Metals from Solutions of the Salts of same.
Year: 1888

page_text: Metals from Solutions of the Salts of same.
A communication from abroad by ALBERTO ROVELLO, of Turin, in the Kingdom of
Italy, Mining Engineer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.L.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster. and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
The cupriferous waters obtained either in the metallurgical treatment by the wet
process of the copper ores, or in the lixiviation of the ashes obtained in burning
cupriferous pyrites for the manufacture of sulphuric acid, have hitherto been treated
by scrap iron or cast iron which precipitates the copper in the form of an impure
mud called "cement copper" containing at most 75 per cent. of copper, which it is
necessary to compress, dessicate, smelt, and refine, in order to obtain a pure
commercial product. The consumption of iron, which should theoretically be in the
ratio of the chemical equivalents, that is less than one of iron for one of copper
precipitated, is in practice nearly double.
By this improved process, nearly pure metallic copper, zinc, etcetera, is obtained
direct from the solution, which can immediately be sold to the trade without it being
necessary to submit it to any further operations. In this method, the consumption of
iron or cast iron, is little more than the theoretical one. and in the case of copper,
no external electric current is needed.
In carrying out the invention, Daniell's cells are constructed on a large scale, in
which the electro-negative element consists of cast iron plates instead of zinc, if
cupriferous solutions are to be treated, and zinc, if zinc is to be recovered. The
anode preferably consists of a sheet of iron, cast iron, or zinc, and when united with
the cathode by a short circuit, the small resistance of which can be neglected, the
whole of the electrical energy is employed in the precipitation of the metal in the

page_text: solution, on the plate forming the cathode, thus permitting fine plates of electrolytic
metal to be obtained instead of an impure product.
E
The electro-motive force of the element consisting of copper and iron with a porous
diaphragm, and two liquids (cuprous solution and ferrous solution) is at least
0.60 volts. If, instead of iron or cast iron, plates of zinc are used as anodes, the
electro-motive force rises to 1 volt. If, therefore, an apparatus of this kind is
constructed so as to have an internal resistance of 0'003 Ohms, the current given by
the formula I= FR
will amount to 200 Ampères when cast iron plates are employed,
and 330 Ampères with zinc plates. Consequently at the rate of 1.19 grammes of
copper deposited per Ampère and per hour, each apparatus will produce in 24 hours
in the first case, more than 6 kilogrammes of copper, and in the second more than
9 kilogrammes.
In order to have a very small internal resistance (less than 0.003 Ohms) very
large electrode surfaces must be employed as well as diaphragms having a very
small specific resistance. With a view of satisfying these two conditions, the
following apparatus has been designed.
It consists of any even number of juxtaposed frames, preferably made of deal,
separated from each other by a porous diaphragan (parchment, either natural or
artificial is preferred) and: kept in close contact by means of longitudinal stay rods
provided at each end with nuts and washers bearing on full boarded frames, which
are strengthened by suitable cross ribs and form the front and back onds of the
apparatus.
The frames, which are of rectangular shape, have their top bar thinner than the
other, and may, if desired, he provided with one or more intermediate, vertical
uprights for the purpose, of affording a better support for the parchment or other
porous diaphragm.
In the compartments formed by the frames and diaphragms when in position,
the anodes and cathodes;dip, alternately. suspended by copper hooks, to cross batons
above, covered with strips of copper,for the purpose of conducting the electric current,
and resting on a longitudinal beam along the top of the sides of the compartments.
The copper strips corresponding to the anodes are bent downwards and connected to
a dongitudinal metal rod; whilst the copper strips corresponding to the cathodes are
connected in a similar manner to another longitudinal rod. These rods are.
connected with each other by a short circuit, or with a dynamo according to the
materials under treatment..
1
For the purpose of filling the compartments with the liquids, two funnels are
provided, at one end, and at the upper part of the apparatns; one of these funnels
serves to fill up the compartments of even number, the other those of odd number.
The connection of the funnels with the compartments is effected in the following
manner the bottom. part of each frame is provided on each side with a longitudinal.
hole when, the frames are put together as described, these holes form channels,
each of which supplies each alternate compartment with the requisite exciting
solution through a vertical hole made in the bottom of the frame, and opening into
the said coin partment.
;
For the purpose of emptying the compartments, the other ends of the aforesaid
channels are each provided with an india rubber pipe closed by a clamping device,
or ordinary taps may be employed. The top part of the sides of the frames is
provided in a similar manner as the bottom, with holes forming channels for the
purpose of evacuating the overflow from the compartments.
The diaphragms consisting preferably of a sheet of artificial parchment, is stretched
and squeezed between two consecutive frames, and is provided with holes. corre-.
sponding to those made in the. frame,, and constituting the feeding and overflow
channels of the compartments.
:
'The mode of action is, as follows:
There are two cases to consider, namely the production of electrolytic copper, and.
that' of electrolytic zines

