A Process for the Manufacture of Bi-sulphite of Soda.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 22nd July, 1899-Accepted, 26th Aug., 1899
1
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Process for the Manufacture of Bi-sulphite of Soda.
We, FELIX MARIE EMMANUEL BASSE and GABRIEL FAURE, both of La Fage,
in the Republic of France, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows: :-
This invention relates to a novel process for the manufacture of bisulphite of
soda in solution and in crystals, which process permits of the utilisation of either
sulphurous acid obtained directly or the same gas arising from the treatment
of sulphurated ores with the object of extracting the metals or the oxides of
the metals from these ores.
The apparatus for carrying the process into practice consists essentially of a
trough of suitable materials and dimensions, the same being hermetically closed.
Through the walls of this trough pass three pipes. At a certain point in the
height of this vessel is arranged a double bottom. Upon the lid of the vessel
is fixed a hopper through which the substance to be treated enters and falls
upon the said "double bottom. A drain cock and a water gauge serve to complete
the apparatus.
As above stated, either sulphurous acid manufactured directly for that purpose
may be employed, or sulphurous acid arising from the treatment of a sulphurated
ore.
We will assume that sulphurated antimony ore is to be employed; this
upon being roasted gives off a mixture of metallic fumes and various gases.
The condensation of the metallic fumes takes place first of all in apparatus pro-
vided for that purpose which it is unnecessary to describe. This condensation
produced oxides of antimony and various antimoniacal products.
The gases which escape are conducted by a pipe to the bottom of the said
vessel, traversing the double bottom, the crystals of carbonate of soda supported
thereon and escape through the pipe.
At the same time we cause a current of steam to enter beneath the double
bottom through a pipe connected with the said bottom. The object of this current
of steam is to cause the carbonate of soda crystals to slowly melt and conse-
quently to place the sulphurous acid constantly in contact with a spray saturated
with carbonate of soda at a temperature favorable to the reactions, freeing the
carbonic acid and giving rise to bisulphite of soda.
We would point out that, according to the temperature of the gases conducted
to the bottom of the trough, it is necessary to conduct more or less steam beneath
the double bottom. The hotter these gases, the greater the density of the solution
obtained. This density may vary between 40° and 45° Baume. Solutions which
titrate more than 360 Baume allow the deposit of bisulphite of soda crystals
which may be used commercially direct. The solution from which they have
been withdrawn marks 36° Baume and constitutes the commercial product at
present employed.
By suitably regulating the supply of steam, a solution titrating from 35°
to 360 Baume may be constantly obtained; that is to say the present commercial
andand

page_text: The excess of gas introduced into the apparatus and the carbonic acid arising
from the decomposition of the carbonate of soda are conducted to a shaft by
means of a pipe. Nevertheless, if sulphurous acid still remains in the mixture
of gases, this latter may be conducted to a second trough, then to a third and so on,
by arranging these apparatus in series and by always causing, the outlet tube
of each one of them to communicate with the bottom of the succeeding apparatus.
It will of course be understood that, the steam jets are introduced into each
trough in the same manner as in the first and when the last traces of sulphurous
acid gas have disappeared, the mixture remaining is conducted from the last
trough into a blast chimney.
A water gauge enables the height at which the liquid stands in each trough
to be observed and said liquid may be run off when necessary by means of a
drain cock to ensure the regularity of the manufacture.
It will also be understood that we reserve the right to cause the gases to be
either forced or sucked into each apparatus, the result being of course the same,
provided that the forcing or the reduction of pressure produced (whichever is
the case) is sufficient to cause the gases to traverse the layer of carbonate of soda
crystals lying upon the double bottom.
This process presents the following advantages over those hitherto known:
All operations other than the charging of the carbonate of soda crystals upon
the double bottom of the trough or troughs are avoided.
The preparation in advance of a hot solution of carbonate of soda at about
30° Baume, which is both troublesome and costly, is obviated.
The duration of the operation is considerably reduced, and finally
The apparatus may be charged whilst in operation by means of a hopper, and
a solution of bisulphite of soda of the commercial standard may be withdrawn
from it, also during the continuance of operations.
Dated this 14th day of November 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
A Process for the Manufacture of Bi-sulphite of Soda.
