Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Ammonium Nitrate.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 24th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by VICTOR GROENDAHL, Engineer, and JOHN
LANDIN, Engineer, both of 40, Drottninggatan, Stockholm, in the Kingdom
of Sweden.]
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Ammonium Nitrate.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of aminonium nitrate; and its main
object is the production of ammonium nitrate, quite free from any substance
containing sulphur; in a cheap and simple inänner direct from sodium nitrate and
ammonium sulphate:
Moreover by this process sodium sulphate (glauber salt) of pure quality is
obtained as a bye product.
According to this invention a solution is first formed by the percolation of
alcohol or methylated spirit through a mixture of sodium nitrate and ammonium
sulphate. This solution consisting of ammonium nitrate and a small quantity of
sodium nitrate is then treated with ammonium sulphate or with ammonium chloride;
or both ammonium sulphate and ammonium chloride.
By the percolation of alcohol or inethylated spirit through the sodium nitrate
and ammonium sulphate above mentioned, two different and separate products are
formed, namely (a) ammonium nitrate in solution containing some sodium nitrate;
and (b) sodium sulphate containing some ammonium sulphate. The quantity of
söditim nitrate in (a) and the quantity of ammonium sulphate in (b) depends on
the proportions of the materials first used. If for example ammonium sulphate
be used in excess, a less amount of sodium nitrate is formed in the solution.
In order to reduce or eliminate the sodium nitrate from the product (a) the
alcoholic solution is passed through granulated ammonium sulphate. The sodium
nitrate is thereby transformed into sodium sulphate by the excess of ammonium
sulphate, and the product obtained in solution will be all or nearly all ammonium
If the sodium nitrate
nitrate which may be solidified by evaporating the alcohol.
is not completely eliminated by the above treatment, the solution may be further
passed through ammonium chloride. This salt being soluble in alcohol conise-
quently reacts with greater vigour, and the sodium nitrate is transformed into
sodium chloride which is insoluble in alcoliöl, the solution then containing ammonium
nitrate alone. Or instead of treating with amnionium sulphate and then with
animonium chloride; animoüium chloride may be used alone. The bye product
sodium chloride may be used to obtain ammonium chloride by subliming it with
the mixture (b) of sodium sulphate and ammonium sulphate above mentioned:
Equivalent proportions of the ingredients being taken, ammonium chloride will be
given off and the residue will consist of pure sodium sulphate (glauber salt):
The ammonium chloride thus recovered may be used again for the purpose
mentiqued.
above
The alcohol of inetliylated spirit also may be used again and again being
recovered by distillation when the ammonium nitrate is solidified.
In consequence of the utilization of the sodium chloride as above indicated and
the recovery and utilization of the alcohol over and over again, this process
can be carried on continuously, and very cheaply, there being no waste products.
Dated this 30th day of January 1892.
HASELTINE; LAKE & Co.,
45, Southanipton Buildings, London, W:C:, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Ammonium Nitrate.
I HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 ammonium nitrate, and its main
object is the production of ammonium nitrate, quite free from any substance containing
sulphur in a cheap and simple manner direct from sodium nitrate and ammonium
sulphate.
Moreover by this process sodium sulphate (glauber salt) of pure quality is obtained
as a bye product.
According to this invention a solution is first formed by the percolation of alcohol
or methylated spirit through a mixture of sodium nitrate and ammonium sulphate.
This solution consisting of ammonium nitrate and a small quantity of sodium nitrate
is then treated with ammonium sulphate and with ammonium chloride.
By the percolation of alcohol or methylated spirit through the sodium nitrate
and ammonium sulphate above mentioned, two different and separate products are
formed, namely (a) ammonium nitrate in solution coutaining some sodium nitrate,
and (b) sodium sulphate containing some ammonium sulphate.
The quantity of sodium nitrate in (a) and the quantity of ammonium sulphate
in (6) depends on the proportions of the materials first used. If for example
ammonium sulphate be used in excess a less amount of sodium nitrate is formed in
the solution.
In order to reduce or eliminate the sodium nitrate from the product (a) the
alcoholic solution is passed through granulated ammonium sulphate. The sodium
nitrate is thereby transformed into sodium sulphate by the excess of ammonium
sulphate, and the product obtained in solution will be all or nearly all ammonium
nitrate which may be solidified by evaporating the alcohol. As the sodium nitrate
may not be completely eliminated by the above treatment, the solution has to bé
further passed through ammonium chloride. This salt being soluble in alcohol
consequently reacts with greater vigour, and the sodium nitrate is transformed
into sodium chloride, which is insoluble in alcohol, the solution then containing
ammonium nitrate alone. Or instead of treating with ammonium sulphate and then
with ammonium chloride, ammonium chloride may be used alone.
The bye product sodium chloride may be used to obtain ammonium chloride by
subliming it with the mixture (6) of sodium sulphate and ammonium sulphate above
mentioned. Equivalent proportions of the ingredients being taken, ammonium.
chloride will be given off and the residue will consist of pure sodium sulphate
(glauber salt). The ammonium chloride thus recovered may be used again for the
purpose above mentioned.
The alcohol or methylated spirit also may be used again and again being recovered
by distillation when the ammonium nitrate is solidified.
In consequence of the utilization of sodium chloride as above indicated and the
recovery and utilization of the alcohol over and over again, this process can be
carried on continuously, and very cheaply, these being no waste products.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :--
1. Improvements relating to the manufacture of ammonium nitrate by getting
sodium sulphate (glauber salt) as a bye-product this being performed by treating
a solution formed by the percolation of alcohol or methylated spirit through a
mixture of sodium nitrate and ammonium sulphate-with further ammonium sulphate
i

page_text: and with ammonium chloride by passing the alcoholic solution through ammonium
sulphate and through ammonium chloride forming in the alcohol besides the
ammonium nitrate in solution (which may be solidified by evaporating the alcohol)
in alcohol insoluble bye products of sodium sulphate, retaining some ammonium
sulphate, and sodium chloride respectively, substantially as above set forth.
2. To utilize in the above mentioned Claim 1 related bye product sodium chloride
by heating it with the sodium sulphate, retaining some ammenium sulphate above
mentioned, so as to obtain by sublimation the ammonium chloride and to render
the residue pure sodium sulphate (glauber salt). The ammonium chloride thus
recovered to be used again for the purpose, substantially as above set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.