page_text: 1. Copper. A cupriferous solution is poured in a thin and continuous stream into
the funnel supplying the compartments containing the copper plates or cathodes.
Into the other funnel communicating with the compartments containing the
anodes, consisting preferably of plates of cast iron or wrought iron, a solution of the
salt of the same metal is poured likewise, in .a thin and continuous stream.
Thus if the solution poured into one of the funnels is sulphate of copper, sulphate
of iron or zinc must be poured into the other funnel according as the anode is a plate
of iron or of zinc.
The solutions rising together from the bottom to the top of the compartments
remain separated by the diaphragms, and will run through the overflow pipes. The
rods connecting the metal plates being united by a short circuit, electrical action
will take place immediately, and the precipitation of the copper will be such that the
solution which is rich in copper as it enters the apparatus at the bottom of the
cathode compartments, leaves them through the overflow channel impoverished; the
solution which leaves the apparatus through the overflow channel may be used
again in the same apparatus, or in another one in which the copper remaining is
completely extracted, or else the overflowing solution may be used in new
lixiviations.
2. For extraction of zinc. This apparatus may also be used for the electrolysis of
zinc, the cathodes being formed of zinc plates, the anodes of wrought or cast iron.
plates.
In this case, the liquids used are, on the one hand, a solution of sulphate of zinc
derived from the lixiviation of sulphatic ores and forming the raw material, of the
treatment, on the other hand, water feebly acidulated by sulphuric acid, or a weak
solution of sulphate of iron. The pole rods are in this case connected with a dynamo
or battery, so that each apparatus or group of compartments arranged to work either
in series or in parallel arc is or are supplied with a current giving at the pole rods
a difference of potential not less than 0.34 volts, but not exceeding 140 volts in order
not to decompose the water. These examples of the apparatus and its working are
given chiefly to show its form and action, but my correspondent does not bind himself
to the exact details herein shown, as other methods of arranging the coupling etcetera,'
could be employed. The method and apparatus are also equally applicable to the.
electrolysis of other metals, for example, silver.
Dated this 23rd day of August 1888.

page_text: A communication from abroad by ALBERTO ROVELLO, of Turin, in the Kingdom of
Italy, Mining Engineer.
:
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street, Manchester both in the
County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex Civil
Engineer, 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 stateinent :—
The cupriferous waters obtained either in the metallurgical treatinent by the wet
process of the copper ores, or in the lixiviation of the ashes obtained in burning
cupriferous pyrites for the manufacture of sulphuric acid, have hitherto been treated
by scrap iron or cast iron which precipitates the copper in the form of an impure mud
called "cement copper" containing at most 75 per cent. of copper, which it is
necessary to compress, dessicate, snelt, and refine, in order to obtain a pure com-
mercial product. The consumption of iron, which should theoretically be in the ratio
of the chemical equivalents, that is less than one of iron for one of copper precipitated,
is in practice nearly double that amount.
By this improved process, pure metallic copper is obtained direct from the solution,
and it can immediately be sold to the trade without it being necessary to submit
it to any further operations. In this method, the consumption of iron or cast
iron, is little more than the theoretical one, and no external electric current is
needed.
In carrying out the invention, Daniell's cells are constructed on a large scale, in
which the electro-negative element consists of cast, or still better, wrought iron plates
instead of zinc, unless the production of, sulphate of zinc is a desideratum, in which
case zinc may be used. When the anode is united with the cathode by a short circuit,
the small resistance of which can be neglected, the whole of the electrical energy is
employed in the precipitation of the metal in the solution, on the plate forming the
cathode, thus permitting fine plates of electrolytic metal to be obtained instead of an
impure product.
The electro-motive force of the element consisting of copper and iron with a porous
diaphragm, and two liquids (cuprous solution and ferrous solution) is at least 0.60
volts. If, instead of iron or cast iron, plates of zinc are used as anodes, the electro-
motive force rises to 1 volt. If, therefore, an apparatus of this kind is constructed
so as to have an internal resistance of 0.003 Ohms, the current given by the
E
formula I = R
will amount to 200 Ampères when iron plates are employed, and
330 Ampères with zinc plates. Consequently at the rate of 1-19 grammes of copper
deposited per Ampère and per hour, each apparatus will produce in 24 hours in
the first case, more than 6 kilogrammes of copper, and in the second more than
9.kilogrammes.

