IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING PRODUCTS FROM SULPHURETS AND OTHER COMPOUNDS CONTAINING SULPHUR
Year: 1844

page_text: LEE, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Thirtieth day of May, in the seventh year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Lee, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said John Lee, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said John Lee, my exors, adiñiors, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the
term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
my Invention of. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING PRODUCTS FROM SULPHURETS
AND OTHER COMPOUNDS CONTAINING SULPHUR;" in which said Letters Patent
is contained a proviso that I, the said John Lee, shall cause a particular
description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months. next and immediately after the date of
the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference
being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Lee, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and

page_text: ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon
(that is to say):-
In the process of roasting and smelting those metallic ores consisting of
combinations of metals and sulphur, and coming under the general denomina-
tion of sulphurets, much sulphurous acid gas is evolved. Since the introduc-
tion generally of the use of iron pyrites or poor copper ores in the manufacture
of oil of vitriol by the alkali manufacturers attempts have been to connect the
making of oil of vitroil with the operations of the smelter, and in this way
avoid the loss of the sulphur and the nuisance to the neighbourhood where
such smelting operations are carried on. Various unsuccessful attempts have
been made also to prevent the nuisance by other
My improvements are applicable to the sulphurets of potassium, sodium,
and calcium, produced by the heating of the sulphates of potash, soda, and
lime, with carbonaceous matter; also to the alkali waste of the alkali maker,
and also to the sulphurets of iron, copper, lead, and zinc.
means.
Having enumerated the sulphurets to which my improvements are applica-
ble, I will proceed to describe the nature of my Invention, and the mode of
carrying it into effect.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent various views of that part of my apparatus by
which the sulphurous acid gas is decomposed. Figure 1 is a longitudinal
section. Figure 2 is a tranverse section of Figure 1 through the dotted
lines 1, 1. Figure 3 is a sectional plan through the dotted line 2, 2, Figure 1.
In each of these Figures the sanic letters of reference are used to indicate
similar parts. A is the flue through which the sulphurous acid gas passes,
whence it is generated to the fire-place B. C, the grate bars. D, the ash-
pit. E, the door closing the ashpit. F, F, F, are holes closed by fire bricks,
and through which the fire is stirred. G is the fire brick grating communi-
cating with fluc A, through which the sulphurous acid gas enters the fire.
H, H', are the flues carrying away the sulphur vapour and gaseous matter
from the fire into the chimney or flue I, and constructed on the principle and
similar to the grating G. The chimney or flue I is constructed of common
brick or stone cased inside with fire brick. In the interior of the walls, which
I make of great thickness, I have an open space J which I fill with ground
coke or furnace ashes, or any other suitable material that is a bad conductor
of heat. K, K, K, are brick arches or fire tiles thrown across the chimney or
flue I, and placed about two inches apart, upon which are piled fire bricks or

page_text: fragments of fire bricks, constructed in a way to form tortuous passages for the
sulphur vapour and gaseous matter to traverse. They are placed on the
chimney or flue at intervals of eighteen or twenty-four inches. L, L, L, are
openings into the chimney through which to ascertain the temperature in
the chimney, and closed by an iron or brick stopper when not used. M is the
flue carrying away the sulphur vapour and gaseous matter to the condenser
hereafter described. N is the door at the bottom of the chimney for clearing
the chimney out. 0, 0, 0, 0, are doors for closing the brick grating G, on
which are registers for admitting atmospheric air when necessary. P, P, are
doors through which the coke is supplied to the fire-place B. Q is a damper
or register for regulating the supply of sulphurous acid gas to the flue A'.
Figures 4 and 5 represent the apparatus in which the sulphur vapour or part
of it is condensed or liquified, and M is the flue in connection with the same
flue M, Figure 1. Figure 4 is a sectional elevation. Figure 5 is a horizontal
section through the dotted line 3, 3, Figure 4. The sulphur vapour and
gascous matter enter that part of the apparatus shewn at Figure 4, and which
I call the condenser, by the flue M. R is the chamber or body of this
condenser filled with broken glass, bricks, stone, or coke, so as to expose
extensive surfaces for condensing the sulphur vapour, on the principle of the
condenser so extensively used by the alkali makers for condensing muriatic
acid gas.
S is an iron grating the support the materials with which the
condenser is filled, and through which the liquid sulphur runs into the iron
pan T, placed underneath to receive it. The gaseous matter and uncondensed
sulpher vapour also passes through this grating, and is carried out of the
condenser by the flue U into an apparatus constructed of brick or stone, and
on the principle of the chambers or flues so commonly used by the lamp black
makers for collecting the lamp black, and in which the remainder of the
sulphur is collected in the form of powder or flour brimstone. A current or
draught is produced by connecting with this part of the apparatus last
described a chimney of sufficient capacity to command any draught that may
be required, which is too well known to require any further description. It is
well known that when the sulphates of potash, soda, and lime are heated with
carbonaceous matter, they are converted into sulphurets of potassium, sodium,
and calcium, respectively; and it is also well known, that when these sul-
phurets are moistened with water and exposed to the action of carbonic acid
gas, that they are decomposed, and the carbonates or bicarbonates of potaslı,
soda, and lime formed, and also sulphuretted hydrogen gas. It is also well
known that the alkali waste of the alkali makers, when treated with muriatic
acid, gives off sulphuretted hydrogen gas. Now, I propose to obtain from

