IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT AND UTILIZATION OF CERTAIN WASTE PRODUCTS RESULTING FROM THE COMBUSTION OF BOGHEAD, CANNEL, AND OTHER COALS AND MINERALS, AND FROM THE TREATMENT OF CHINA CLAY AND OTHER ANALOGOUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Gregory Penney at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd January 1866.
I, CHARLES GREGORY PENNEY, of Greenwich, in the County of Keut, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
TREATMENT AND UTILIZATION OF CERTAIN WASTE PRODUCTS RESULTING FROM THE
COMBUSTION OF BOGHEAD, CANNEL, AND OTHER COALS AND MINERALS, AND FROM THE
TREATMENT OF CHINA CLAY AND OTHER ANALOGOUS SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the utilization of the coke and ash resulting from
the combustion of boghead or Torbane hill coal or mineral, cannel, and other
coal possessing analogous properties, and also bituminous shale and minerals,
such coke and ash having been hitherto partially or entirely waste or useless
products. The coke formed by the combustion of any of the substances before
mentioned is burned in a furnace constructed in a suitable manner in
accordance with principles well understood, the heat so obtained being used
for any desired purpose to which it is applicable. The result of such last-
mentioned process of combustion will be that after the carbon has been
thereby removed a residuum or compound ash, consisting mainly of silica and
alumina, is left, and which is capable of being applied to. various useful
purposes. The said ash may be digested, boiled, or heated in sulphuric,
hydrochloric, or other mineral acid, or in acetic or any analogous acid, or in
any suitable mixture of such acids. If the ash be treated with sulphuric
acid the result will be sulphate of alumina, which having been evaporated

page_text: will constitute sulphate of alumina or cake alum, or the solution may be con-
verted into common alum by mixture with potassic or ammoniacal salts, and
then concentrated by the well known methods. If hydrochloric acid be used
the result will be chloride of alumina, and if acetic acid be employed acetate
of alumina will be produced, either of which salts may be used for any of the
purposes to which they are applicable. The insoluble residue from any of
the before-mentioned processes can be used with particular advantage for the
manufacture of silicate of soda or potass on account of its finely divided and
readily soluble state, the usual methods of manufacture being employed.
Such insoluble residue can also be used for the manufacture of glass, or for
any purpose to which pure silica is applicable. If it be preferred silicates or
aluminates of alkalies may be prepared by furnacing the coke in the first
instance with the alkali, without first removing the carbon. The ash so
obtained from the combustion of the coke as before mentioned, or either of
its constituents, can be used for loading paper or cloths, and also for the
purposes of enamelling, and as pigments, and also for polishing, and, if desired,
the colour thereof can be improved by means of acids, either gaseous or liquid;
or the same may be bleached by means of the ordinary agents and processes
applicable to such purpose. The refuse silica from china clay, and other
substances of an analogous character, can also be utilized by adopting the
above-mentioned processes.