Process for the Production of Continuous and Durable Platinum Gas-Lighting Pellets for Illuminating Gas.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Sept., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 10th May, 1899-Accepted, 10th June, 1899
Process for the Production of Continuous and Durable Platinum
Gas-Lighting Pellets for Illuminating Gas.
I, JACQUES PERL, of 7, Scharnhorst Strasse, of Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia,
German Empire, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an improved process for the production of continuous and
durable platinum gas lighting pellets for igniting gas, and bas for its object to produce
a self-acting gas-igniting pellet, which more especially shall be impervious to the
action of the atmosphere.
Lighting or igniting pellets which glow in an illuminating gas-stream are already
well known. To make the same practically serviceable however, for the automatic
lighting of gas-flames, the said pellets must be so prepared, or must possess the
qualities, firstly, that they quickly commence to glow, and secondly, that they glow
as frequently as desired upon the passage of the illuminating gas-stream to be
ignited, across the said pellet and thus duly effect the ignition of the said gas-
stream.
After the discovery was made, that finely divided platinum did not fulfil these re-
quirements, it was experimented to increase the effect of the finely divided platinum
by inserting the same (or tningling the same) within indifferent porous bodies,
according to the suggestion of Liebig (Poggendorf's Annalen Vol. 17, 1829,
page 107).
was,
Döbereiner (Journal praktischer Chemie 1839, Vol. 17, Page 158) went further in
this matter and produced the finely divided platinum within the pores of natural or
artificial meerschaum (sea-foam), or clay. Hereby the action of the igniting pellets
it is true, increased, but nevertheless the problem of causing the pellet to glow
quickly and as often as was required, in the illuminating gas-stream was even yet not
fulfilled by this igniting pellet prepared as herein before described, according to Liebig.
It was found that the effect or action of this pellet decreased in proportion to the
number of times the pellet was used, and that especially in a damp atmosphere, or
after a short time of use, the igniting action of this pellet entirely ceased.
The reason why these and other igniting pellets consisting of an incombustible
material with platinum finely divided in its pores, ceased to be of use, the applicant
has found in the fact, that the said igniting pellets, in consequence of their peculiar
method of manufacture, always contained chloride of magnesium or other earths,
because by the reduction of the platinum salts, which are in the pores of the em-
ployed material, a part of the latter is always transformed by the action of the
acids freed from the platinum salts (chiefly hydrochloric acid) to hygroscopic
compounds.
These compounds are injurious on account.of their hygroscopic properties; they
cause the igniting pellets to absorb moisture in consequence of which, when the

page_text: pellet is traversed by a flow of gas, the heat generated in the pellet has firstly to
evaporate the water or moisture absorbed by and now contained in the pellet, before
the pellet commences to glow.
Hereby, the promptness and speed of the ignition is destroyed.
Furthermore these said compounds act as fluxes and cause the igniting pellet to
become denser and more impenetrable for the gas, the longer the same. is in use, so
that, as indicated, the said igniting pellet, after a certain number of ignitions, and
usually after a very small number of such ignitions, ceases to be further capable of
igniting the gas.
The recognition of the above facts led to my improved process hereinafter
described :
Porous incombustible material is thoroughly mixed or mingled with a solid or dis-
solved platinum salt or salts; the mixture is dried at a moderate temperature and
hereupon the platinum is reduced in the pores of the incombustible material by
known methods.
This can, as known, be effected by bringing the mixture to a high degree of heat
in a covered crucible until the hydrochloric acid, or the vapours of any other acid,
have disappeared.
The saine result might also be brought about, by heating the mixture or mass in a
reducing gas-flame, or in a reducing atmosphere.
A pellet results herefrom containing hygroscopic salts. The salts are now extracted
with diluted hydrochloric acid, and subsequently with water, until all trace of any
soluble salt is removed. Instead of acid I can employ boiling water alone.
The above mentioned extraction of the salts hydrochloric acid could be substituted
by any other acid, which would dissolve the formed oxychloride of magnesium etc.
more quickly than water.
In conclusion, it will also be clear, that I can, according to my improved process,
renew or reprepare gas igniting pellets, which in consequence of possessing hygro-
scopic qualities, or, which in consequence of slagging having taken place, have become
unfit for use or spoilt. These pellets which may have been manufactured according
to a process hitherto known, I treat according to my improved process by subjecting
the same to the action of suitable solvents such as hydrochloric acid and water in the
manner hereinbefore described; the said pellets again become fit for use and service-
able in every respect for the purpose required.
Dated this 5th day of September 1898.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1, Broad Street Buildings, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.
Process for the Production of Continuous and Durable Platinum
Gas-Lighting Pellets for Illuminating Gas.
I, JACQUES PERL, of 7, Scharnhorst Strasse, of Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, German
Empire, 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved process for the production of continuous
and durable platinum gas lighting pellets for igniting gas and has for its object to
produce a self-acting gas-igniting pellet, which more especially shall be impervious to
the action of the atmosphere.
Lighting or igniting pellets which glow in an illuminating gas-stream are already
well known. To make the same practically serviceable however; for the automatic