page_text: such sulphuretted hydrogen gas sulphur in its solid state. I burn the sul-
phuretted hydrogen gas however produced from the sulphurets of potassium,
sodium, calcium, or alkali makers' waste, and produce thereby, as is well
known, sulphurous acid gas and vapour of water; the vapour of water I
prefer to separate by passing the mixed sulphurous acid gas and vapour
of water through a suitable apparatus for condensing the water, a leaden
pipe, surrounded with cold water, on the principle of a common still,
or passing the sulphurous acid gas and vapour of water over a trough
containing strong sulphuric acid will answer the purpose very well. I
then conduct the dry or nearly dry sulphurous acid gas by the flue A,
Figure 1, and through the fire B. In passing through the fire the greater
part of the sulphurous acid gas is decomposed, vapour of sulphur being
formed, some of which unites with carbon and hydrogen and produces
sulphurets of carbon and hydrogen; carbonic oxide gas is abundantly produced
also by the decomposition of the sulphurous acid gas. Some sulphurous acid
gas passes through the fire undecomposed, and this is acted upon and
decomposed by the carbonic oxide gas, and the sulphurets of carbon and
hydrogen, in their passage through the flues H, H', and the chimney or flue I,
all of which flues I maintain at a full red heat, by carrying with the sul-
phurous acid gas, through the fire on the fire plate B, sufficient atmospheric
air to maintain such a fire as will effect this. And in order to draw and
distribute the sulphurous acid gas equably through the grating G and the fire
in the fire place B, I construct the flues H and H' on the same principle as
shewn at G, Figures 1 and 2, whereby I also expose a greater extent of
heated surface to determine the mutual reaction of the sulphurous acid gas, the
carbonic oxide gas, and the sulphurets of carbon and hydrogen upon each
other to produce solid sulphur. The carbonic acid gas resulting from the
decomposition of the sulphurous acid gas by the carbonic oxide gas at this
temperature, as well as any carbonic acid gas produced in the fire, also reacts
upon the sulphurets of carbon and hydrogen as they pass along the heated
flues H, H', and up the chimney or flue I, so as to produce vapour of sulphur
or sulphur in its solid and free state. When sulphurets of carbon or hydrogen,
or both, are in excess, I check the draught through the apparatus by closing
or partially closing the damper at the chimney, allowing some of the gascous
matter to escape through any of the holes L in the chimney or flue I, and I
ascertain that they are in excess by any of the usual tests well known to
chemists, as for instance, a salt of lead, and when I find them in excess I
introduce some sulphurous acid gas through the regulator or damper Q into
the flue A', which mixes with the sulphur vapour and gaseous matter passing

