IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE RECOVERY OF NITRIC ACID IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURIC ACID, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Julius Gessert, of Elberfeld, in the Kingdom of
Prussia, but now residing at Manchester, in the County of Lan.
caster, Manufacturing Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE RECOVERY OF NITRIC ACID IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURIC
ACID, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 1st January 1870, and dated the 10th July 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Julius Gessert at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th July 1869.
I, JULIUS GESSERT, of Elberfeld, in the Kingdom of Prussia, but now
residing at Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturing
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN THE RECOVERY OF NITRIC ACID IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURIC
ACID, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:
In the manufacture of sulphuric acid from sulphur or sulphur ores,
and nitrates or nitric acid, it is well known that nitrous fumes are

page_text: evolved, which are generally allowed to pass off through the chimney,
but another method has been adopted in which these fumes are pre-
served, but still in the form of nitrous acid, and by a subsequent
treatment they are returned to the vitriol chamber.
Now my Invention consists in arresting these nitrous fumes direct
as they pass from the "vitriol chamber," and in converting them at
once into nitric acid, for which purpose I cause the said fumes to be
oxidized and submitted to the action of water, in order to obtain the
desired liquid nitric acid.
The apparatus I propose to employ consists of a series of chambers or
towers filled loosely with coke, earthenware, or other suitable substance
which will present numerous surfaces, but still allow the gas and water
to pass. The bottom of the first of these chambers or towers has a
communication with the "vitriol chamber," and is also provided with an
aperture for the admission of air, and the said chambers or towers com-
municate with each other at their upper and under ends. The tops are
closed with earthenware slabs, or other suitable material provided with
perforations, sealed by a stratum of water kept constantly supplied.
The nitrous fumes pass from the "vitriol chamber" into the first
chamber or tower, and are there oxidized by the air which is admitted,
and from thence to the second, and subsequently to the other towers of
the series. During this passage of the nitrous fumes water is allowed
to descend through the last tower, which carries down nitric acid of a
certain strength, which is then pumped to the top of the preceding
tower, to effect by its fall a similar operation, and so on through the
series, each chamber or tower delivering its nitric acid in progressively
increasing strength into separate receptacles. The last of the towers
may be connected with a chimney, or other ordinary means may be
adopted for causing a draft, and for this purpose, as well as to supply
water, steam may be admitted.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Julius Gessert in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th January 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JULIUS
GESSERT, of Elberfeld, in the Kingdom of Prussia, but now residing at 35

page_text: Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturing Chemist, seud
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Julius Gessert, Her special license that
I, the said Julius Gessert, 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 RECOVERY OF NITRIC ACID
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURIC ACID, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE-
WITH," upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said Julius
Gessert, 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 Julius Gessert, 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, that is to say
-
In the manufacture of sulphuric acid from sulphur or sulphur ores,
and nitrates or nitric acid, it is well known that nitrous fumes are
evolved, and which are generally allowed to pass off through the
chimney, but another method has been adopted in which these fumes
are preserved, but still in the form of nitrous acid, and by a subsequent
treatment they are returned to the vitriol chamber.
Now my Invention consists in arresting these nitrous fumes direct as
they pass from the "vitriol chamber," and in converting them at once
into nitric acid. For this purpose I cause the said fumes to be oxidized
and submitted to the action of water, in order to obtain the desired
liquid nitric acid.
In carrying out my Invention I employ chambers or towers, such as
are employed in. condensing muriatic acid vapours, they being filled
with coke, earthenware, or other suitable substance which will present

page_text: numerous surfaces, but still allow gas and descending liquid to pass, the
Baid liquid being placed in tanks on the tops of the towers, and provided
with perforated bottoms capable of being closed, as is well understood.
The number of these towers may be varied according to their dimen-
sions, but I will describe my Invention supposing that two are used,
and of dimensions which by experience have been found suitable to the
sulphuric acid apparatus to which they are applied. The first of these
towers communicate by a pipe with the "vitriol chamber," and has also
a pipe at the lower part thereof for the admission of air. To the upper
part of the said first tower is also applied a pipe, which after bending
downwards is connected to the lower part of the second tower. On
commencing operations the nitrous fumes passing through the pipe.
leading from the vitriol chamber meet with the air and become oxidized.
In this condition they pass through the interstices of the coke or other
such substance, and meet with the water which is descending through
the perforated bottom of the tank placed on the first tower, by which
means they partly become condensed and fall to the bottom and into
a vessel provided for that purpose as dilute nitric acid of a certain
strength. The fumes which are not condensed pass onward through
the pipe leading from the top of the first tower, and downward into the
bottom of the second tower, where the same operation takes place, but
as in this case the said fumes have been attenuated the resulting solution
of nitric acid will be weaker. After this the water is shut off from the
first tower, and its place is supplied by pumping or otherwise trans-
ferring the condensed fumes of the second tower to the top of the first,
so that instead of water the condensing medium will be a solution of
nitric acid, and the result in the bottom vessel of the said first tower.
will be nitric acid of increased strength, and this operation may be
allowed to continue until such strength is brought up to any desired
point, the nitric acid being then drawn off and applied to any useful
purpose. Instead of employing two towers three or more may be used,
the operation of which will be precisely the same, each tower delivering
its nitric acid in progressively increasing strengths until the process is
finished in the first, as above described. Or one tower only may be
used, provided with a bottom tank, from which the condensed fumes
may be applied as the condensing medium as above described; but it
may be cheaper to construct two towers of smaller dimensions. It
will of course be understood that the last tower should be provided.
.

page_text: with a chimney or other means for gaining a draft, and for this purpose,
as well as to supply water, steam may be admitted.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be
understood that I claim as secured to me under the above in part recited
Letters Patent, and as applied to the manufacture of sulphuric acid, the.
recovery of nitric acid by oxidizing and condensing the nitrous fumes
passing direct from the "vitriol chamber," substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Julius Gessert, have hereunto,
set my hand and seal, this Second day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.