page_text: lighting of gas-flames, the said pellets must be so prepared or must possess the
qualities, firstly that they quickly commence to glow, and secondly, that they glow as
frequently as desired upon the passage of the illuminating gas-stream to be ignited,
across the said pellet and thus duly effect the ignition of the said gas-stream.
After the discovery was made, that finely divided platinum did not fulfill these
requirements, it was experimented to increase the effect of the finely divided
platinum by inserting the same (or mingling the same) within indifferent porous
bodies, according to the suggestion of Liebig (Poggendorf's Annalen Vol. 17, 1829,
page 107).
Döbereiner (Journal praktischer Chemie 1839, Vol. 17, page 158) went further in
this matter and produced the finely divided platinum within the pores of natural
or artificial meerschaum (sea foam), or clay. Hereby the action of the igniting
pellets was, it is true, increased, but nevertheless the problem of causing the pellet to
glow quickly and as often as was required, in the illuminating gas-stream was
even yet not fulfilled by this igniting pellet prepared as hereinbefore described,
according to Liebig. It was found that the effect or action of this pellet decreased
in proportion to the number of times the pellet was used, and that especially in a
damp atmosphere, or after a short time of use, the igniting action of this pellet entirely
ceased.
The reason why these and other igniting pellets consisting of an incombustible
material, with platinum finely divided in its pores, ceased to be of use, the applicant
has found in the fact, that the said igniting pellets, in consequence of their peculiar
method of manufacture, because by the reduction of the platinum salts, which are in
the pores of the employed material, a part of the latter is always transformed by the
action of the acids freed from the platinum salts (chiefly hydrochloric acid) to
hygroscopic compounds.
These compounds are injurious on account of their hygroscopic properties; they
cause the igniting pellets to absorb moisture in consequence of which, when the
pellet is traversed by a flow of gas, the heat generated in the pellet has firstly to
evaporate the water or moisture absorbed by and now contained in the pellet, before
the pellet commences to glow.
Hereby, the promptness and speed of the ignition is destroyed.
Furthermore these said compounds act as fluxes and cause the igniting pellet to
become denser and more impenetrable for the gas, the longer the same is in use, so
that, as indicated, the said igniting pellet, after a certain number of ignitions, and
usually after a very small number of such ignitions, ceases to be further capable of
igniting the gas.
The recognition of the above facts led to my improved process hereinafter
described:
Porous incombustible material is thoroughly mixed or mingled with a solid or
dissolved platinum salt or salts; the mixture is dried at a moderate temperature and
hereupon the platinum is reduced in the pores of the incombustible material by
known methods.
This can, as known, be effected by bringing the mixture to a high degree of heat
in a covered crucible until the hydrochloric acid, or the vapours of any other acid,
have disappeared.
The same result might also be brought about, by heating the mixture or mass in a
reducing gas-flame, or in a reducing atmosphere.
A pellet results herefrom containing hygroscopic salts. The salts are now extracted
with diluted hydrochloric acid, and subsequently with water, until all trace of any
soluble salt is removed.
For the above mentioned extraction of the salts hydrochloric acid could be sub-
stituted by any other acid, which would dissolve the formed oxychloride of magnesium
etc. more quickly than water.
In conclusion, it will also be clear, that I can, according to my improved process,
renew or reprepare gas igniting pellets, which in consequence of possessing hygroscopic
qualities, or, which in consequence of slagging having taken place, have become unfit

page_text: for use or spoilt. These pellets which may have been manufactured according to a
process hitherto known, I treat according to my improved process by sub-
jecting the same to the action of suitable solvents such as hydrochloric acid and water
in the manner herein before described; the said pellets again become fit for use and
serviceable in every respect for the purpose required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I
am aware of J. F. Duke's Specification No. 969 of 1895, and Cannellopoulos and
another's Specification No. 3319 of 1896, and I make no claim to anything therein
claimed, but what I claim is :-
An improved process for the production of gas-igniting pellets, said process con-
sisting, in reducing the platinum salt within the pores of an incombustible material by
known means, and subsequently extracting the thereby formed hygroscopic compounds
from the pellet by means of an acid, and subsequently removing the acid retained in
the pellet by washing, substantially as described.
D
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1, Broad Street Buildings, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.