Improvements in the Manufacture of Cyanides.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 20th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 20th Apr., 1895
Improvements in the Manufacture of Cyanides.
1, HAMILTON YOUNG CASTNER of 13 Abchurch Lane, in the City of London,
Managing Director of The Aluminium Company Limited, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a process for the formation of alkali cyanides by the
direct combination of free nitrogen with carbon either in its natural or nascent state
in the presence of and with an alkaline metal.
Many processes have been suggested for the production of cyanides based on the
known fact that nitrogen in the presence of a heated mixture of an alkali or alkaline
earth and carbon will enter into combination with and form cyanide of the alkali or
alkaline earth.
In carrying out such a process carbon has usually been mixed or saturated with
either the carbonate or hydrate of the alkali desired and such mixture has then been
intensely heated in a current of nitrogen.
This process has never met with any commercial success as the loss of alkali is
large from volatilization owing to the high temperature required, the yield of
combined nitrogen as cyanide is relatively small owing to the presence of carbonic
oxide and acid produced during the operation tending to destroy the cyanide as it
is formed and morcover the cyanized charcoal requires further treatment to obtain
the cyanide in some marketable formi.
When substituting for the alkali in the above mentioned process either carbonate
or oxide of baryta, the method for many reasons has not been found commercially
practical although the cyanide of that metal is much more readily formed under
like conditions.
While many modifications of these methods of obtaining nitrogen in combination
have been suggested and among which may be mentioned that of using a hydro-
carbon to supply the required carbon in a nascent state, still the principle involved
has always been the same and the nitrogen has been brought into contact with a
heated mixture of alkali and alkaline earth and carbon.
In carrying on the process which is the subject of the present invention it is
merely proposed to substitute an alkali metal which has been previously or
separately produced for the alkaline carbonate or hydrate previously employed as
it is found by experiment that the desired result may thus be obtained at a much
lower temperature and the presence of any carbonic oxide or acid during the
combination of the metal, carbon, and nitrogen will thus be avoided.
Many forms of apparatus may be devised to carry out the process.
form however is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
A simple
A is a vertical iron retort, set in a furnace B, provided with an inlet pipe C of
the form as shown pipes D and E, a hopper F, and a bottom opening H of the form
as shown.
In carrying on the operation of the process the retort which is heated to redness,
is charged preferably with wood charcoal and a small quantity of sodium or
potassium cyanide being placed in bend H which on melting forms a seal preventing
the escape of any nitrogen or the ingress of air. Nitrogen free of oxygen or oxygen
compounds, is admitted at E and metallic sodium being placed in the bent tube C
melts and flows gradually down the retort through the heated charcoal, while the
nitrogen ascends, any unabsorbed gas escaping at D. Under the conditions here

page_text: mentioned the sodium, carbon, and nitrogen directly combine, the resulting cyanide
melts and flows from the retort through the outlet. H into the receptacle K.
Charcoal from time to time, as necessary, is charged into the retort through the
hopper F. Any escaping nitrogen through D is passed into a second retort. IL
will be apparent that the same result may be obtained by filling the retort with any
inert material as for example fragments of iron or porcelain which will retard the
flow of molten metal and at the same time expose a large surface to the influence of
the ascending gases which in this case would consist of a hydro carbon and
nitrogen.
The same result may also be obtained by employing an alkaline alloy as for
instance an alloy of lead and sodium, the apparatus being modified to suit the
particular process employed.
It will also be apparent that the process may be carried on by employing the
vapour of an alkaline metal alone with carbon and nitrogen. It is understood that
in the foregoing where sodium is mentioned the same remarks apply to potassium.
Dated the 23rd day of June 1894
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent,
For the Applicant.
1, HAMILTON YOUNG CASTNER of 13 Abchurch Lane, in the City of London,
Managing Director of The Aluminium Company Limited 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 a process for the formation of alkali cyanides by the
direct combination of free nitrogen with carbon either in its natural or nascent state
in the presence of and with an alkaline metal.
Many processes have been suggested for the production of cyanides based on the
known fact that nitrogen in the presence of a heated mixture of an alkali or alkaline
earth and carbon will enter into combination with and form cyanide of the alkali
or alkaline earth.
In carrying out such a process carbon has usually been mixed or saturated with
either the carbonate or hydrate of the alkali desired and such mixture has then been
intensely heated in a current of nitrogen.
This process has never met with any commercial success as the loss of alkali is
large from volatilization owing to the high temperature required, the yield of
combined nitrogen as cyanide is relatively small owing to the presence of carbonic
oxide and neid produced during the operation tending to destroy the cyanide as it
is formed and moreover the cyanized charcoal requires further treatment to obtain
the cyanide in some marketable farm.
When substituting for the alkali in the above mentioned process either carbonate
or oxide of baryta, the method for many reasons has not been found commercially
practical although the cyanide of that metal is much more readily formed under like
conditions.
While many modifications of these methods of obtaining nitrogen in combination
have been suggested and among which may be mentioned that of using a hydrocarbon
to supply the required carbon in a nascent state, still the principle involved has
always been the same and the nitrogen has been brought into contact with a heated
mixture of alkali and alkaline earth and carbon.
In carrying on the process which is the subject of the present invention it is
merely proposed to substitute an alkali metal which has been previously or separately

page_text: produced for the alkaline carbonate or hydrate previously employed as it is found
by experiment that the desired result may thus be obtained at a much lower
temperature and the presence of any carbonic oxide or acid during the combination
of the metal, carbon, and nitrogen will thus be avoided.
Many forms of apparatus may be devised to carry out the process. A simple
form however is illustrated in the drawings accompanying my Provisional
Specification.
A is a vertical iron retort, set in a furnace B, provided with an inlet pipe C of
the form as shown pipes D and E, a hopper F, and a bottom opening M of the form
as shown.
In carrying on the operation of the process the retort which is heated to redness,
is charged preferably with wood charcoal and a small quantity of sodium or
potassium cyanide being placed in bend H which on melting forms a seal preventing
the escape of any nitrogen or the ingress of air. Nitrogen free of oxygen or oxygen
compounds, is admitted at E and metallic sodium being placed in the bent tube C
melts and flows gradually down the retort through the heated charcoal, while the
nitrogen ascends, any unabsorbed gas escaping at D. Under the conditions here
mentioned the sodium, carbon, and nitrogen directly combine, the resulting cyanide
melts and flows from the retort through the outlet H into the receptacle K.
Charcoal from time to time, as necessary, is charged into the retort through the
hopper F. Any escaping nitrogen through D is passed into a second retort.
will be apparent that the same result may be obtained by filling the retort with any
inert material as for example fragments of iron or porcelain which will retard the
flow of molten metal and at the same time expose a large surface to the influence of
the ascending gases which in this case would consist of a hydrocarbon and
nitrogen.
It
The same result may also be obtained by employing an alkaline alloy as for
instance an alloy of lead and sodium, the apparatus being modified to suit the
particular process employed.
It will also be apparent that the process may be carried on by employing the
vapour of an alkaline metal alone with carbon and nitrogen. It is understood that
in the foregoing where sodium is mentioned the same remarks apply to potassium.
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 :-
The improvements in the manufacture of sodium or potassium cyanide by the
direct combination of nitrogen, carbon, and alkali metal, the said alkali metal having
been previously or separately prepared.
Dated the 20th dor of March 1805
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent,
For the Applicant.