CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRECIPITATION OR DEPOSITION OF METALS
Year: 1841

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, OGLETHORPE
WAKELIN BARRATT, of Birmingham, Metal Gilder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her présent most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Eighth day of September, in the fifth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Oglethorpe Wakelin Barratt, Her special licence, full power, sole privilege
and authority, that I, the said Oglethorpe Wakelin Barratt, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Oglethorpe Wakelin
Barratt, my executors, administrators, 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRECIPITATION OR DEPOSITION OF
METALS;" in-which aid Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the
Said Oglethorpe Wakelin Barratt, shall cause a particular description of
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, 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
Oglethorpe Wakelin Barratt, do hereby declare that the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully
[Price 8d

page_text: described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof (that
is to say):-
My improvements in precipitation or deposition of metals consist,-
First, in the application of electric currents for the purpose of depositing
copper and its alloys taken into solution in the acids employed during the pro-
cesses of cleaning such metals. I take a saturated solution of copper in the
mixed acid, known as dipping aquefortis by the trade, in the proportion of six
to eight water and one acid. This I put into a convenient vessel, having two
copper wires placed parallel with each other on the edges of the vessel; these
wires I connect with a battery in the usual way. The work to be cleaned is
suspended upon the wire in connection with the copper or negative metal of
the battery, and a plate or plates of copper, corresponding with a larger area
than the area of the surface of the work to be cleaned, is or are suspended on
the other wire, such plate or plates being intended to receive the metal
deposited from the solution. In from five to ten minutes the scale or oxide of
copper on the surface will be removed. Another lot of work is then intro-
duced under the same arrangement. If the articles to be cleaned are required
bright upon the surface, I add free acid in the proportion of one part acid to
ten of the saturated solution before named; or if the surface be required of a
dead appearance, I add muriatic acid in the proportion of one to two parts of
muriatic acid to twelve of the saturated solution of copper, according to the
dead effect desired.
Secondly, myInvention consists of a mode of precipitating zinc upon other
metals from its solution by the application of electric currents, and which I
effect as follows:-I dissolve metallic zinc in diluted sulphuric acid cold,com-
posed of one part acid to eight water. When the acid and zinc cease to act
upon each other the solution is fit for use. I attach the articles to be coated
with the zinc to the positive plate of the battery,and a plate of zinc somewhat
less in surface than the articles to be coated to the negative plate, and immerse
them in the solution of zinc; and it should be remarked that in this case the
zinc used in the battery and in the solution is not amalgated, but in case
amalgamated zinc be used in the battery, then I slightly amalgamate the zinc
for such plate or plates used, as above explained. The deposition may be
continued till the required coating is obtained. Other acid and saline solutions
of zinc may be employed, as those in muriatic and acetic acids, and the
muriate of ammonia, or the sulphate of zinc of commerce, in connection with
the battery, but I have found the foriner succeed perfectly.
Thirdly, my Invention consists of a mode of precipitating copper upon iron
and other metals. My improvements are two-fold,-

page_text: First, I take an acidulated solution of sulphate or other salt of copper.
What I have commonly used is a saturated solution of sulphate of copper,
containing about four or five per cent. of free sulphuric acid, and, having
connected the articles to be coated by means of a wire or strip of copper
to a plate of zinc attached to the other end of the wire or strip of copper,
1 immerse the articles and the zinc so connected into the solution of copper
employed. I prefer to enclose the zinc plate in a wrapper of cloth or
strong paper to prevent the deposition of the copper upon the zinc plate; and
I have been able by this arrangement to produce a more perfect contact of
the metals, particularly where iron is desired to be coated, thau by any of the
modes heretofore recommended or described when using acid solutions of
copper..
The second part of my improvement in coppering metals relates to the
employment of certain salts of copper, as the solutions of the oxides of copper,
instead of the acid solutions heretofore employed, and which is more particu-
larly applicable to the coating of iron or other metals, which are preserved in
a negative state with difficulty in the acid solutions. I take eight pounds by
weight. of cyanuret of potassium, and two pounds of cyanuret of copper, and
three gallons of water, or I sometimes use sulphate of copper in the proportion
of two pounds and a half instead of the previously proposed cyanuret of
copper; these I introduce into a copper vessel, or a vessel having copper plates
therein, and having boiled them together for three or four hours I then attach
a wire from the negative plate of a battery to the copper plates or to the
copper vessel, and bring the articles to be coated into the boiling solution
in connection with the positive plate of the battery. The deposition of the
copper commences immediately, and may be continued till the desired thick-
ness is obtained. Other preparations of copper may be dissolved in the
cyanurets of potassium or sodium to answer this part of my Invention, and
carbonates of potassium or sodium may be used in place of cyanurets; but, so
far as iny experience goes, not so successfully as the cyanureis. This solution
may be used at different temperatures, but the action is most rapid when
boiling. If iron articles are required to have a surface of-brass I deposit zine
ироп
the
copper surfaces obtained as above described, and coat thereon with
zinc, as is above directed under the head of zinc, and afterwards submit them
to a heat of about three hundred degrees of Fahrenheit in a muffle or other.
convenient apparatus,
The fourth part of my Invention relates to a mode of precipitating platinum
from its solutions as a covering to other metals. First, I take a solution of
platinum, taking the precaution to have free acid present, and immerse a

