Improvements in or connected with the Manufacture or Production of. Chloride. of Zinc and Alkaline or Alkaline Earth Sulphates, and of Zinc and Chlorine, by Electrolysis of Solutions thereof.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1892.
Complete Specification Left, 18th. Oct., 1892-Accepted, 14th Jan... 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
!
Improvements in or connected with the Manufacture or Production
of. Chloride. of Zinc and Alkaline or Alkaline Earth Sulphates,
and of Zinc and Chlorine, by Electrolysis of Solutions thereof.
We THOMAS PARKER Works Director of the Electric Construction Corporation
Limited of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, ALFRED EDWARD
ROBINSON, Technical Chemist to; the said Corporation, and CHARLES, HENRY
PARKER of Newbridge,, Wolverhampton, aforesaid, Analytical Chemist do hereby
declare the nature of our invention to be as follows:-
According to our invention we roast together sulphide of zinc, or zinc blende, and
the chloride of an alkali or of an alkaline earth, such as chloride of sodium, or
chloride of magnesium, and thereby forin chloride of zinc and sulphate of the alkali
or of the alkaline earth. By making these into a solution and treating it electro-
lytically we obtain therefrom zinc and chlorine.
Before making the solution chloride of zinc owing to its volatile nature may be
distilled and the remaining sulphate of the alkali and chloride of zinc then be used
as the electrolyte for the electrolytic production of zinc and chlorine as aforesaid
replacing the zinc as it is deposited by frequent additions of chloride of zinc. Any
lead or silver that may be present can also be obtained as they remain behind as
the insoluble chlorides of lead and silver.
1
The electrolytic arrangements may be similar to those employed in the deposition
of copper, the anodes and cathodes being of a nature suitable for the electrolyte.
We may use no diaphragm between the anodes and cathodes, or only such a
diaphragm'as will mechanically prevent the chlorine gas from getting back to the
zinc.
•
1
The chlorine collected may be used for any purpose for which chlorine is usually,
or can be, employed, and the zinc taken from the anodes may be melted with fluxes
and, run into ingots.
Dated this 18th day of January 1892.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Manufacture or Production
of Chloride of Zinc and Alkaline or Alkaline Earth Sulphates,
and of Zinc and Chlorine, by Electrolysis of Solutions thereof.
We THOMAS PARKER Works Director of the Electric Construction Corporation
Limited of Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford ALFRED EDWARD
ROBINSON Technical Chemist to the said Corporation and CHARLES HENRY
PARKER of Newbridge Wolverhampton aforesaid Analytical Chemist do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
According to our invention we roast together sulphide of zinc or zinc blende and
the chloride of an alkali or of an alkaline earth such as chloride of sodium or chloride
of magnesium and thereby form chloride of zinc and sulphate of the alkali or of
the alkaline earth employed. We make these salts into a solution preferably
containing the proper molecular proportions of the respective salts and as saturated
as possible in the cold and we then treat this solution electrolytically and we thereby

page_text: .
obtain therefrom zinc and chlorine. In case of deficiency in the amount of sulphate
of the alkali or of the alkaline earth we may add sulphate of the alkali or of the
alkaline earth obtained from any other suitable source. We find that an electric
current of ten amperes per square foot of anode surface is a sufficient current to
employ. Before making the solution chloride of zinc owing to its volatile nature
may be distilled and the remaining sulphate of the alkali (or alkaline earth) and
chloride of zinc then he used as the electrolyte for the electrolytic production of
zinc and chlorine as aforesaid replacing the zinc as it is deposited by frequent
additions of chloride of zinc. Any lend or silver that may be present can also be
obtained as they remain behind as the insoluble chlorides of lead and silver. The
electrolytic arrangements may be similar to those employed in the deposition of
copper the anodes and cathodes being of a nature suitable for the electrolyte.
We find that a cathode of zinc and an anode of carbon or of chromium phosphide
answer well. We may use no diaphragm between the anodes and cathodes or only
such a diaphragm as will mechanically prevent the chlorine gas from getting back
to the zinc such for instance as one of terra-cotta or the like.
The chlorine collected may be used for any purpose for which chlorine is usually
or can be employed, and the zinc taken from the anodes may be melted with fluxes
and run into ingots.
Having now, particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
First. The production of chloride of zinc. and sulphate of an alkali or of an
alkaline earth by roasting sulphide of zinc or zine blende together with the chloride
of an alkali or of an alkaline earth substantially as hereinbefore described.
Second. The production of zinc and chlorine by roasting sulphide of zinc or zinc
blende together with the chloride of an alkali or of an alkaline earth thus producing
chloride of zinc and sulphate of the alkali or alkaline earth and then subjecting
these compounds in solution to electrolysis substantially as hereinbefore described.
Third. The production of zinc and chlorine by subjecting to electrolysis a
solution of chloride of zinc and sulphate of an alkali or of an alkaline earth
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 18th day of October 1892.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.