Iм- PROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF OZONE AND AZOTIC ACID, AND IN APPARATUS USED THEREIN
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Bristow Hunt, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of “Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF OZONE AND AZOTIC ACID, AND IN
APPARATUS USED THEREIN."-A communication from abroad by Alvaro
Francisco Carlos Reynoso, of Paris, France, Chemist.
:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bristow Hunt at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd June 1874.
I, BRISTOW HUNT, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF OZONE AND AZOTIC ACID,
AND IN APPARATUS USED THEREIN," (a communication to me from abroad by
Alvaro Francisco Carlos Reynoso, of Paris, France, Chemist,) to be as
follows:-
Preparation of Ozone.-The fundamental principle of novelty in the
preparation of ozone consists in operating upon oxygen gas compressed

page_text: to several atmospheres. Electric sparks are caused to pass through the
mass by means of particular arrangements, which increase the surfaces
and multiply the number of electric sparks.
The apparatus is composed of a vessel capable of resisting great
pressure. The electric sparks are disengaged between two conductors,
terminated by several points placed at suitable distances.
Instead of operating in this manner there may be placed in the
interior of the vessel several plates of platinum more or less perforated,
that is to say, presenting numerous holes or solutions of continuity; or
a mesh of platinum wire, platted or woven together, or simply plates of
platinum may be employed. In all cases the plates should be separated
by strips of glass interposed.
The object of these arrangements is to multiply the sparks as is the
case in electric spark tubes or globes or in the "magic square," and to
extend the surface over which the sparks are developed. I may here
remark that electric spark tubes or globes or magic squares may be
utilized under some circumstances and with particular arrangements.
r
23
The apparatus containing the compressed oxygen should be strongly
refrigerated before passing the electric sparks through the same, and
also during their passage. The ozone can be used as quickly as it is
formed in the apparatus, according to the purpose for which it is to be
employed.
Secondly. Instead of causing electric sparks to pass through com-
pressed oxygen, which is the most convenient process, it is possible to
compress the oxygen to several atmospheres to cool it to a very low a
temperature, and then to cause it to pass into an apparatus suitably
arranged, which is constructed on the same principles of augmentation
of surface and multiplication of sparks as that above described. The
cold produced by the expansion of the compressed oxygen will then
contribute to the production of the ozone.
In these two cases the sparks may be produced by the "Ruhmkorff"
apparatus, but in the second they might also be produced by the electric
machine discharging the sparks into an apparatus constructed according
to the same principles.
Preparation of Azotic Acid and Azotates by Means of Compressed
Air. Air is compressed to several atmospheres above water or alkaline

page_text: bases or carbonates, and through the same are passed electric sparks
produced by means of a Ruhmkorff" coil placed in communication
with an electro-magnetic machine, moved either by hydraulic power, the
wind, by compressed air, or otherwise. The sparks will be disengaged by
points or systems similar to those above mentioned with regard to ozone.
Instead of preparing the azotic acid or azotates separately they may
be utilized in a direct manner for all uses to which they may be applied
which are capable of being produced in the apparatus. Thus for
example, by compressing air upon vegetable mould, taking care not to
raise the temperature too high by rapid compression, and then causing
electric sparks to pass through it, the azotized compound, so useful for
the development of plants, may be introduced.
Sulphuric acid may be formed directly by compressing sulphurous acid
and air and causing electric sparks to pass through. This will be accom-
plished either by the action of the azotic acid formed on the sulphurous
acid, or by a direct oxidation from the sulphurous acid by oxygen
modified by electricity.
If it be desired to convert all the azote of the air into azotic acid, as
by weight the air contains 23'10 of oxygen and 76'90 of azote, whilst
azotic acid contains 25'92 of azote and 74'08 of oxygen, the proper
amount of oxygen to establish these proportions should be added to the
air before compressing it.
i
Air compressed to several atmospheres on porous bodies containing
alkaline bases or carbonate gives a very considerable proportion of
azotates; hence an economical means of introducing azote into vegetable
mould, to which should be added lime or ashes to facilitate the combi-
nation of the oxygen with the azote.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Bristow Hunt, Her special licence that I,
the said Bristow Hunt, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Bristow Hunt, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF
OZONE AND AZOTIC ACID, AND IN APPARATUS USED THEREIN," (a communication
to me from abroad by Alvaro Francisco Carlos Reynoso, of Paris, France,
Chemist,) upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Bristow
Hunt, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Bristow Hunt, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, that is to say :-
The improvements in the preparation of ozone according to this
Invention are as follows:-The fundamental principle of novelty in the
preparation of ozone consists in operating upon oxygen gas compressed
to several atmospheres. Electric sparks are caused to pass through the
mass by means of particular arrangements, which increase the surfaces:
and multiply the number of the electric sparks.
· The apparatus is composed of a vessel capable of resisting great
pressure. The electric sparks are disengaged between two conductors,
terminated by several points placed at suitable distances.
Instead of operating in this manner there may be placed in the a
interior of the vessel several plates of platinum, more or less perforated,
that is to say, presenting numerous holes or solutions of continuity; or