page_text: resistance.
Specme
With a view of satisfying these two conditions, the following apparatus
has been designed.
In the accompanying drawings, which are merely given as an example, and in
which like parts are marked by the same letters,
Figure 1 is an exterior view of the diaphragm battery.
This battery consists of any even number of juxtaposed frames, proferably made of
deal or pine, separated from each other by a porous diaphragm (parchment either
natural or artificial is preferred) and kept in close contact by means of longitudinal
stay rods provided at each end with nuts and washers bearing on fuil boarded frames,
which are strengthened by suitable cross ribs and form the front and back ends of the
apparatus.
Figure 2 is a side view of the battery.
Figure 3 is a portion of the battery.
Figure 4 is one of the frames, a number of which combined, form the battery.
The frames, which are of rectangular shape, have their top bar thinner than the
others, and may, if desired, be provided with one ог more intermediate uprights
likers in Figure for the purpose of affording a better support for the parchment or
other porous diaphragm.
Figure 5 is a detailed view of part of the battery. In this Figure the frames are
shown with the diaphragms between them and the cathodes and anodes 9 ir the
cells formed by the frames and diaphragms.
a a are cross beams to strengthen the end pieces of the bittery. bbare iron bars,
ca beams supporting the cross pieces which are made conducting by slabs of
copper e e, from which the anodes and cathodes are suspended alternately by copper
hooks. ee are slabs or bars of copper putting all the cathodes in communication with
the negative longitudinal conductor, and ele¹ all the anodes with the positive longi-
tudinal conductor. ff are hoppers for filling separately, with two different liquids,
the cells formed by the odd and even frames taken in order. g' are tubes of gutta
percha or similar material and having taps or clamping devices for emptying the
apparatus.
hare overflow pipes for the two liquids.
ii are frames, each being separated from the next one by a diaphragm.
ka diaphragm consisting of a sheet of artificial parchment (parchment paper)
stretched and caught between two of the frames. Holes must be made in this
diaphragm to correspond with the holes m m' mm of the frames.
t' are
small racks supporting the upper edge of the diaphragm, mmm" and mare
holes made in the frames and forming four tubes in the bottom and sides of the
basin.
1
-
Two of these tubes are in communication only with the interior of the even frames,
takon in order, by means of holes the hopper and the exhausts g and h, the other
two are only in communication with the odd frames taken in order through the
holes n' with the hopper and the exhaust and h'; + and are the poles of the
battery obtained by uniting, through large conductors on the one hand, all the cross
pieces e of the cathodes, and on the other hand all cross pieces e¹ of the anodes, these
poles will be united in a short circuit or else placed in communication with a dynamo
according to circumstances: Or, instead of leaving the two poles of the battery
distinct as described and shown on the drawings, all the ends of cross pieces e e' inay
be electrically connected both on the right and left of the battery without regard to
the polarity of the cross pieces themselves, the battery will then have no distinct poles,
but the short exterior circuit thus established will present the least possible amount of
resistance, this will considerably increase the quantity of copper precipitated during
the 24 hours.
The mode of action is as follows:-
There are two cases to consider, namely, the production of electrolytic copper, and
that of electrolytic zinc.

page_text: 1. Copper. The cupriferous solution is poured in a fine and continuous stream into
the hopper communicating with the cells in which the slabs of copper or cathodes are
suspended, a fine and continuous stream of a weak solution of salt of the same metal
as that of which the anode is formed, is likewise poured into the other hopper com-
municating with the cells in which the anodes are suspended, namely, the slabs of
wrought or cast iron or zinc.
Thus if the solution poured into one of the funnels is sulphate of copper, sulphate of
iron or zinc must be poured into the other funnel according as the anode is a plate of
iron or of zinc.
The solutions rising together from the bottom to the top of the compartments
remain separated by the diaphragms, and will run separately through the overflow
pipes. The rods connecting the metal plates being united by a short circuit,
electrical action will take place immediately, and the precipitation of the copper will
be such that the solution which is rich in copper as it enters the apparatus at the
bottom of the cathode compartments, leaves them through the overflow channel
impoverished, the solution which leaves the apparatus through the overflow channel
may be used again in the same apparatus, or in another one in which the copper
remaining is completely extracted, or else the overflowing solution may be used in
new lixiviations.
2. For extraction of zinc. This apparatus may also be used for the electrolysis of
zinc, the cathodes being formed of zinc plates, the anodes of wrought or cast iron
plates.
In this case, the liquids used are, on the one hand, a solution of sulphate of zinc
derived from the lixiviation of sulphatic ores and forming the raw material of the
treatment, on the other hand, water feebly acidulated by sulphuric acid, or a weak
solution of sulphate of iron. The pole rods are in this case connected with a dynamo,
so that each apparatus or group of apparatus arranged to work either in series or in
parallel arc is or are supplied with a current giving, at the pole rods, a difference of
potential not less than 0.34 volts, but not exceeding 1.40 volts in order not to
decompose the water. These examples of the apparatus and its working are given
chiefly to show its form and action, but I do not bind myself to the exact details
herein shown, as other methods of arranging the coupling, etcetera, could be employed.
The method and apparatus are also equally applicable to the electrolysis of other
metals, for example, silver.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is--
1. The process for obtaining electrolytic copper from cupriferous solutions without
employing any extraneous electrical agency by merely forming a short circuit between
the anode (wrought or cast iron or zine) and the cathode (copper) of a pile containing
two liquids, and elements of which have a large surface and the whole battery a slight
interior resistance, substantially as described.
2. The industrial apparatus taken as a whole which will fulfil these two electrical
conditions, substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 19th day of March 1889.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.