An Improved Electrolytical Process for the Production of an Alloy of Lead and Sodium or Potassium.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 12th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 12th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electrolytical Process for the Production of an Alloy
of Lead and Sodium or Potassium.
I, CLAUDE THEODORE JAMES VAUTIN, of 42 Old Broad Street in the City
of London, Metallurgist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to the electrolysis in a fused condition of a salt of sodium or
potassium, such as sodium or potassium chloride, either alone or admixed with other
salts, to obtain the sodium or potassium therefrom in a very cheap and simple
manner, and at a small expenditure of electro-motive force; and my improvement
consists essentially in using a bath of molten lead as the negative pole of the
electrolytical current, the lead thus entirely absorbing the sodium or potassium as
an alloy, as soon as it is formed by the electrolysis of the sodium or potassium salt,
the chlorine or other anion passing away from the positive pole of the electrolytical
current where it may be collected as a bye-product.
To carry my invention into effect, I place at the bottom of a suitable crucible or
vessel, or on the bed of a furnace, a charge of metallic lead, which is connected
as one pole (the negative) to the circuit from a dynamo or other generator.
Above the charge of lead, I add a sodium or potassium salt, such as sodium or
potassium chloride, and I may mix with the sodium or potassium salt, other salts,
preferably chlorides, such as chloride of calcium cr strontium, to reduce the
temperature at which electrolytical decomposition will take place.
A positive pole from the dynamo or electric generator is then inserted into
the sodium or potassium salt, which pole may be of carbon or other suitable
material.
The crucible, vessel, or hearth, is then exposed to gentle heat, until the lead
charge is melted and the sodium or potassium salt is fuzed to a dull red heat.
Upon passing an electrical current of comparatively small E.M.F. through the
charge, electrolytical decomposition at once freely takes place, chlorine being
liberated in large volume as a gas at the positive pole, where it may be collected,
and the or potassium, freed at the face of the molten bath of lead, is entirely
absorbed thereby as.an alloy.
The alloy of lead and sodium or potassium so produced is of great commercial
value, as if treated with water the alloy will be found to readily disintegrate, the
sodium or potassium forming at once pure hydrate of sodium or potassium without.
further trouble or treatment.
Deted the 19th dor of July 1893
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electrolytical Process for the Production of an Alloy
of Lead and Sodium or Potassium.
I, CLAUDE THEODORE JAMES VAUTIN of 42 Old Broad Street, in the City
of London, Metallurgist, 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 :-
My invention relates to electrolysis in a fuzed condition of a salt of sodium or

page_text: potassium such as sodium or potassium chloride either alone or admixed with other
salts to obtain the sodium or potassium therefrom in a very cheap and simple
manner and at a smaller expenditure of electro-motive force than is possible in the
electrolysis of aqueous solutions of these salts and my improvement consists
essentially in using a bath of molten lead as the cathode, the lead thus entirely
absorbing the sodium or potassium as an alloy as soon as it is formed by electrolysis
.of the sodium or potassium salt, the chlorine or other anion passing away from the
anode where it may be collected as a bye product if of value.
To carry my invention into effect I place at the bottom of a suitable crucible or
vessel or on the bed of a furnace a charge of metallic lead which is connected as
the cathode in a circuit from a dynamo or other generator.
Above the charge of lead I add a sodium or potassium salt, such as sodium or
potassium chloride and I may mix with the sodium or potassium salt other salts,
preferably chlorides, such as chloride of calcium or strontium or fluorides of the
same base as the electrolyte to reduce the temperature at which the electrolyte is
fused:
The anode or anodes are inserted into the sodium or potassium salt and which
may be of carbon or other suitable material.
The crucible vessel or hearth is then exposed to gentle heat until the lead charge
is melted and the sodium or potassium salt per se or mixed with other salts as
above referred to is fused.
Upon passing an electrical current of comparatively small E. M.F. through the
charge, electrolytical decomposition at once freely takes place, chlorine being
liberated, when chlorides are used as a gas at the anode where it may be collected,
and the sodium or potassium freed at the face of the molten bath of lead is entirely
absorbed thereby as an alloy.
I show herewith in the drawing annexed a suitable arrangement of pot or crucible
or furnace in which the process may be carried out.
Figure 1 shows a pot B conveniently of metal with a fire clay or magnesic lining
mounted over a grate and surrounded with flues by which the pot may be heated.
A is the charge of metallic lead therein connected as a cathode in an electrolytical
circuit. E is the superimposed charge of fused sodium or potassium salts as the
electrolyte in which is placed the anode F of carbon or other suitable material.
The lower portion of the pot when of conducting metal such as iron may be left
bare and in contact with the metallic lead bath and in such case the circuit wire
may be directly connected to the outside metal of the pot, but the internal non
conducting lining of magnesic or other suitable substance must be continued below
the surface of the lead bath so that the electrolyte is not in contact with the
metallic walls of the pot.
The anode F may be protected by a tube G to collect the gaseous anion which
is carried off by the tube H for collection, or to a chimney or other issue.
The lead charge when saturated as an alloy, with sodium or potassium, may be
withdrawn by the exit pipe K preferably opening under a bath of fused neutral
salt or flux in a vessel or mould to protect the alloy from oxidation whilst
setting.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section and
Figure 3 a transverse section of a reverberatory furnace in the hearth of which
is the lead bath A connected as a cathode in an electrolytical current and the
superimposed charge E of sodium or potassium salts in which are placed the
anodes F of carbon or other material.
The said anodes may be surrounded by the tubes G for the protection of the
anodes and the collection of the gaseous anions through the connecting pipe H.
A fire proof tile cover P or inner roof is placed over the salt between the roof
of the furnace and the salt to prevent the volatilization of the salt.
The lead charge when saturated as an alloy with the sodium or potassium may
be withdrawn by the vent N, and a fresh charge of metallic lead may be melted in
the auxiliary pot or vessel L connected to the hearth by the tube M.

page_text: But it will be understood that my before described process may be carried out
by any suitable means.
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 what I.
claim is
1st. A process for the production of an alloy of lead and sodium or potassium.
consisting of melting by gentle heat in a suitable pot or furnace a bath of metallic
lead and fusing a charge of sodium or potassium salts superposed thereon, and
thereafter passing an electrolytical current through the said fused salt of potassium
or sodium, and through the bath of molten lead as the cathode to obtain the
deposition of the said sodium or potassium into the said bath of lead as an alloy,
substantially as described.
2nd. An alloy of metallic lead and sodium or potassium produced by the
electrolysis of fused salts of sodium or potassium as an electrolyte, superposed
upon a molten supporting bath of metallic lead as a cathode substantially as
described.
Dated this 12th day of April 1894
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.