IMPROVED PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CARBONATE OF AMMONIA
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of N° 11 Wellington Street,
Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention
IMPROVED PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CARBONATE OF
AMMONIA" a Communication to him from abroad by Friedrich Carl Glaser of
Berlin, Prussia, Germany, Civil Engineer,
of
" AN
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th December 1883.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of N° 11 Wellington Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent,
<< AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR THE
PRODUCTION OF CARBONATE OF AMMONIA," A Communication to me from
abroad by Friedrich Carl Glaser, of Berlin Prussia, Germany, Civil Engineer,
The hereinafter described process relates to the production of Carbonate of
Ammonia of customary commercial quality, and is carried out in the following
manner:-
Salts of ammonia, namely Sal-ammoniac and Sulphate of ammonia in a perfectly
dry state are mixed with the chemically necessary quantity of finely pulverized
alkaline carbonates, especially Natron or potash, to which a certain percentage of
double alkaline carbonates may be added. The mixture is then subjected to glowing
heat in suitable retorts, and the sublimate condensed as usual.
Hitherto, carbonate of ammonia has only been produced by the subjection of
ammoniacal salts to heat with great excess of carbonate of lime, or by wet process
by the previous production of double carbonate of ammonia from gas water.
Previously the use of alkalies was practically speaking altogether excluded, inas-
much that the price of the soda was too high in comparison with the sulphate of
soda obtained as a bye product.
The before described process was first rendered practicable chiefly by the use of
the cheap ammoniacal soda and now the advantages obtained by far over balance
the loss which occurs through the difference of expense, which is certainly very
little, between the use of carbonate of lime and soda.
The sublimation takes place in an extremely smooth and perfect manner and no
bye products are received therefrom, as for example, sulphate of ammonia which
when lime is used is often produced in very large percentage.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Edward Gedge in the Patent Office on the 17th June
1884.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE of N° 11 Wellington Street Strand London in the
County of Middlesex Patent Agent
"AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR THE
PRODUCTION OF CARBONATE OF AMMONIA A communication to me from abroad
by Friedrich Carl Glaser of Berlin Prussia Germany Civil Engineer
"
The herein after described process relates to the production of carbonate of
ammonia of customary commercial quality and is carried out in the following
manner-
Salts of ammonia, namely sal-ammoniac and sulphate of ammonia (either is
suitable) in a perfectly dry state are mixed with the chemically necessary quantity
of finely pulverized alkaline carbonates, (that is to say of carbonate of soda or
carbonate of potash) to which about one third of its weight of alkaline bicarbonate
is added-Or in place of adding bicarbonate a similar result may but less advan-
tageously be obtained by otherwise introducing carbonic acid in excess of that
contained in the simple carbonate of the alkali.
The mixture is then subjected to glowing heat in suitable retorts and the
sublimate condensed as usual when carbonate of lime is employed in the process.
Hitherto carbonate of ammonia has only been produced by the subjection of
ammoniacal salts to heat with great excess of carbonate of lime or by wet process
by the previous production of double carbonate of ammonia from gas water. It
has not been known until the present time that carbonates of the alkalies could
advantageously be substituted for carbonate of lime and in equivalent proportions
or without that excess which is employed when carbonate of line is used-nor has
it been known that carbonic acid in excess of that contained in the simple carbonate
of the alkali should be present. Previously also the use of alkalies was practically
speaking altogether excluded inasmuch that the price of the soda was too high in
comparison with the sulphate of soda obtained as a bye product.
The before described process was first rendered practicable chiefly by the use of
the cheap ammoniacal soda, that is to say, soda produced by the ammonia process;
a process invented and patented many years ago and which it is unnecessary here
to describe.
Now the advantages obtained by the use of carbonated alkali far overbalance the
loss which occurs through the difference of expense which is certainly very little
between the use of carbonate of lime and soda.
The sublimation when carbonated alkali is used has been found to take place in
an extremely smooth and perfect manner and carbonate of ammonia is obtained
free from bye products which when lime is used are often produced in very large
percentage.
I claim the manufacture of carbonate of ammonia by subliming the same from
a mixture of carbonate of soda or potash and sal-ammoniac or other salt of ammonia
in the presence of an excess of carbonic acid obtained by the use of an alkaline
bicarbonate or otherwise substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said William Edward Gedge have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Seventeenth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.