Im- PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN ALKALINE CARBONATES FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING CARBONIC ACID GAS THEREFROM."
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Gossage, of Widnes, in the County of
Lancaster, Manufacturing Chemist, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN ALKALINE CARBONATES FOR
THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING CARBONIC ACID GAS THEREFROM."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Gossage at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th May 1872.
I, WILLIAM GOSSAGE, of Widnes, in the County of Lancaster, Manu-
facturing Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN ALKALINE CARBONATES FOR
THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING CARBONIC ACID GAS THEREFROM," to be as follows:-
My improvements in the manufacture of certain alkaline carbonates
for the purpose of obtaining carbonic acid gas therefrom apply to the
manufacture of bi-carbonate and sesqui-carbonate of soda from the lower
carbonates of soda; also to the manufacture of bi-carbonate and sesqui-
carbonate of potassa from the lower carbonates of potassa.

page_text: In effecting the objects of my Invention, as this applies to the manu-
facture of bi-carbonate and sesqui-carbonate of soda, I prepare a mixture
containing about one part by weight of dry mono-carbonate of soda and
three parts by weight of water. I introduce such mixture into a deep
closed vessel (constructed of iron plates or other suitable material) and
having at its upper part a pipe with a weighted valve for allowing the
escape of gas therefrom, at such pressure as may be found suitable, also
having a pipe at its lower part through which gases can be forced into
such vessel.
I obtain a supply of impure or diluted carbonic acid gas by the
.combustion of coke or other carbon with atmosperical air, or by the
calcination of limestone in open kilns, or by other suitable means, and
I cause such gas to be well cooled. By means of an air pump I cause
such cooled gas to be pumped or forced under pressure into the lower
part of the vessel containing the mixture of mono-carbonate of soda and
water, through which mixture it rises in the form of bubbles or streams,
during which rising carbonic acid is absorbed and withdrawn from the
mixture of gases by the carbonate of soda, producing sesqui-carbonate of
bi-carbonate of soda, according to the quantity of carbonic acid gas so
absorbed. The residual gases (not absorbed) pass off under pressure
through the pipe before mentioned, having a weighted valve so arranged
as to regulate the degree of pressure in the vessel.
When the operation is so far completed as to produce sesqui-carbonate
or bi-carbonate of soda (preferring that the latter should be predominant)
I transfer the product into another vessel, to which I apply heat by any
convenient means. This application of heat causes the evolution of pure
or nearly pure carbonic acid gas from the mixture, which gas I conduct
to other apparatus wherein I apply it to certain useful purposes for
which it is adapted.
In consequence of such evolution of carbonic acid gas from such
bi-carbonate or sesqui-carbonate of soda, these carbonates become
reduced or nearly reduced to the state of mono-carbonate of soda, which
remains in mixture with water. After cooling this mixture I transfer it
to the vessel herein-before first mentioned, and I cause impure or dilute
carbonic acid gas to be pumped or forced through such mixture, and
thereby to reproduce bi-carbonate or sesqui-carbonate of soda suitable to
be used for the production of pure or nearly pure carbonic acid gas.

