AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR ABSORBING THE ACID VAPOURS EVOLVED IN VARIOUS CHEMICAL MANUFACTURES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Rayner, of Chester, in the County of
Chester, Gentleman, F.C.S., and William Crookes, of Mornington
Road, Regent's Park, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
F.RS, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND APPARATUS
FOR ABSORBING THE ACID VAPOURS EVOLVED IN VARIOUS CHEMICAL
MANUFACTURES.'
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Rayner and
William Crookes at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents.
with their Petition, on the 28th July 1875.
WC, HENRY RAYNER, of Chester, in the County of Chester, Gentleman,
F.CS., and WILLIAM CROOKES, of Mornington Road, Regent's Park,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, F.R. S., do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND APPAratus for
ABSORBING THE ACID VAPOURS EVOLVED IN VARIOUS CHEMICAL MANUFACTURES,”
to be as follows:
T
shaminal
PANAUNO am aison off and if

page_text: these were collected or absorbed they might be converted into valuable
products.
Our Invention is particularly applicable to the manufacture of
sulphuric acid, and also to those chemical processes in which hydro-
chloric acid vapours are evolved.
The improved process consists in bringing the acid vapours into the
presence of alkaline substances in a state of minute subdivision, so that
they may be absorbed thereby The alkaline substances may be used
either in a caustic state or in the form of a carbonate, and may be used
as a solution or in the form of lumps, or of a finely divided powder.
-
The most convenient substances to use for the purposes of the Inven-
tion arc caustic soda, or alumina, or quicklime, or the carbonates of
soda or lime; but any substances of an analogous nature may be
employed.
The alkaline substance, whether in the form of a solution or in the
state of lumps, or as a dry powder, is introduced into a vessel of a
cylindrical, globular, or other suitable form provided internally with
projections, and so arranged that it may be easily rotated on its axis.
A hollow shaft or axle extends through the rotating vessel, and the
alkaline substance (either in a liquid or solid form) is supplied through
this hollow axle to the interior of the vessel, into which the acid vapours
are conducted in any convenient manner.
When carbonates are employed for the purpose of our Invention the
carbonic acid evolved from the decomposition of the salt (when it issues
from the rotating vessel) may be used in the production of bicarbonate
of soda or potash By these means all the acid vapours are absorbed,
condensed, and utilized.
Instead of the cylindrical or globular vessel rotating the vessel may
be stationary, and the axis may rotate, being provided with suitable
paddles or arms for the purpose of keeping the contents of the vessel in
motion; or both these movements may be combined.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Rayner and William Crookes in the Great
Scal Patent Office on the 28th January 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, HENRY
RAYNER, of Chester, in the County of Chester, Gentleman, F.C.S.,
and WILLIAM CROOKES, of Mornington Road, Regent's Park, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, F.R. S, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said Henry Rayner and William
Crookes, Her special licence, that we, the said Henry Rayner and
William Crookes, our exccutors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Henry Rayner and William Crookes, our exc-
cutors, 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
"AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR ABSORBING THE ACID VAPOURS
EVOLVED IN VARIOUS CHEMICAL MANUFACTURES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said Henry Rayner and William Crookes, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our,
or their, or one of their hands and scals, 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 we, the said Henry Rayner and William
Crookes, do hereby declare the nature of our 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 ·
In many chemical manufactures acid vapours are given off and
allowed to escape into the atmosphere, but if these vapours wero
collected or absorbed they might be converted into valuable products.

page_text: Our Invention is particularly applicable to the sulphuric acid manu-
facture, and also to those chemical processes in which hydrochloric acid
vapours are evolved
Our improved process consists in bringing the acid vapours into the
presence of alkaline substances, by preference in a state of minute
subdivision, so that they may be absorbed thereby. The alkaline
substances we propose to use either in a caustic state or in the form of a
carbonate, and either as a solution or in the form of a powder.
The most convenient substance to use for the purposes of the Inven-
tion are caustic soda or quicklime, or the carbonates of soda or lime,
but any substances of an analogous nature may be employed.
The alkaline substance, whether in the form of a solution or in the
state of powder, is introduced into a vessel of a cylindrical, globular,
or other suitable form, and composed of or lined with lead, thus vessel
is provided internally with projections constituting fixed beaters or
stirrers, and it is so arranged that it may be easily rotated on its axis to
maintain a violent agitation of its contents The rotating vessel is fitted
with a hollow shaft or trunnions, and through the same the alkaline
substance (whether as a liquid or a solid) is supplied to the interior of
the vessel The acid vapours may be similarly introduced to the vessels
or supplied thereto in any convenient manner.
Instead of the cylindrical or globular vessel rotating, the vessel may
be stationary and fitted with a rotating central axle carrying suitable
paddles, or arms, or fans, for the purpose of keeping the contents of the
vessel in motion, and ensuring the mingling of the liquid or solid and
gaseous bodies. In this case the acid vapours will be supplied to the
vessel by a pipe, and a reservoir or funnel fitted with suitable valves may
be connected with the vessel for the purpose of charging it from time to
time with the alkaline substance.
When carbonates arc employed for the purpose of our Invention the
carbonic acid evolved from the decomposition of the carbonato (when it
issues from the rotating vessel) may be used in the production of
bicarbonate of soda or potash. By these means all the acid vapours
arc absorbed, condensed, and utilized.
Daving now described our Invention of "An Improved Process and 3

page_text: Manufactures," and explained the manner of carrying the same into
effect, we wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited
Letters Patent, we claim, submitting waste acid vapours derived from
chemical manufactures to the action of alkaline substances or solutions
for the purpose and by means substantially as above described.
In witness whereof, wc, the said Henry Rayner and William
Crookes, have hereunto set our hands and scals, this Twenty-
cighth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
cight hundred and seventy-six.
HENRY RAYNER
(L.S.)
WILLIAM CROOKES. (L.s.)