Improvements in the Manufacture of Phosphorus.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 5th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 12th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Phosphorus.
We, THOMAS PARKER of the firm of Elwell-Parker Limited, Electrical Engineer,
and ALFRED FDWARD ROBINSON, Technical Chemist, both of Commercial Road
Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of phosphorus and it has for its
object to enable the substance to be produced at a less cost than at present.
In carrying out our Invention we mix phosphoric acid with carbon or carbon-
aceous matter and introduce the mixture into an electric furnace where the phosphorie
acid is decomposed by the intense action of the electric arc. The oxygen of the
phosphoric acid combines with carbon forming a permanent gas and the phosphorus
is volatilised.
The gas and the phosphorus vapour are led from the furnace and the phosphorus
is condensed from the vaporous condition by known or suitable means. Phosphates
such as the phosphates of calcium and of aluminium may be employed instead of
phosphoric acid but we prefer to use the acid.
D: 09-1
1°
n 1000
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Phosphorus.
We, THOMAS PARKER of the firm of Elwell-Parker Limited, Electrical Engineer,
and ALFRED EDWARD ROBINSON Technical Chemist, hoth of Commercial Road
Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, 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 :-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of phosphorus and it has for its objects to
reduce the cost and to increase the convenience of the manufacture.
These Improvements consist in the reduction of the phosphorus from suitable com-
pounds or materials containing the element, by means of the electric are or by means
of heat derived from or generated by a current or currents of electricity.
In carrying our Invention into effect, we employ as the source of the phosphorus,
meta-phosphoric or ortho-phosphoric acid, or, as a source of phosphoric acid, a meta-
phosphate or ortho-phosphate; and, because of their relative abundance, we prefer to
employ the salts which have calcium as their base. In describing our we will herein-
after, for the sake of greater clearness refer to the phosphoric acids or the phosphates
as the raw material.
This raw material is thoroughly mixed with the theoretical, or rather more than the
theoretical quantity of broken or divided carbon or carbonaceous matter such as crushed
hard coke, and the mixture is then placed in an electrical furnace or an equivalent
chamber in which it can be exposed to a sufficient degree of heat originated by a
current of electricity. The electric furnace or heating chamber is provided with an
outlet tube or opening communicating with a condensing device. The electrical
furnace or heating chamber may be of known construction such as is employed in the
reduction of aluminium and some other refractory substances, and the condensing
device may be of a simple character, and may consist simply of a vessel containing
water into which the products of the reaction which takes place in the furnace
are led.

page_text: By the employment of electrical heat as and for the purpose hereinbefore described
in place of the heat of combustion, losses by radiation and convection are greatly
diminished, the whole of the heating effect is applied precisely where it is required,
and is under instant and complete control at all periods of the operation.
When the mixture has been sufficiently heated by the action of the current, a
decomposition and re-composition of the elements takes place as is hereinafter shewn
by chemical formulae. Thus, if metaphosphoric acid is used, the products are:-
Carbon dioxide, phosphuretted hydrogen water and phosphorus. If ortho-phosphoric
acid is used, the products are:-Carbon monoxide or dioxide water and phosphorus.
If a metaphosphate is used, the products are:-The orthophosphate carbon monoxide
and phosphorus. If an orthophosphate of calcium is used the products are:-lime,
carbon monoxide and phosphorus. In either case the gaseous and vapourous products
including the phosphorus are led off from the furnace to the condenser as they are
produced, and the phosphorus is condensed in the water.
The following formulae will indicate the relative proportions of the respective
materials which may be employed and the results of the reactions.
The separation and reduction of the phosphorus according to this Invention and as
hereinbefore described may be conducted in electrical furnaces of known construction
and arrangement and in a manner similar to that of analogous and commonly known
operations with the exceptions and modifications hereinbefore described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is―
In the manufacture of phosphorus ; decomposing a mixture of a phosphoric acid or
a phosphate with carbon or carbonaceous matter, by means of heat derived from an
electric arc, and condensing the resulting vapour of phosphorus; substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Dated this 4th day of Suntambon A
ـت
1080
WILLIAM E HEYS,
Agent for the Applicants.