Improvements in the Manufacture of Sodium and Potassium.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 31st May, 1889-Accepted, 27th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Sodium and Potassium.
I, HENRY WESTON WALLIS of 17 Holborn Viaduct in the City of London
Analytical Chemist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to obtaining sodium or potassium under lower temperature
and with a larger yield of metal from its hydrated alkalies than is afforded by the
processes heretofore adopted, while the cost of its production is considerably reduced
at the same time.
The important feature of my invention consists in charging or feeding, the sodium
or potassium distilling vessel, with a mixture of the hydrated compounds of the
alkalies and carbonaceous material, at such intervals and with such quantities as is
necessary for a steady and continuous production of sodium or potassium vapours.
ain aware that fused alkali has been mixed with carbonaceous material and while in
the state of fusion has been charged into the distilling vessel intermittently in sucli
manner that a continuous production of metal has been the result. But this method
not only entails a previous melting of the alkali in a separate vessel, but on account of
the mixture being obliged to remain in a heated condition in said vessel until the
whole has been charged into the distilling vessel, it becomes refractory for its
reduction and therefore a higher temperature is required to reduce it, and the yield of
metal is less than it would be had it not been rendered refractory. Therefore to
avoid this in my treatment I first pulverize the alkali and then mix the same with
powdered carbonaceous material in proportion of about 10% to 15% of alkali used,
and then charge this mixture into the distilling vessel, at such a rate as will cause a
continuous production of inetal.
Dated this 1st day of September 1888.
J. C. MEWBURN,
169, Freet Street, London, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Sodium and Potassium.
I, HENRY WESTON WALLIS, of 17, Holborn Viaduct, in the city of London,
Analytical Chemist, 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 statement:-
My invention relates to the production of sodium and potassium from their hydrated
alkalies, and it consists chiefly in the novel method of combining the alkali with the
carbonaceous material employed and charging the same into the distilling vessel,
whereby I obtain a larger yield of metal than is afforded by the processes heretofore
adopted and at a lower temperature, while, at the same time, the cost of production is
considerably reduced.
In carrying out my invention I pulverize the alkali and then mix the same with a
proportion of say from ten per cent. to fifteen per cent. of the carbonaceous material
which is also in a pulverized condition. This mixture of hydrated alkali and
carbonaceous material is then fed into the distilling vessel at such intervals and in
such quantities as is necessary for a steady and continuous production of sodium or
potassium vapors.
I am aware that fused alkali has been mixed with carbonaceous material, and while
in the state of fusion has been charged into the distilling vessel intermittently in such
a manner that a continuous production of metal has been the result. This method,
however, entails the previous melting of the alkali in a separate vessel, and the

page_text: mixture, on account of its having to be maintained in a heated condition until the
whole has been charged into the distilling vessel, becomes refractory for its reduction,
and therefore a higher temperature is required to reduce it and the yield of metal is
less than would be the case had the mixture not been rendered refractory.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
The manufacture of Sodium and potassium by the introduction into the distilling
vessel of an admixture of hydrated alkali and carbonaceous material in a pulverized
condition, in the manner, substantially as described.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.