IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS RESULTING FROM THE PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Charles Vincent Holmes, of Sussex Place, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, and Stephen Henry Emmens, of Soho Square
in the County of Middlesex Actuary for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS RESULTING FROM THE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Charles Vincent
Holmes and Stephen Henry Emmens at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents on the 21st August 1883.
GEORGE CHARLES VINCENT HOLMES, of Sussex Place, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, and STEPHEN HENRY EMMENS, of Soho Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Actuary, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMMERCIAL
PRODUCTS RESULTING FROM THE OPERATION OF GALVANIC BATTERIES."
Our invention relates to the manufacture of commercial products from the
fluids and nitrogenous fumes of galvanic batteries.
We carry out our invention as follows:-
First, in dealing with the nitrogenous fumes, we conduct them into an atmo-
sphere of ammonia and air, where they become oxidised, and then form nitrite and
nitrate of ammonia, which may be collected as a powder, or caught in water
and crystallised We provide the requisite supply of oxygen either by admitting
fresh air from time to time, or by passing in fresh quantities of oxygen from any
suitable source, or by electrolysing the water in the receiving chamber, and thus
causing 'nascent oxygen to enter the atmosphere. Alternatively, we absorb the
fumes by causing them to pass into a solution of any basic substance or ferrous
sulphate and thus form solutions of nitrates and nitrites for use in chemical
operations.
Secondly, in dealing with the spent fluid from the negative cells of the batteries
specified in our application for letters patent bearing even date herewith, we allow

page_text: the same to settle in any suitable vessel and then decant or draw off seven-eights
of its bulk, and thereby form an effective deodorizing and disinfecting fluid; or
alternatively, we mix the fluid with bones, phosphate of lime, urine, blood or animal
refuse, and thus form valuable chemical manures.
Thirdly, in dealing with the solutions of zinc from the positive compartments of
galvanic cells, we employ it as a solvent for scrap zinc, and when saturated with
zinc, either we use it as an electrolyte for the preparation of oxidised lead plates
for secondary batteries, or for zinc-plating, or both, or we precipitate the zinc by
adding basic sulphide, basic hydrate, or lime, and then collect the precipitate for
use as a pigment, or as a material for the manufacture of zinc salts, and other
chemical products.
A

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Charles Vincent Holmes and Stephen Henry Emmens
in the Patent Office on the 21st February 1884.
GEORGE CHARLES VINCENT HOLMES, of Sussex Place, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, and STEPHEN HENRY EMMENS, of Soho Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Actuary "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMMERCIAL
PRODUCTS RESULTING FROM THE OPERATION OF GALVANIC BATTERIES”
Our invention relates to the manufacture of commercial products from the fluids
and nitrogenous fumes of galvanic batteries, and is carried out as follows:-
First, In dealing with the nitrogenous fumes, we conduct them into an atmo-
sphere of Ammonia and Air in an enclosed chamber, where they become oxidised,
and then form nitrite and nitrate of Ammonia, which may be collected as a Powder,
or caught in water and crystallised. As the atmosphere originally existing in the
covered Chamber will soon become exhausted of its Oxygen, we provide the requisite-
supply of Oxygen in any of the following methods. Close by the entry of the
fume Pipe into the Chamber, we insert an open tube through the floor of the.
Chamber, and rising above the level of the liquid solution therein. At the further
and upper extremity of the Chamber, we insert a further up cast ventilating tube.
These tubes, in conjunction with the inductive effect of the rising fumes, produce
constant and regular circulation of air, and thus a renewal of the atmosphere. To
ensure the absorption of the nitrogenous fumes before they can pass away by the
ventilating tube, we insert a series of baffle plates depending from the roof of the
Chamber, so that the passing fumes are forced down into intimate contact with
the solution, as they pass the Partitions, and at the same time are collected between
the said Partitions in Pockets most suitable for combination with the ammoniacal
vapours rising from the solution Alternatively, we may constantly change the
atmosphere by a fan or other equivalent mechanical means; or fresh quantities of
Oxygen may be passed into it by any known method of chemical generation, such
as the heating of Chlorate of Potash; or we pass an electrical current by suitable
poles through the solution, thus breaking up the water by electrolysis into Oxygen
and hydrogen, the latter probably in part uniting with nitrogen to form fresh
quantities of Ammonia-Alternatively, we absorb the fumes by first oxidising
them as specified, and then causing them to pass into a solution of any basic.
substance, such as caustic soda or Potash, and thus to form solutions of nitrates
and nitrites for use in chemical operations. Again, we may dissolve the fumes in
a solution of ferrous sulphate, to store them, and thus render them innocuous, or
whence they may be expelled by heat at a future time for treatment as aforesaid.
Secondly-In dealing with the spent fluid from the negative Cells of the
batteries specified in the Specification of our Letters Patent dated twenty first
August One thousand eight hundred. and eighty three and Numbered 4059, We
allow the same to settle in any suitable vessel, and then decant or draw off seven
eighths, or the larger proportion, of its bulk, being a clear liquor, which forms an
effective deodorising and disinfectant fluid, a turbid residue being left. Alterna-
tively, we mix the fluid with bones, phosphate of limě, urine, blood, or animal
refuse, and thus form a valuable chemical manure.
Thirdly-In dealing with the solution of Zinc from the positive compartments.
of galvanic Cells, we dissolve in it scrap zinc until saturated, i.e. All the Sulphuric
Acid taken up The solution is then used as an electrolyte for the preparation of
oxidised lead plates for secondary batteries, or for zinc Plating, or both. Where
used as an electrolyte for the preparation of oxidised lead plates, we preferably
precipitate the sulphate of zinc, by treatment with caustic alkali or lime, in the

