IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF NITRIC ACID
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Eustace Carey Prentice, of the Firm of Prentice
Brothers, of Stowmarket, in the County of Suffolk, for the Invention
Sealed the 11th September 1874, and dated the 25th May 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Eustace Carey Prentice
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 25th May 1874.
I, EUSTACE CAREY PRENTICE, of the Firm of Prentice Brothers, of
Stowmarket, in the County of Suffolk, do hereby declare the nature of
my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF NITRIC ACID,”
to be as follows:-
This Invention consists,―
Firstly. In the admixture and incorporation with the nitrates, such
for example as the nitrate of soda or with nitrate of potash, to be decom-
posed by means of sulphuric acid for the purpose of effecting the
production of nitric acid, of oxidizing agents, such for example as the
chlorates, chlorate of potash for example, permanganates or manganates

page_text: of the alkalies or of the alkaline earths, or the peroxides for example,
the peroxide of manganese, chromic acid, the chromates and the bi-
chromates of the alkalies and of the alkaline earths, and of such metallic
oxides and compounds as shall by the action of sulphuric acid and by
the presence of the lower oxides of nitrogen be capable of elevating the 5
same from a lower to a higher degree.
Secondly. Or instead of adding to the nitrates either of soda, potash,
or lime the whole or a portion of the oxidizing agents necessary to
convert the lower oxides of nitrogen into the higher oxides or into nitric
acid, I add such oxidizing agents to the sulphuric acid to be employed 1
for effecting the decomposition of the nitrates, and employ such admix-
ture for effecting the decomposition of the nitrates and for the production
of nitric acid.
Thirdly. The employment of oxygen in a pure or in a concentrated
form, such for example as that obtained by the heating of peroxide of 1
manganese and chlorate of potash in admixture with the products which
are evolved in the production of nitric acid from nitrates by the action
of sulphuric acid upon the same.
Fourthly. The employment in the production of strong nitric acid of
an intermediate or secondary vessel containing sulphuric acid in con- 2
junction with any of the before-mentioned oxidizing agents, so as to
effect the conversion of the lower oxides of nitrogen into the higher, and
thereby increase the yield of the nitric acid.
Fifthly. The employment of any of the before-mentioned oxidizing
agents in conjunction with nitric acid. containing the lower oxides of a
nitrogen so as to convert the same into the higher oxides or into nitric
acid.
Sixthly. The treatment by the admixture of any of the before-men-
tioned oxidizing agents of a mixture of nitric acid and of sulphuric acid
resulting from the production of gun cotton or from other sources, such
acids containing organic or other matters or compounds as cause, the
decomposition of the nitric acid upon the application of heat.

page_text: SPECIFICATION.in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Eustace Carey Prentice in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 25th November 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EUSTACE
CAREY PRENTICE, of the Firm of Prentice Brothers, of Stowmarket, in
the County of Suffolk, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Eustace Carey Prentice, Her special license
that I, the said Eustace Carcy Prentice, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Eustace Carey Prentice, my executors,
administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRO-
DUCTION OF NITRIC ACID," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,.
the said Eustace Carey Prentice, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and scal; should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Eustace Carey Prentice, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, that is to say :—
This Invention consists,.
Firstly. In the admixture and incorporation with the nitrates, such
for example as the nitraté of soda or with nitrate of potash, to be decom-
posed by means of sulphuric acid for the purpose of effecting the
production of nitric acid of oxidizing agents, such for example as the
chlorates, chlorate of potash for example, permanganates or manganates

page_text: of the alkalies or of the alkaline earths, or the peroxides for example,
the peroxide of manganese, chromic acid, the chromates and the bi-
chromates of the alkalies and of the alkaline carths, and of such metallic
oxides and compounds as shall by the action of sulphuric acid and by
the presence of the lower oxides of nitrogen be capable of elevating the
same from a lower to a higher degree.
Secondly. Or instead of adding to the nitrates either of soda, potash,
or lime the whole or a portion of the oxidizing agents necessary to
convert the lower oxides of nitrogen into the higher oxides or into nitric
acid, I add such oxidizing agents to the sulphuric acid to be employed
for effecting the decomposition of the nitrates, and employ such admix-
ture for effecting the decomposition of the nitrates and for the production
of nitric acid.
Thirdly. The employment of oxygen in a pure or in a concentrated
form, such for example as that obtained by the heating of peroxide of 1
manganese and chlorate of potash in admixture with the products which
are evolved in the production of nitric acid from nitrates by the action
of sulphuric acid upon the same.
Fourthly. The employment in the production of strong nitric acid of
an intermediate or secondary vessel containing sulphuric acid in con- 2
junction with any of the before-mentioned oxidizing agents so as to
effect the conversion of the lower oxides of nitrogen into the higher,
and thereby increase the yield of the nitric acid.
Fifthly. The employment of any of the before-mentioned oxidizing
agents in conjunction with nitric acid containing the lower oxides of 2
nitrogen so as to convert the same into the higher oxides or into nitric
acid.
Sixthly. The treatment by the admixture of any of the before-men-
tioned oxidizing agents of a mixture of nitric acid and of sulphuric acid
resulting from the production of gun cotton or from other sources, such 3
acids containing organic or other matters or compounds as cause the
decomposition of the nitric acid upon the application of heat...
•
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to 3
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to

page_text: me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the production
of nitric acid and the conversion of the lower oxides of nitrogen into
the higher oxides of nitrogen, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Eustace Carey Prentice, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, this 23rd day of Novem-
ber, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.