page_text: I perform these operations repeatedly so as to obtain a large supply of
pure or nearly pure carbonic acid gas.
The same processes or operations which I have herein-before described
for the production of bi-carbonate and sesqui-carbonate of soda are also
applicable to the production of bi-carbonate and sesqui-carbonate of
potassa (in this case mono-carbonate of potassa being substituted for
mono-carbonate of soda), and the product is also suitable for obtaining
pure or nearly pure carbonic acid gas therefrom.
.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Gossage in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th November 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
GoSSAGE, of Widnes, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturing
Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-fifth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Gossage, Her special licence that I, the
said William Gossage, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Gossage, my executors, administrators, and
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 MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN ALKALINE
CARBONATES FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING CARBONIC ACID GAS THEREFROM,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Gossage,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Gossage, 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) :-
My improvements in the manufacture of certain alkaline carbonates |
for the purpose of obtaining carbonic acid gas therefrom apply to the
manufacture of bi-carbonate and sesqui-carbonate of soda from the lower
carbonates of soda; also the manufacture of bi-carbonate and sesqui-
carbonate of potassa from the lower carbonates of potassa.
In effecting the objects of my Invention, as this applies to the
manufacture of bi-carbonate and sesqui-carbonate of soda, I prepare a
mixture containing about one part by weight of dry mono-carbonate of
soda and three parts by weight of water. I introduce such mixture into
a deep closed vessel (constructed of iron plates or other suitable material
capable of bearing pressure) and having at its lower part a perforated 1
false bottom, also at its upper part a pipe with a weighted valve for
allowing the escape of gas therefrom at such pressure as may be found
suitable (say from one-half atmosphere to two atmospheres), also having
a pipe at its lower part through which gases can be forced into such
vessel under the perforated false bottom. Or instead of an upright
vessel I can use a vessel placed horizontally, having a central shaft
(fitted with projecting wings) turning in stuffing boxes. Motion being
given to this shaft the wings cause the gases and fluids contained in
such vessel to be mixed together. The vessel is furnished with a pipe
and weighted valve to provide for the escape of residual or non-absorbed
gases. I prefer however to use the upright vessel.
I obtain a supply of impure or dilute carbonic acid gas by the
combustion of coke or other carbon with atmospherical air, or by the
calcination of limestone in kilns, or by other suitable means, and I cause
such gas to be well cooled. By means of an air pump I cause such
cooled gas to be pumped or forced under the perforated false bottom in
the lower part of the vessel containing the mixture of mono-carbonate
of soda and water, through which mixture it rises in the form of bubbles
or streams, during which rising carbonic acid is absorbed and withdrawn
from the mixture of gases by the carbonate of soda, producing sesqui-
carbonate or bi-carbonate of soda according to the quantity of carbonic
acid gas so absorbed. The residual gases (not absorbed) pass off under

page_text: pressure through the pipe before mentioned, having a weighted valve so
arranged that the degree of pressure in the vessel may be regulated.
When the operation is so far completed as to produce sesqui-carbonate
or bi-carbonate of soda (preferring that the latter should be alone present
or greatly predominant), I transfer the product into another closed
vessel, to which I apply heat by any convenient means. This application
of heat causes the evolution of pure or nearly pure carbonic acid gas
from the mixture, which gas I conduct to other apparatus wherein I
apply it to certain useful purposes for which it is adapted.
In consequence of such evolution of carbonic acid gas from such
bi-carbonate or sesqui-carbonate of soda, these carbonates become
reduced to or nearly to the state of mono-carbonate of soda, which
remains in solution or in admixture with water. After cooling this
mixture I transfer it to the vessel herein-before first mentioned, and I
cause impure or dilute carbonic acid gas to be pumped or forced through
such mixture, and thereby to reproduce bi-carbonate or sesqui-carbonate
of soda suitable to be used for the evolution of pure or nearly pure
carbonic acid gas.
I perform these operations repeatedly so as to obtain a large supply of
pure or nearly pure carbonic acid gas.
The same processes or operations which I have herein-before described
for the production of bi-carbonate and sesqui-carbonate of soda are also
applicable to the production of bi-carbonate and sesqui-carbonate of
potassa (in this case mono-carbonate of potassa being substituted for
mono-carbonate of soda), and the product is also suitable for obtaining
pure or nearly pure carbonic acid gas therefrom by the means herein-
before mentioned for obtaining pure or nearly pure carbonic acid gas
from bi-carbonate or sesqui-carbonate of soda. Amongst the useful
purposes to which pure or nearly pure carbonic acid gas (obtained by
means of my Invention) are adapted is, the supplying pure or nearly
pure carbonic acid gas in the process of decomposing common salt by
means of carbonate of ammonia also supplying pure or nearly pure
carbonic acid gas for decomposing sulphide of sodium, and thereby
producing carbonate of soda and sulphide of hydrogen therefrom.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my Invention of
'Improvements in the Manufacture of certain Alkaline Carbonates for
the Purpose of Obtaining Carbonic Acid Gas therefrom," and the means

page_text: and apparatus which I consider to be best adapted for carrying the same
into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to
the use of the exact apparatus I have herein-before described, as these
may be varied to some extent without deviating from the nature of my
Invention, I claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before 5
in part recited Letters Patent, the manufacture of the alkaline bi-
carbonates and sesqui-carbonates above mentioned for the purpose of
obtaining carbonic acid gas therefrom by causing lower carbonates of
corresponding alkaline bases in admixture with water to be mingled
with impure or dilute carbonic acid gas under pressure, and submitting 1
the product thereby obtained to the action of heat so as to liberate pure
or nearly pure carbonic acid gas therefrom.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Gossage, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Seventh day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
1