We, FELIX MARIE EMMANUEL BASSE and GABRIEL FAURE, both of La Fage,
in the Republic of France, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:.
This invention relates to a novel process for the manufacture of bisulphite of
soda in solution and in crystals, which process permits of the utilisation of either
sulphurous acid obtained directly or the same gas arising from the treatment
of sulphurated ores with the object of extracting the metals or the oxides of
the metals from these ores.
The accompanying drawing represents a convenient form of the apparatus
by means of which we are able to carry our invention into practice.
"This apparatus consists essentially of a trough A of suitable materials and
dimensions, the same being hermetically closed. Through the walls of this
trough pass three pipes B, C and D). At a certain point in the height of this
vessel is arranged a double bottom E. Upon the lid of the vessel A is fixed a
hopper F through which the substance to be treated enters and falls upon the

page_text: said double bottom E. A drain cock G and a water gauge H serve to complete
the apparatus.
ore.
As above stated, either sulphurous acid manufactured directly for that purpose
may be employed, or sulphurous acid arising from the treatment of a sulphurated
We will assume that sulphurated antimony ore is to be employed; this
upon being roasted gives off a mixture of metallic fumes and various gases.
The condensation of the metallic fumes takes place first of all in apparatus pro-
vided for that purpose which it is unnecessary to describe. This condensation
produced oxides of antimony and various antimoniacal products.
The gases which escape are conducted by the pipe B to the bottom of the said
vessel A, traversing the double bottom E, the crystals of carbonate of soda sup-
ported thereon, and escape through the pipe C.
At the same time we cause a current of steam to enter beneath the double
bottom through a pipe D connected with the said bottom. The object of this
current of steam is to cause the carbonate of soda crystals to slowly melt and
consequently to place the sulphurous acid constantly in contact with a spray
saturated with carbonate of soda at a temperature favorable to the reactions,
freeing the carbonic acid and giving rise to bisulphite of soda.
We would point out that, according to the temperature of the gases conducted
to the bottom of the trough, it is necessary to conduct more or less steam beneath
the double bottom. The hotter these gases, the greater the density of the solution
obtained. The density may vary between 40° and 45° Baume. "Solutions which
titrate more than 360 Baume allow the deposit of bisulphite of soda crystals
which may be used commercially direct. The solution from which they have
been withdrawn marks 36° Baume and constitutes the commercial product at
present employed.
By suitably regulating the supply of steam, a solution titrating from 35°
to 36° Baume may be constantly obtained; that is to say the present commercial
standard.
The excess of gas introduced into the apparatus and the carbonic acid arising
from the decomposition of the carbonate of soda are conducted to a suitable
shaft by means of the pipe C. Nevertheless, if sulphurous acid still remains in
the mixture of gases, this latter may be conducted to a second trough, then to
a third and so on, by arranging these apparatus in series and by always causing
the outlet tube of each one of them to communicate with the bottom of the
succeeding apparatus.
It will of course be understood that, the steam jets are introduced into each
trough in the same manner as in the first and when the last traces of sulphurous
acid gas have disappeared, the mixture remaining is conducted from the last
trough into a blast chimney.
The water gauge I enables the height at which the liquid stands in each
trough to be observed and said liquid may be run off when necessary by means
of the drain cock G to ensure the regularity of the manufacture.
It will also be understood that we reserve the right to cause the gases to be
either forced or sucked into each apparatus, the result being of course the same,
provided that the forcing or the reduction of pressure produced (whichever is
the case) is sufficient to cause the gases to traverse the layer of carbonate of soda
crystals lying upon the double bottom.
This process presents the following advantages over those hitherto known:
All operations other than the charging of the carbonate of soda crystals upon
the double bottom of the trough or troughs are avoided.
The preparation in advance of a hot solution of carbonate of soda at about
300 Baume, which is both troublesome and costly, is obviated.
The duration of the operation is considerably reduced, and finally.
The apparatus may be charged whilst in operation by means of the hopper F
and a solution of bisulphite of soda of the commercial standard may be with-
drawn from it, also during the continuance of operations.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
The novel process for the manufacture of bisulphite of soda in solution and
in the form of crystals above described, reserving for ourselves all the applications
of which this process and apparatus are capable.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.