IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROCARBONS, SUCH AS BENZOLE, TOLUOLE, XYLOLE, NAPTHALINE, ANTHRACENE, AND THEIR HOMOLOGOUS SUBSTANCES WHICH ARE SUITABLE FOR THE MANUFActure of COLORS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Pitt, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROCARBONS, SUCH
AS BENZOLE, TOLUOLE, XYLOLE, NAPTHALINE, ANTHRACENE, AND THEIR
HOMOLOGOUS SUBSTANCES WHICH ARE SUITABLE FOR THE MANUFActure of
COLORS." A communication from abroad by Dr. Philip Greiff, of Munich, in
the Empire of Germany.
ed the 6th January 1880, and dated the 14th July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th July 1879.
SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PRODUCTION OF HYDROCARBONS, SUCH AS BENZOLE, TOLUOLE, XYLOLE, NAP-
THALINE, ANTHRACENE, AND THEIR HOMOLOGOUS SUBSTANCES WHICH ARE SUITABLE
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF COLORS." [A communication from abroad by Dr.
Philip Greiff, of Munich, in the Empire of Germany.]
The Invention consists in the utilization of the residues of the distillation, recti-
fication, and purification of petroleum, ozokerit, and other mineral oils, bitumens,
and rosins for the production of such hydrocarbons as benzole, toluole, xylole,
naphthaline, anthracene, and their homologous substances which are suitable for
the manufacture of colors.
For this purpose I either work continuously the crude petroleum or material
obtaining the burning and lubrication oils by known methods, and then work the
residual products as hereinafter described; or I obtain the residual products from
the distillers, rectifiers, or purifiers of those oils. I introduce the residual products
into retorts, vessels, or chambers filled with coal, coke, metal, stone, or other
suitable material, which are heated to a suitable temperature.
I either use one or a series of retorts similar to gas-retorts or other vessels or
chambers filled with such said materials, and then introduce the substances from
which the aforesaid hydrocarbons are to be generated either in a spray or when
converted into vapour.
The retorts, or vessels, or chambers are provided with suitable condensing
apparatus for the tarry liquid, which contains the said hydrocarbons, benzole,

page_text: toluole, xylole, napthaline, anthracene, and the like. This tarry liquid is distilled
-in-the-known manner-in-which_the_coal-tar oils are distilled. The gas, which is
produced at the same time may be either used for lighting purposes-or-for-heating-
the retort.
Hitherto the only source of supply of the hydrocarbons benzole, toluole, xylole,
napthaline, anthracene, and the-like-on-a..cominercial scale has been the coal tar ;
but I produce the same from petroleum, ozokerit, and other mineral oils, bitumens,
and resins, which have hitherto-not-been-rendered-useful.for that purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Sydney Pitt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th January
1880.
SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PRODUCTION OF HYDRO-CARBONS, SUCH AS BENZOLE, TOLUOLE, XYLOLE, NAP-
THALINE, ANTHRACENE, AND THEIR HOMOLOGOUS SUBSTANCES WHICH ARE SUITABLE
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF COLORS." A communication from abroad by Dr.
Philip Greiff, of Munich, in the Empire of Germany.
My Invention consists in the utilization of the residues of the distillation, recti-
fication, and purification of petroleum, ozokerit, and other mineral oils, bitumens,
and rosins, for the production of such hydrocarbons as benzole, toluole, xylolc,
napthaline, anthracene, and their homologous substances, which are suitable for the
manufacture of colors.
For this purpose. I either work continuously the crude petroleum or material,
obtaining the burning and lubrication oils by known methods, and such as are
employed on a very large scale in the United States of America, where the dis-
tillation and rectification of petroleum oil is mainly carried on, and then work the
residual products, as hereinafter described; or I obtain the residual products from
the distillers, rectifiers, or purifiers of those oils. I introduce the residual products
into retorts, vessels, or chambers filled with charcoal, coke, metal, stone, or other
suitable material, the object being to bring the vapours of the residue into contact
with a large area of heated surface.
I either use one or a series of retorts similar to gas retorts or other vessels or
chambers filled with such said materials, and then introduce the substances from
which the aforesaid hydrocarbons are to be generated either in a spray or when
converted into vapours.
When converting into vapours I vaporize the material in a separate vessel and
lead the vapours into the retort. The retort and its contents are heated to a tempe-
rature higher than that of the vapour, and yet not so high as to produce any large
quantity of permanent illuminating gas. Some illuminating gas is however
necessarily produced. The heat in the retort being so regulated as to ensure only
a small but continuous generation of gas, which may be used either for lighting
purposes or for heating the retort itself.

page_text: The retorts, or vessels, or chambers are provided with suitable condensing
apparatus for the tarry liquid which contains the said hydrocarbons, benzole,
toluole, xylole, napthaline, anthracene, and the like. This tarry liquid is distilled
in the known manner in which the coal tar oils are distilled.
Hitherto the only source of supply of the hydrocarbons, benzole, toluole, xylole,
napthaline, anthracene, and the like on a commercial scale has been the coal tar ;
but I produce the same from petroleum, ozokerit, and other mineral oils, bitumens,
and rosins, which have hitherto not been rendered useful for that purpose.
What I claim is the production of hydrocarbons, such as benzole, toluole, xylole,
napthaline, anthracene, and their homologous substances, substantially as herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sydney Pitt, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
SIDNEY PITT. (L.S.)