IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBONIC ACID
Year: 1862

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Clark at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd April
1862. A communication from abroad by Messrs. Louis Joseph Frédéric
Margueritte and Alfred Lalouël de Sourdeval, both of 29, Boulevart
St. Martin, Paris, Chemists.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBONIC ACID," to be as
follows:-
The means employed to the present time for the preparation of carbonic
acid consists in the decomposition of carbonates by acids, or by the combustion
of charcoal in atmospheric air. The first-mentioned process, which is very
expensive, is only used for the manufacture of gaseous waters; the second
process, which is more economical, is applied for the saturation of saccharine
juices, and for the preparation of carbonates and bicarbonates, the carbonic
acid produced is, however, impure, and contains seventy-nine per cent. of
azote, which renders it slow and incomplete in its action. The improved process
of this Invention is as follows:-I take two parts of filings and one of copper
turnings, and roast them to a deep red heat on the sole of a cast-iron retort

page_text: open at the two extremities, under the action of the current of air which is
established the copper rapidly absorbs the oxygen and is transformed into
oxide of copper, when the whole of the copper is converted into a black
powder it is taken out of the retort and allowed to cool, and about six per
cent. in weight of finely pulverized charcoal added to it. The mixing may be
effected either with a shovel or by slight trituration, or lastly, by adding the
charcoal (diluted in water) in the form of a clear solution, and then allow the
whole to dry in a furnace. The mixture of charcoal and oxide of copper is
then placed in the retort, the carbonic acid begins to disengage at a slightly
raised temperature, which continues until the whole of the charcoal of the
mixture has been consumed by the oxide of copper, the gas is then collected
in the gasometer; about two hundred and fifty pounds of the mixture will
furnish fifty pounds of carbonic acid, equal to ten cubic yards. When the
operation is over, the retort is opened at both ends, and the copper which
has furnished the oxygen to the charcoal receives a fresh supply from the
atmospheric air, and thus becomes revivified with the greatest facility; it may
be then removed from the retort, cooled, and mixed with charcoal, and then
made to undergo a similar treatment to the foregoing for producing the same
results. The copper should be washed from time to time in plenty of water,
in order to remove the carbonates and salts resulting from the combustion of
the charcoal. If after a number of successive operations the copper should
begin to fritter and work badly, it may be melted in a crucible and mixed
with fresh filings and turnings, as before described; it will thus be seen that
the process is very simple and economical, as the copper employed is not
wasted, the only expense being that for the fuel required. The carbonic acid
gas produced is perfectly pure, and may be employed for the manufacture of
gaseous waters for saturating saccharine juices, the preparation of carbonates
of soda, ammonia, white lead, and other purposes. No doubt need be
entertained as to the result of the purification, as it may be proved by the
well-known analysis of organic matters with oxide of copper, which, when in
excess, furnishes perfectly pure carbonic acid. I may also substitute any
other metallic oxides capable of reduction in charcoal, and oxidisable in air,
such as oxides of iron or manganese. The mixture of charcoal and metallic
oxide is subjected to calcination, and the gas resulting passed through a
second retort, filled either with the oxide in question, or with oxide of copper ;
in this manner the small quantity of oxide of carbon which may form is
necessarily converted into carbonic acid, the reduced oxide is then revivified
under the direct influence of a current of air introduced in the retort, or after

page_text: discharging it on the sole of a furnace suitably heated, which may form part
of the same apparatus. I also employ metallic oxides, especially that of
copper, for converting oxide of carbon produced in any suitable manner into
carbonic acid; for example, by the reaction of steam or hydrated lime upon
charcoal.

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Clark at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd April
1862. A communication from abroad by Messrs. Louis Joseph Frédéric
Margueritte and Alfred Lalouël de Sourdeval, both of 29, Boulevart
St. Martin, Paris, Chemists.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBONIC ACID," to be as
follows:-
The means employed to the present time for the preparation of carbonic
acid consists in the decomposition of carbonates by acids, or by the combustion'
of charcoal in atmospheric air. The first-mentioned process, which is very
expensive, is only used for the manufacture of gaseous waters; the second
process, which is more economical, is applied for the saturation of saccharine
juices, and for the preparation of carbonates and bicarbonates, the carbonic
acid produced is, however, impure, and contains seventy-nine per cent. of
azote, which renders it slow and incomplete in its action. The improved process
of this Invention is as follows:-I take two parts of filings and one of copper
turnings, and roast them to a deep red heat on the sole of a cast-iron retort

page_text: in the
gul
open at the two extremities, under the action of the current of air which
established the copper rapidly absorbs the oxygen and is transformed int
oxide of copper, when the whole of the copper is converted into a blac
powder it is taken out of the retort and allowed to cool, and about six pe
cent. in weight of finely pulverized charcoal added to it. The mixing may b
effected either with a shovel or by slight trituration, or lastly, by adding th
charcoal (diluted in water) in the form of a clear solution, and then allow th
whole to dry in a furnace. The mixture of charcoal and oxide of copper i
then placed in the retort, the carboniidegins to disengage at a slightl
raised temperature, which continues until the whole of the charcoal of th
mixture has been onsumed by the oxide of copper, the gas is then collecte
eter
about two hundred and fifty pounds of the mixture wil
furnish fifty pounds of carbonic acid, equal to ten cubic yards. When the
operation is over, the retort is opened at both ends, and the copper which
has furnished the oxygen to the charcoal receives a fresh supply from the
atmospheric air, and thus becomes revivified with the greatest facility; it may
be then removed from the retort, cooled, and mixed with charcoal, and ther
made to undergo a similar treatment to the foregoing for producing tu te same
results. The copper should be washed from time to time in plenty of water
in order to remove the carbonates and salts resulting from the combustion o
the charcoal. If after a number of successive operations the copper should
begin to fritter and work badly, it may be melted in a crucible and mixed
with fresh filings and turnings, as before described; it will thus be seen that
the process is very simple and economical, as the copper employed is not
wasted, the only expense being that for the fuel required. The carbonic acid s
gas produced is perfectly pure, and may be employed for the manufacture of
gaseous waters for saturating saccharine juices, the preparation of carbonates
of soda, ammonia, white lead, and other purposes. No doubt need be
entertained as to the result of the purification, as it may be proved by the
well-known analysis of organic matters with oxide of copper, which, when in s
excess, furnishes perfectly pure carbonic acid. I may also substitute any
other metallic oxides capable of reduction in charcoal, and oxidisable in air,
such as oxides of iron or manganese. The mixture of charcoal and metallic
oxide is subjected to calcination, and the gas resulting passed through a
second retort, filled either with the oxide in question, or with oxide of copper; 3
in this manner the small quantity of oxide of carbon which may form is
necessarily converted into carbonic acid, the reduced oxide is then revivified
under the direct influence of a current of air introduced in the retort, or after

page_text: discharging it on the sole of a furnace suitably heated, which may form part
of the same apparatus. I also employ metallic oxides, especially that of
copper, for converting oxide of carbon produced in any suitable manner into
carbonic acid; for example, by the reaction of steam or hydrated lime upon
charcoal.