page_text: form of gelatinous zinc oxide, which we redissolve by adding excess of the reagent.-
In this solution we place the lond plate as the anode of the battery circuit, which
precipitates zinc, the lead plate becoming peroxidised.-Where Zinc plating is to
be effected, we use the same process, suspending the object to be plated as the
catliode: Alternatively, we precipitate the Zinc by adding baric sulphide, baric
hydrate, or lime, and then collect the precipitate for use as n pigment, or as
a material for the manufacture by known processes of metallic zinc, and Zinc
Salts.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of our said invention,
and the manner of its performance, be it known that what we consider novel
and claim to protect by our Letters Patent is :-
1st The treatment of nitrogenous fumes from galvanic batteries by oxidation in an
enclosed Chamber, in any of the alternative methods specified, to form nitrite and
nitrate of Ammonia, substantially as specified.
2nd The treatment of nitrogenous fumes from galvanic batteries, by oxidation in
an enclosed chamber, in any of the alternative methods specified, and subsequent
combination with basic substances to form solutions of nitrates and nitrites thereof,
substantially as specified.
3 The solution of the fumes in solution of ferrous sulphate for storage so as to
render them innocuous or pending treatment as claimed in Claims 1 and 2,
substantially as specified
4 The treatment of the Spent fluid from the negative Compartment of our
patented batteries by settlement, to allow of subsidence, and decanting or drawing
off, to eliminate an effective deodorising and disinfecting fluid, substantially as
specified.
5 The treatment of the Spent fluid from the negative Compartment of our
Patented battery by its admixture with bones, phosphate of lime, urine, blood, or
animal refuse, to form chemical manure, substantially as specified.
6th The treatment of the Spent zinc solution from galvanic battery Cells, by
saturating same with scrap zinc to produce an electrolyte for zinc deposition,
substantially as specified.
7 The treatment of the last before claimed electrolyte by electrolysis, to produce
peroxidised lead plates, substantially as specified.
The treatment of the Spent Zinc solution from battery Cells, by saturation
with Zine, and the addition thereto of baric sulphide, or baric hydrate, or lime, for
the production of a pigment, or to serve as a material to yield metallic Zinc, and
Zinc salts, substantially as specified.
In witness whereof I, the said George Charles Vincent Holmes, on behalf of
myself and the said Stephen Henry Emmeus, have hereunto set my hand and scal
this twentieth day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty-four
CRODO
A 17 LIOECO