IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRO- DUCTION OF MURIATE OF AMMONIA
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Gentles, of Saint Helens, in the County of Lan-
cashire, Analytical Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRO-
DUCTION OF MURIATE OF AMMONIA."
Sealed the 11th October 1878, and dated the 3rd June 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Gentles at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd June 1878.
WILLIAM GENTLES, of Saint Helens, in the County of Lancashire, Analytical
Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF MURIATE OF AMMONIA."
The main feature of this Invention consists in the employment of chloride of
calcium for the production of muriate of aminonia.
In carrying my Invention into effect I distil any ammoniacal liquor containing
carbonates of ammonia into a solution of chloride of calcium.
The carbonic acid of the ammonia carbonate combines with the calcium of the
chloride of calcium and the oxygen of the ammonia, the action being represented by
the formula,
CACL + NH, OCO, = CAO, CO,+NH CI,
the result being the production of muriate of ammonia and carbonate of lime.
CACL + NH, OCO, = CAO, CO,+NH CI,
the result being the production of muriate of ammonia and carbonate of lime.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Gentles in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th
November 1878.
WILLIAM GENTLES, of Saint Helens, in the County of Lancashire, Analytical
Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF MURIATE OF AMMONIA."
The main feature of this Invention consists in the employment of chloride of
calcium for the production of muriate of ammonia.
In carrying my Invention into effect I distil any ammoniacal liquor containing
carbonates of ammonia into a solution of chloride of calcium.
The re-action which takes place is very simple, thus:-The ammonia combining
with the chlorine of the calcium chloride, forming muriate of ammonia, liberating
the carbonic acid, which combines with the oxygen and calcium, forming an inso-
luble precipitate lime carbonate or precipitated chalk; or by formula thus,―
NH, O. CO, × Ca C1 = NH, C1 × Ca ÖCO,
For the purpose of my Invention the ordinary gas-work's ammoniacal liquors, or
other gas liquors containing carbonates of ammonia, are placed in a still with a
worm attached, the exit pipe of which dips under a solution of calcium chloride a
few inches.
The vessel containing solution of calcium chloride may be of wood or iron, with
an agitator placed therein to thoroughly comingle the contents as the distillation is
proceeding, and until the operation is finished.
The solution of calcium chloride must contain a proper proportion sufficient to
decompose all the ammonia carbonates evolved. The said chloride of calcium solu-
tion must be altered in quality or strength to suit the ever-varying quantity or
strength of the ammonia liquor used.
After the operation is finished, the resulting comingled solution is allowed to
thoroughly settle. The supernatant clear liquor may be conveyed to a boiling down
pan, or preferably to a close vessel with worm attached, and the small portion of
uncombined ammonia evolved into an acid, or condensed as liquor ammonia and
properly purified or utilized, as under.
The supernatant clear liquor may be treated with ordinary hydrochloric acid just
to acidity, and the arsenic of the calcium chloride and hydrochloric acid precipitated
as a ter-sulphide of arsenic.
The clear and well settled liquor is now rendered alkaline by a portion of the
ammoniacal liquor evolved and collected from close vessel; the oxide of iron is
allowed to settle to the bottom, or otherwise separated; the liquor boiled to fishing
or to crystallizing points; the resulting muriate of ammonia will be a fine white
article superior to ordinary make in being free from the impurities usually contained
in ordinarily manufactured ammonia muriates.
The fine lime carbonate is treated with its own bulk of water, and thoroughly
comingled with the agitator, allowed to settle and clear, supernatant liquor drained
off; this washing may be repeated, and liquids from both washings kept to be used
in washing next batch of lime carbonate, proper care being taken to thoroughly
eliminate the muriate of ammonia. The lime carbonate may now be thrown out on
to a drainer and allowed to drain, and may then be dried on hot plates or placed
over the flues leading from the boiler or still to the chimney, and all water
expelled.
The properly washed and dried lime carbonate is now in a fit state to be used as
a substitute for chalk in producing carbonic acid for aerated waters, in the neutra-
lizing wells of the Weldon chlorine process, in the manufacture of carbonate of
ammonia, and the resulting calcium chloride returned to the first operation vessel;
or the lime carbonate may be applied to any of its well-known uses.
A portion of lime carbonate may be well used in the still to combine with any

page_text: non-volatile compounds of ammonia, with acids or other combinations decomposable
with lime carbonate, and increased evolution of carbonic acid given.
The ammonia liquor, as distilled from the close vessel with condensing pipe
attached, may be well utilized in gas factories, where this process is carried out
thus: The ammonia liquor may be used as a gas purificant very advantageously
by its being introduced into the scrubbers or other part of the ordinary purifying
apparatus in place of water, becoming thereby enriched with ammonia, and acting
as a powerful purifier; or the chloride of calcium in solution may be used in the
scrubbers or other part of the purifying apparatus of gas works, or in a vessel of
the form of a scrubber, through which the unpurified gas shall be caused to pass,
and be brought into contact with the solution of chloride of calcium instead of
water. The said chloride of calcium will act as a powerful purifier in elutriating
and decomposing the ammoniacal gases, thereby producing in solution and suspen-
sion muriate of ammonia with a small portion of uncombined ammonia and lime
carbonate, all of which may be separated in the manner as herein-before described.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my Invention, the production
of muriate of ammonia from ammoniacal liquors containing carbonates of ammonia
by the employment of chloride of calcium, in the manner berein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Gentles, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of November, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-eight.
WILLIAM GENTLES. (L.S.)