page_text: a mesh of platinum wire, platted or woven together, or simply plates of
platinum may be employed. In all cases the plates should be separated
by strips of glass interposed.
The object of these arrangements is to multiply the sparks as is the
case in electric spark tubes or globes or in the "magic square," and to
extend the surface over which the sparks are developed. I may here
remark that electric spark tubes or globes or "magic squares
utilized under some circumstances and with particular arrangements.
"
may be
The apparatus containing the compressed oxygen should be strongly
refrigerated before passing the electric sparks through the same, and
also during their passage. The ozone can be used as quickly as it is
formed in the apparatus, according to the purpose for which it is to be
employed.
Secondly. Instead of causing electric sparks to pass through com-
pressed oxygen, which is the most convenient process, it is possible to
compress the oxygen to several atmospheres to cool it to a very low
temperature, and then to cause it to pass into an apparatus suitably
arranged; which is constructed on the same principles of augmentation
of surface and multiplication of sparks as that above described. The
cold produced by the expansion of the compressed oxygen will then
contribute to the production of the ozone.
In these two cases the sparks may be produced by the "Ruhmkorff"
apparatus, but in the second they might also be produced by the electric
machine discharging the sparks into an apparatus constructed according
to the same principles.
The second part of this Invention consists in preparation of azotic
acid and azotates by means of compressed air, and is as follows:-Air
is compressed to several atmospheres above water or alkaline bases or
carbonates, and through the same are passed electric sparks produced
by means of a "Ruhmkorff" coil placed in communication with an
electro-magnetic machine, moved either by hydraulic power, the wind,
by compressed air, or otherwise. The sparks will be disengaged by
points or systems similar to those above mentioned with regard to
ozone.
Instead of preparing the azotic acid or azotates separately they may
be utilized in a direct manner for all uses to which they may be annlied

page_text: which are capable of being produced in the apparatus. Thus for
example, by compressing air upon vegetable mould, taking care not to
raise the temperature too high by rapid compression, and then causing
electric sparks to pass through it, the azotized compound, so useful for
the development of plants, may be introduced.
Sulphuric acid may be formed directly by compressing sulphurous
acid and air and causing electric sparks to pass through.
If it be desired to convert all the azote of the air into azotic acid, as
by weight the air contains 23'10 of oxygen and 76'90 of azote, whilst
azotic acid contains 25'92 of azote and 74'08 of oxygen, the proper
amount of oxygen to establish these proportions should be added to the
air before compressing it.
Air compressed to several atmospheres on porous bodies containing
alkaline bases or carbonate gives a very considerable proportion of
azotates; hence an economical means of introducing azote into vegetable
mould, to which should be added lime or ashes to facilitate the combi-
nation of the oxygen with the azote.
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention,
together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be per-
formed or carried into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion
that what I claim as the Invention communicated to me by the said
Alvaro Francisco Carlos Reynoso, is the improved method or process to
be employed in the preparation of ozone and azotic acid, substantially
as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Bristow Hunt, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of December, in the
-year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.