current change according to the metals applied and
to the purpose required. Generally for each 100 square centimeters cathode-surface
with 10 centimeters electrode distance are necessary for

page_text: at least during the short time given to the action. It does no harm, if by careless
washing some lactic acid should enter into the bath.
For examples how baths may be composed I cite the following :-

page_text: 2. In the process specified under Claim 1 the production of metallic colorization
by using pure metallic lactate solutions or adding convenient ingredients thereto.
3. The method of cleaning, preparing or finishing objects before and after-
galvanizing or plating by treating same with lactic acid, especially to replace
cyanide of potash, for instance in the treatment of zinc, Britannia metal, argentan,.
tombac, copper, brass, bronze, or on high lustre polished objects, produced from
these metals or especially from iron (or steel) and from brass.
4. In the process specified under Claims 1, 2 and 3 the partial or complete-
replacement of the lactic acid by its homologues especially by glycollic-acid.
Dated this 9th day of March 1896.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London, Agents to Applicant..