page_text: zinc plate in connection with the article or articles to be coated, as previously
directed in this Specification under first direction for precipitating of copper,
as explained in this Specification. If the platinum be deposited of a dark
color it is no consequence of too much surface of zinc being acted upon
by the solution. This process is most desirable for coating the interiors
of chemical and other vessels.
Another process is to dissolve the platinum in the following salts:-
I take twelve parts by weight of muriate of soda, two parts alum, and one
part cream of tartar, and as much water as will dissolve the salts in this
solution. I boil metallic platinum for eight or ten hours, adding water as
evaporation renders it needful to keep the salts in solution. Copper, iron,
and other metallic articles introduced into this solution when boiling are
speedily coated, but if a stronger coating be required, I attach the battery
and an anode of metal platinum, and continue the action till the desired
thickness is obtained. Palladium may also be employed in like manner to
that above described for platinum.
The fifth part of my Invention consists of a mode of precipitating copper
from waters of copper mines and other waters containing copper. The
mode of precipitating copper from the waste water of copper mines and
other waters containing copper as at present practised is, to form shallow
pits to hold the solution of copper, and then precipitate the copper by placing
iron in the solution when the copper is swept off from time to time by the
work men, which leaves in the solution precipitated copper ochre and other
waste. In working according to my improved mode I form pits similar to
the above, but deeper, to hold the solution of waste copper or other metal. I
place in the solution a porous vessel of earthenware, in proportion to the
size of the pit holding the solution, or divide the pits by any convenient
porous material. Into the porous vessel, or the pit partitioned off by the porous
material, I put a solution of muriate of soda, or the waste water itselfinay be
used. Into the porous vessel containing the muriate of soda or other solution
I place the iron, and connect it with wires with sheets of copper, lead, or
other metal in the solution of copper, and which are to receive the deposit of
pure metal. The solution, after the copper is all precipitated, will serve to
dissolve the iron in the porous cell instead of the muriate of "soda. I am
aware that copper and other metals have been precipitated from the waste
water of copper and other mines by immersing iron in the solution of copper
or other metal, to which I lay no claim.
The sixth part of my Invention consists of a mode of precipitating gold, or
silver, or platinum, on to other metals by employing the sulphuret of gold,

page_text: or of silver,or of platinum, in order to obtain a suitable solution of gold, silver
or platinum. I dissolve them in hydrate of potash by boiling. If it is for
a thin coating the articles are to be immersed in the above solution when
boiling, and in a short time they will be coated. If a thicker coating is wanted
it may be obtained by connecting the article in the above solution with a
galvanic or other battery, and by using a gold, or a silver, or a platinum
anode. I thus precipitate gold, or silver, or platinum on to the metal articles
introduced into the solution.
The seventh part of my Invention consists of precipitating alloys of metals
when in solution on to articles of metal immersed in such solution. In per-
forming this part of my Invention I obtain the alloy of metals which are to
be precipitated by any convenient means. That which I generally practise is
as follows:-I take the sulphurets of the metals in the proportions I propose
to use them in alloy, and dissolve them in cyanuret of potassium, and then I
proceed in the same manner as just described (when using a galvanic or
other battery) in respect to gold, silver, and platinum, using an alloyed anode
agreeing with the proportions contained in the solution.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it to be understood that what I claim is,—
First, the mode of cleaning copper and its alloys by means of a galvanic
or other battery, and also recovering, by precipitation, the metal dissolved
during. the process.
Secondly, I claim the mode of obtaining a coating of zinc on to other
metals by precipitating zinc from solutions by means of a galvanic or other
battery.
Thirdly, I claim the mode of precipitating copper from solutions by con-
necting the articles to be coated with copper to a piece or pieces of zinc as
described,and dipping them in the solution of copper used. And I also claim
the mode of coating articles of metal by causing copper to be precipitated
by a galvanic or other battery from solutions of copper in the cyanides and
carbonates of potash and soda. And I also claim the mode of producing a
coating of brass by precipitating copper and zinc by means of a galvanic
or other battery from solutions thereof, and then applying heat as above
explained.
Fourthly, I claim the mode of precipitating platinum from a solution of
sheet metal, having free acid present, by means of zinc or other positive metal
introduced into the solution. And I also claim the mode of precipitating
platinum or palladium from the salt solution above described by the aid of a
galvanic or other battery.

page_text: Fifthly, I claim the mode of precipitating copper from thewaters containing
copper in solution as above described.
Sixthly, I claim the mode of precipitating gold, silver, or platinum on to
other metals by employing the sulphuret of gold, or of silver, or of platinum,
when dissolved in bydrate of potash, with or without the aid of a galvanic or
other battery. And,
Seventhly, I claim the mode of precipitating metals in the state of alloy by
obtaining them in solution, and using an anode of an alloyed metal of the
same proportions as is in solution.
In witness whereof, I, the said Oglethorpe Wakelin Barratt, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-two.
(L.S.) OGLETHORPE WAKELIN BARRATT.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Eighth day March,
in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid Oglethorpe Wakelin Barratt
came before our Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the aforesaid Eighth day of March, in the year above written.