Process for the Manufacture of Solid but easily Soluble Alkaline Silicate.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 11th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Process for the Manufacture of Solid but easily Soluble Alkaline
Silicate.
I, FRITZ HENKEL, of 171, Gerresheimerstrasse, Dusseldorf, in the German
Empire, Manufacturer, 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:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of concentrated silicic alkali or
alkaline silicate, in the form of powder or pieces, easily soluble in water: which
manufacture has hitherto been attempted without success.
This process is based upon the observation that by intimately mixing solid silicic
alkali or alkaline silicate with a little water, in the proportion of about 6 to 1,
and strongly heating the mixture; or by mixing the solid silicic alkali or alkaline
silicate with a hot concentrated solution of the silicate, a substance is obtained
which cakes together to form a solid mass, which can be pulverised and is easily
soluble in cold water.
During the application of water, the solid insoluble silicic alkali or alkaline
silicate absorbs the water mechanically without alteration of its properties, specially
as regards insolubility. But when the mixture is strongly heated, a chemical
change takes place between. the insoluble particles of the water-glass and the
particles of water in contact therewith; a crystalline hydrate is thus formed
which can be finely pulverised and which is easily soluble in water.
By the application of a hot concentrated solution of the silicate the solution of
silicate is transformed into a solid aggregate body, without the silicate losing
any of its easily solubility; and further, the solid silicate which was previously
insoluble in cold water is simultaneously changed into the soluble form by inter-
change with the particles of the concentrated solution.
The process is carried out in practice as follows, as an example:-
1st 6 parts of silicate of sodium or potassium, as it is obtained from the furnace,
and containing more or less alkali, are pulverised, intimately mixed, with one part
of water, and the mixture is then strongly heated for a short time until the water
has disappeared and a homogeneous substance is obtained, which cakes to form a
solid mass.
The product thus obtained is easily soluble in cold water and may be
disintegrated or pulverised.
2nd Silicate of sodium or potassium as obtained from the furnace and containing
more or less sodium or potassium is dissolved by means of hot water or steam :
with this hot solution powdered sodium water-glass or powdered potassium water-
glass is mixed and this mixture is allowed to cool. The mixture becomes solid in
very short time and forms a hard cake, which may be disintegrated or pulverised
according to requirement.
Other substances for instance such as saw-dust, peat, turf, or magnesia, which
have no injurious effect on the use of the mixture, may be added, either during the
meation or manufacture.

page_text: This process allows of easy transport of the material and saves freight and
customs duties, because the product is a-concentrated solid silicate easily soluble.
The product is to be used especially in the manufacture of silicate manure in dry
condition suitable for strewing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
12%
1st. A process for the manufacture of concentrated, solid, and easily soluble
alkaline silicate in which fresh solid alkaline silicate is intimately mixed with a
little water and heated for a short time.
2nd. A process for the manufacture of concentrated solid and easily soluble
alkaline silicate as claimed in Claim 1, in which a hot concentrated water solution
of the silicate is absorbed by solid silicate:
Dated this 27th day of Annil 1000