IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF SULPHURIC ACID
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Rudolph Messel, of Silvertown, Victoria Docks, in the
County of Essex, Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PRODUCTION OF SULPHURIC ACID."
Sealed the 12th July 1878, and dated the 15th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Rudolph Messel at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th January 1878.
RUDOLPH MESSEL, of Silvertown, Victoria Docks, in the County of Essex,
Chemist. " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF SULPHURIC ACID."
This Invention relates to the production of sulphuric acid, fuming sulphuric acid,
and anhydrous sulphuric acid.
In carrying out this Invention I expose sulphur to heat in oxygen, and prefer to
pass the
gases arising from this combustion into a gas holder, either using such
excess of oxygen as with the generated sulphurous acid will form equivalent propor-
tions for their combination into sulphuric anhydride or sulphuric acid, or should
these equivalent proportions not be perfectly attained I pass into the gas holder
such a proportion as may be necessary of the gas that may be deficient.
The required oxygen may be obtained by the decomposition of acidulated water
acted upon by electricity, any of the well known engines being used for that
purpose.
The gaseous contents of the gas holder obtained as above are then passed over or
through spongy platinum or platinized materials, such as asbestos, or the oxides of
chromium or of iron or of copper, and either separately or in combination, which
at a moderate temperature possess the property of causing the sulphurous acid and
oxygen to combine so as to form anhydrous sulphuric acid. This may be condensed
either alone in a suitable apparatus, or it may be dissolved in ordinary sulphuric
acid, so as to form Nordhausen or fuming sulphuric acid.

page_text: This process of manufacture may readily be made continuous by the employment
or two gas holders or receivers, so that whilst one is being emptied the other may
be filling.
The hydrogen given off during the decomposition of the water may be utilized
for the purposes of heating, or, after being carburetted, for purposes of illumination.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Rudolph Messel in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th July
1878.
RUDOLPH MESSEL, of Silvertown, Victoria Docks, in the County of Essex,
Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF SULPHURIC ACID."
My said Invention relates to the production of sulphuric acid, fuming sulphuric
acid, and sulphuric anhydride.
In carrying out my said Invention I expose sulphur to beat in oxygen so as to
obtain sulphurous acid, and I prefer to pass the gases arising from this combustion
into a gas holder, either using such excess of oxygen as with the generated sul-
phurous acid will form equivalent proportions for their combination into sulphuric
anhydride or sulphuric acid, or should these equivalent proportions not be perfectly
attained I pass into the gas holder such a proportion of either of the gases as may
be necessary to produce the desired result.
The oxygen required is to be obtained by the decomposition of acidulated water
acted upon by electricity produced by dynamo-electric engines.
The gaseous contents of the gas holder obtained as above mentioned are then
passed over or through spongy platinum or platinized material, such as platinized
asbestos, or the oxides of chromium or of iron or of copper may be employed, either
separately or in combination. Such substances and compounds at an elevated
temperature will be found to possess the property of causing the sulphurous acid and
oxygen to combine so as to form anhydrous sulphuric acid. This may be condensed
either alone in a suitable apparatus, or it may be absorbed in ordinary sulphuric
acid so as to form Nordhauson or fuming sulphuric acid.
The process of manufacture may be readily made continuous by the employment
of two gas holders or receivers, so that whilst one is being emptied the other may
be filling.
The hydrogen given off during the decomposition of the water may be utilized
for the purposes of heating, or, after being carburetted, for purposes of illumi-
nation.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, the production of anhydrous sulphuric acid by firstly effecting the
combustion of sulphur by the employment of oxygen derived from the decomposi-

page_text: tion of acidulated water by means of dynamo-electricity, and then converting the
sulphurous acid thus produced into anhydrous sulphuric acid by mixing the same
with oxygen derived from the same or similar source, and passing the mixed gases
at an elevated temperature over or through substances capable of transforming them
into the desired anhydrous sulphuric acid, substantially in the manner as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Rudolph Messel, have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal, the Thirteenth day of July, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
RUDOLPH MESSEL (L.B.)