page_text: from the flue II to the flue H', and I ascertain that I have admitted a
sufficient quantity of sulphurous acid gas by ascertaining whether there is any
sulphurous acid gas passing away undecomposed by removing one of the
stoppers closing the pipes L, and causing some of the gas in the flue I to
escape, and apply the usual tests for proving the presence of sulphurous acid
gas. I also ascertain by these pipes L that the temperature of the flue I is at
a full red heat. In order to insure the proper mixture of the gases passing
through the flue or chimney I, I interrupt their too free passage up the flue I
by throwing fire tiles across the flue at a distance of two or three inches apart,
and pile upon these fire tiles fire bricks or pieces of fire bricks so as to form
small channels or interstices, and thus force the gases that are to act upon
each other into closer contact with the heated surfaces, so as to effect better
their mutual decomposition. This part of the apparatus is represented at
K, K, K, and placed in the flue at intervals of about eighteen or twenty-four
inches; in this way the gascous matter is mixed. After passing through each
arrangement of fire bricks represented at K, the sulphur vapour and gaseous mat-
ter is conducted away from the chimney or flue I along the flue M, which is a
brick flue covered with cast-iron plates, on which is placed a leaden cistern V,
supplied with cold water so as to reduce the temperature of the sulphur vapour
to about 300° of Fahrenheit. The sulphur vapour or part of the sulphur
vapour in passing through the broken glass, bricks, stones, or coke, with
which the condenser Figure 4 is filled, is liquified, and runs through the iron
grate S into the iron pan T placed to receive it, and from which it is run off*
into moulds of any convenient size and shape; and should it contain any
impurity to render it unfit for the market, I distill it by any of the well known
processes for distilling sulphur, and thus produce sulphur fit for the market.
Sulphur, it is well known, fuses at 226° Fahrenheit, and remains very fluid
till it reaches a temperature of 280° Fahrenheit, and it is necessary to main-
tain the materials with which the condenser Figure 4 is filled at some
temperature between 226° and 280°, and this may be easily managed by
cooling the sulphur vapour in its passage along the flue M. That part of the
sulphur vapour which escapes liquification is carried off by the flue U, and
I collect it in an apparatus constructed on the principle of that commonly
used by lamp black makers for collecting lamp black, as I have already
described.
I can produce sulphur in its solid state by passing a mixture of sulphurous
acid gas and sulphuretted hydrogen gas, in the proprotion of one volume
sulphurous acid gas and two volumes of sulphuretted hydrogen gas, through a
furnace or retort filled with pieces of fire brick, and maintained at a full red

page_text: heat; but I prefer to burn the sulphuretted hydrogen gas and to pursue the
process hereip-before described.
And I would remark, that in the Specification of a Patent granted to
William Newton, bearing date at Westminster, the Fifth day of December,
One thousand eight hundred and forty-three, which Specification has been
inrolled since my Patent was granted, in which said Specification it is proposed
to obtain solid sulphur from the sulphurous acid gas produced during the
roasting and smelting of the sulphurets of iron, copper, lead, and zine; and
I mention this circumstance in order to state that I do not claim to obtain
solid sulphur from sulphurous acid gas produced in the roasting and smelting
of these metallic sulphurets. At the same time I believe that the furnace
herein described for decomposing the sulphurous acid gas arising from the
roasting and smelting of these metallic sulphurets will be found more useful
than that which is described in the said Specification of William Newton's
Patent.
The sulphurous acid gas produced by the roasting and smelting of the
sulphurets of iron, copper, lead, and zinc is conducted by the flue A to the
decomposing apparatus already described, and from which solid sulphur is
produced in the same way as is herein described, when treating sulphurous
acid gas produced from the sulphurets of potassium, sodium, and calcium, or
alkali makers' waste.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the best means I
am acquainted with for performing the same, I would wish it to be understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein stated, provided the
peculiar character of either part of my Invention be retained. And I would
wish it to be understood that I make no claim to having discovered the
passing of sulphurous acid gas and other gaseous compounds of sulphur and
oxygen through and amongst heated coke or other carbonaceous matter,
, my Invention, so far as such process is concerned, consisting in combining that
process with the other processes herein described, when operating on the
matters herein mentioned, and from which the sulphurous acid gas and other
gaseous or other compounds containing sulphur have heretofore been evolved
into the atmosphere or otherwise lost. And I wish it to be understood that
what I claim is,-
First, the passing of sulphurous acid gas through and amongst coke, coal,
or other carbonaceous matter heated to a full red heat to obtain sulphur, when
such sulphurous acid gas is obtained by burning sulphuretted hydrogen gas
with atmospheric air, when the sulphuretted hydrogen gas is produced from
the sulphurets of potassium, sodium, calcium, or alkali makers' waste.

page_text: And, secondly, I claim the mode of constructing the furnace shewn at
Figures 1, 2, and 3, whereby the gaseous products herein described are caused
to be passed amongst and through heated carbonaceous matter, whereby the
gaseous matters are submitted to the heated carbon without passing through
between the grate bars supporting the heated carbonaceous matters.
In witness whercof, I, the said John Lee, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Thirtieth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-four.