Oxides of Various Metals.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 26th May, 1888
Specification Accepted, 29th June, 1888
and Oxides of Various Metals.
Wo, FRANK TRICKETT, of Westcombe Park, in the County of Kent, Stone
Merchant, and JAMES NOAD, of East Ham, in the County of Essex, Electrician and
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to improvements in the production of soda crystals and of
chlorides and oxides of various metals.
In carrying the Invention into effect, according to one modification we use an open
tank or vessel constructed of wood, stone or other suitable non-conducting material
and suspend therein two electrodes respectively in connection with the opposite poles or
electrodes of any suitable generator of electricity, the negative electrode in the tank
being made of any suitable material which will not decompose in the solution during
the process hereinafter described and the positive electrode being made of the metal of
which the chloride or oxide is required. Into the tank thus adapted we place brine
or a solution of sodium chloride either hot or cold preferably using a hot saturated
solution of sodium chloride, and then apply an electric current of sufficient power to
liberate the chlorine which combines with the metal of the positive electrode forming
a chloride of such metal which is precipitated in the tank. The hydrogen generated
at the negative electrode may, if required, be collected in any suitable manner.
The solution is then, after being allowed to stand for a time, run off from the
precipitate, and is treated for the manufacture of soda crystals by adding thereto
carbonate of calcium or other suitable material which will give off carbonic acid and
will also precipitate in the solution any remaining traces of metal or contained foreign
matter which may be decomposed during the operation; the solution is subsequently
boiled down until a pellicle appears on its surface when it is run into coolers for
crystalization. The chloride of the metal of the positive electrode contained in the
said precipitate may, after washing, be applied in color making for brick, tile and

page_text: porcelain goods, or for such other uses as it may advantageously be applied to. If
an oxide of the metal is required the precipitate is roasted to drive off the
chlorine leaving the oxide applicable for such uses as it may advantageously be
applied to.
In a modification of the above process we add to the brine or solution of sodium
chloride, before applying the electric current thereto, (say) one part of sulphuric acid
to (say) every twelve parts of the contained sodium chloride, thus forming sodium
sulphate and hydrochloric acid in solution, we then add to the solution the metal (in
the form of scrap metal or otherwise) of which we require the chloride, whereupon
the chlorine combines with the metal forming the desired chloride the precipitation of
which we then effect by applying the electric current to the solution. In such modi-
fication. the electrodes may be formed of such suitable materials as will not decomposo
in the solution. The solution is then run off and is treated in the manner hereinbefore
described for the production of the soda crystals.
Or according to a further modification in lieu of effecting the separation of the
chloride from the solution described in the next preceding modification in the manner
described, we effect the same by boiling such solution down until we obtain the chloride
and the sodium salt together in a dry condition, and we then calcine such product and
produce a black ash which is broken up and the soda salt washed therefrom, the
solution being run off from the precipitate (which consists of or contains the oxide of
the scrap metal placed in the tank) and being treated in the manner hereinbefore
described for the production of the soda crystals.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
다
The application and use of the herein before described improvements severally for
the purposes herein before respectively described, and collectively in such sequences as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Dated this 20th day of Bay Lood.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.