improvements in or Connected with the Manufacture of Chlorine.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 18th July, 1889-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
improvements in or Connected with the Manufacture of Chlorine.
We HENRY WADE DEACON of Appleton House Widnes in the County of Lancaster
Alkali Manufacturer and FERDINAND HURTER Ph. D. of Wilmere House Bold Widnes
aforesaid Analytical Chemist do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to
be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to the manufacture of chlorine by processes in which the
chlorine is liberated by bringing a mixture of hydrochloric acid gas and air or oxygen
into contact with what are known as catalytic substances at elevated temperatures for
example the process known as the "Deacon Chlorine process."
We have found that it is desirable for the purpose of manufacturing chlorine from
hydrochloric acid gas by means of such processes to have the mixture of hydrochloric
acid gas and air or oxygen as nearly free from aqueous vapour as possible before
bringing the said mixture into contact with the catalytic substance.
According to our present invention wo obtain in a dry or nearly dry condition
a mixture of hydrochloric acid gas and air or oxygen by means of salt and
sulphuric acid such as are ordinarily employed in the manufacture of "saltcake."
We mix one equivalent of salt with two or more equivalents of sulphuric acid
and heat gently when all or nearly all of the chlorine contained in the salt is
driven off in the form of hydrochloric acid gas. In order to render the evolution
of this gas more uniform the salt should be added gradually to the sulphuric acid.
We promote the evolution of the gas by agitation preferably by forcing the air or
oxygen with which the hydrochloric acid is to be mixed or part thereof through
the mixture of salt and sulphuric acid.
Thus we obtain an intimate mixture of air or oxygen and hydrochloric acid gas
free or nearly free from aqueous vapour and suitable for use in the manufacture
of chlorine by such processes as the "Deacon chlorine process."
The solution of bisulphate of soda we distil in a suitable apparatus. By fractional
distillation we obtain much of the sulphuric acid in a concentrated state and some as
fuming sulphuric acid. If we do not require fuming sulphuric acid we promote the
distillation by the aid of steam previously superheated it desired.
Some of the sulphuric acid is decomposed during the distillation into sulphurous acid
gas. This gas may be conveyed after condensing the sulphuric acid and hydro-
chloric acid as far as possible into ordinary sulphuric acid chambers to be reconverted
into sulphuric acid as is well understood.
The residue of the distillation is ordinary salt cake (sulphate of soda). If it is
desired to render the bisulphate less fusible during the distillation salt cake may be
mixed with it in suitable proportion previous to the distillation.
D
11
101
COL1000
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents..

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with the Manufacture of Chlorine.
We HENRY WADE DEACON of Appleton House Widnes in the County of Lancaster
Alkali Manufacturer and FERDINAND HURTER Ph. D. of Wilmere House Bold Widnes
aforesaid 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 :-
Our Invention relates to the manufacture of Chlorine by processes in which the
chlorine is liberated by bringing a mixture of hydrochloric acid gas and air or
oxygen into contact with what are known as Catalytic substances at elevated tem-
peratures for example the process known as the "Deacon chlorine Process."
We have found that it is desirable for the purpose of manufacturing chlorine from
hydrochloric acid gas by means of such processes, to have the mixture of hydrochloric
acid gas and air or oxygen as nearly free from aqueous vapour as possible before
bringing the said mixture into contact with the catalytic substance.
According to our present invention we obtain the hydrochloric acid gas in a dry or
nearly dry condition by means of salt and sulphuric acid such as are ordinarily
employed in the manufacture of "saltcake."
We mix one equivalent of salt with two or about two equivalents of sulphuric acid
and heat gently when all or nearly all of the chlorine contained in the salt is driven
off in the form of hydrochloric acid gas. In order to render the evolution of this
gas more uniform the salt should be added gradually to the sulphuric acid. We
prefer to promote the evolution of the gas by agitation, which may be done by forcing
the air or oxygen with which the hydrochloric acid gas is to be mixed, or part thereof
through the mixture of salt and sulphuric acid, but if this method be not adopted, dry
or nearly dry air may be mixed with the hydrochloric acid gas afterwards.
Thus we obtain an intimate mixture of air or oxygen and hydrochloric acid gas
free or nearly free from aqueous vapour and suitable for use in the manufacture of
chlorine by such processes as the "Deacon Chlorine Process."
The solution of bisulphate of soda we distil in a suitable apparatus but we do not
claim the treatment of the bisulphate of soda. By fractional distillation we obtain
much of the sulphuric acid in a concentrated state and some as fuming sulphuric acid.
If we do not require fuming sulphuric acid we promote the distillation by the aid of
steam previously superheated if desired.
Some of the sulphuric acid is decomposed during the distillation into sulphurous
acid gas. This gas may be conveyed after condensing the sulphuric acid and hydro-
chloric acid as far as possible, into ordinary sulphuric acid chambers to be reconverted
into sulphuric acid as is well understood.
The following describes more in detail a mode of carrying out this invention. We
employ a cylindrical cast iron pot provided at the top with the necessary apertures
and pipes for charging into it the salt and the sulphuric acid and for the escape of the
hydrochloric acid gas evolved. Through another aperture we introduce a pipe ending
in a perforated coil or rose through which air or oxygen can be forced into and
through the liquid charge. At the bottom of the pot we provide a flow off pipe
closable by a tap through which the finished charge may be run off.
Into this pot
we first of all charge the necessary sulphuric acid (i.e. about 14 parts by weight of
sulphuric acid for every 1 part by weight of salt) and then gradually add the one
equivalent of salt at the same time agitating the charge preferably by means of a
current of air or oxygen forced into it through the perforated coil or rose.
mixture of hydrochloric acid gas and air generated in the pot is conveyed to the
decomposer to be there converted into chlorine. The reaction in the pot is assisted
by gently heating the pot from outside either by direct fire or by steam or other
heat. The temperature of the charge should not rise much above 220 degrees
Fahrenheit.
The

page_text: When the charge is sufficiently free from hydrochloric acid the said charge is run
off into a cast iron pan, in which it is heated until all the water is evaporated and the
bisulphate of soda becomes a fused mass which is then run into a fire clay retort
where it is further heated to a bright red heat. By this means the free sulphuric acid
is driven off through an exit pipe provided for the purpose. The vapours passing
through this pipe consist of sulphuric acid, sulphurous acid, oxygen and water. They
are cooled in order to condense the sulphuric acid, the sulphurous acid is conveyed
into sulphuric acid chambers to be reconverted into sulphuric acid.
The residue in the retort is sulphate of soda containing a little free acid.
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 :-
In the manufacture of chlorine by processes such as are herein before mentioned the
production and use of a dry mixture of hydrochloric acid gas and air or oxygen
substantially as herein before described.
H. WADE DEACON.
FERDINAND HURTER.