IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF POROUS SILICIOUS MATERIAL AND OBJECTS APPLICABLE FOR BUILDING MATERIALS FOR FILTERING PURPOSES GRINDSTONES AND OTHER PURPOSES" PROVISIONAL SP
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adolph Frank Doctor of Philosophy of Charlottenburg
Prussia, German Empire for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF POROUS SILICIOUS MATERIAL AND OBJECTS APPLICABLE FOR
BUILDING MATERIALS FOR FILTERING PURPOSES GRINDSTONES AND OTHER
PURPOSES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adolph Frank at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th January 1883.
ADOLPH FRANK Doctor of Philosophy, of Charlottenburg, Prussia German
Empire "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF POROUS SILICIOUS MATERIAL
AND OBJECTS APPLICABLE FOR BUILDING MATERIALS FOR FILTERING PURPOSES,
GRINDSTONES AND OTHER PURPOSES
"
According to this invention I mix artificially produced or natural finely divided
silicious earth and especially the so called infusorial earth with a mixture of
organic materials and alkalies or alkaline earths in which latter I include
magnesia.
From this mixture and while adding water or other suitable liquids I form solid
masses which are then dried and burnt by great heat. By the burning the added
organic substances are carbonized and the carbon wholly or partially burnt up, all
according as the burning is carried on with admission of or exclusion of air.
Simultaneously the silicious acid partly uniting with the added fireproof bases
under the influence of the heat will form silicate so that they will be cemented or
burning together and resulting in a very porous but sufficiently cohesive mass.
Instead of the mixture of organic substances with alkalies or alkaline earths I may
also use compounds of organic acids or neutral materials with alkalies or alkaline
earths.
The essence of my process remains the same vis while the silicious acid particles
are becoming cemented together by the partial enamelling of the same to prevent
their close melting together and burning together by forming simultaneously with
the burning process and within the mass itself, gaseous products and thus

page_text: producing porosity which is rendered possible by the application of substances of
the aforesaid nature.
The quantity of alkalies or alkaline earths or magnesia, or the compound of such
bases which I use varies according to the temperature at which the masses formed
are burnt and according to the porosity which it is desired they should have. If
the process is carried out at very high temperaturo I use a small quantity, one
half to one per cent of the weight of the silicious earth; if the temperature used is
low, the addition of the bases must be correspondingly larger. Of the aforesaid―
anorganic compounds of the said bases I chiefly use the carbonate, sulphate, nitrates
and phosphates as also those with chlor and fluor. From all these compounds the
silicious acid liberates the bases and combines therewith partly under the influence
of the heat alone and partly also by the influence of steam and reducing agents.
I also use the boracic and basic silicious acid compounds which as for instance
is the case with borax, water-glass and various cements, are able to combine with
still larger quantities of silicious acid.
Of organic substances or substances of organic derivation I use either non-
nitrogenous substances such as sugar or starch or nitrogenous substances such as
glue or ground bone.
The firm porous masses obtained as aforesaid I coat for certain purposes fully or
partly with an enamel for which purpose I expose the masses after they have been
burnt and while still glowing hot to alkaline vapours either in the kiln itself or in
a specially constructed kiln or furnace. By this latter process I prevent the porous
masses from taking up any dampness from without and also when the masses are
used for filtering purposes or for taking up liquid I prevent such liquid from
exuding everywhere.
The chief qualities of the masses so produced are: great power to resist fire, small
specific gravity, very small conductivity as to beat and sound, great hardness of
the separate silicious earth particles which can be regulated as required and lastly
great porosity and power of absorption.
The following are some of the applications:
1. As a fireproof material for arches and other interior parts of furnaces, fire-
places and the like. Also for preventing radiation of heat from furnaces, boilers,
fireplaces and steam pipes.
2. Because of the small specific gravity, not even a third of ordinary bricks, I
use the mass for light solid fireproof vaults and partitions in dwelling houses
factories, and ships.
Because of the small conductivity as to sound the mass is used for keeping out
the same in telephone chambers, in such places where a large number of telephones
are operated close together.
3. The great porosity of the mass renders it eminently applicable to the filtering
and cleaning of liquids and gases, the more so as it consists of almost pure silicious
earths which resists a great number of acids and other substances which attack all
other materials for the purpose. In order also to give the mass the decolourizing
action of coal the carbon of the added organic substances may be preserved during
the burning by keeping out the air.
4. The great hardness of the coherent silicious earth particles which may be
increased as required in the burning process renders the masses suitable for cutting,
grinding or polishing of metals, glass, and other substances.
5. The great porosity of the mass involves also a great capability for absorbing
liquids on which with few exceptions it has no chemical action
I may thus use the mass to the production of solid dynamite or nitro-glycerine
cartridges which may be glazed on the great part of the surface which is thus
closed by the thin enamel already several times mentioned. I also apply the mass
to the periodical or continuous absorption of petroleum and the like, in order to
burn it in lamps and other places.
The mass also serves to absorb and transport bisulphurets of carbon of which it
absorbs nearly double its own weight forming dry masses which are easily

page_text: manipulated. The masses saturated therewith I also apply to the protection of
vines against the phylloxera, as the bisulphuret of carbon is retained therein and
only gradually evaporates. The pieces are put into holes in the earth, close to
the roots of the vine and when they have at last given up their bisulphuret of
carbon, they may be again saturated therewith.
I also apply the mass to the transport and distribution of "bromine" of which
it can absorb up to five times its own weight forming therewith a dry substance.
I use the porous silicious masses saturated with bromine for disinfecting rooms
vessels, goods, living and dead human and animal bodies and for medicinal and
chemical operations for producing solutions of bromine.
Concentrated sulphuric acid, smoking nitric acid and a great number of other
caustic liquids may also be absorbed by the mass in like manner and be transported
without danger and used and applied for many purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Adolph Frank in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th July
1883.
:
ADOLPH FRANK, Doctor of Philosophy of Charlottenburg, Prussia, German
Empire "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF POROUS SILICIOUS MATERIAL
AND OBJECTS APPLICABLE FOR BUILDING MATERIALS FOR FILTERING PURPOSES
GRIND-STONES AND OTHER PURPOSES,"
According to this invention I mix artificially produced or natural finely divided
silicious earth (and especially the so called infusorial carth) with a mixture of
organic materials and alkalies or alkaline earths in which latter I include
magnesia.
From this mixture and while adding water or. other suitable liquids I form solid
masses which are then dried and burnt by great heat. If the infusorial earth as is
sometimes the case already contains sufficient organic matter no addition of
organic materials is needed. By the burning the added organic substances are
carbonized and the carbon wholly or partially burnt up, all according as the
burning is carried on with admission of or exclusion of air.
Simultaneously tho silicious acid partly uniting with the added fireproof bases
under the influence of the heat will form silicates so that they will be cemented or
coked or burnt together and result in a very porous but sufficiently cohesive mass.
Instead of the mixture of organic substances with alkalies or alkaline earths I may
also use compounds of organic acids or neutral materials with alkalies or alkalino
carths such for instance as tartrate of potassa, tartrate of potassa and soda, sugar
lime, and a great many other similar suitable compounds, which I cannot here all
enumerato: The essence of iny process remains however the same viz while the
silicious acid particles are becoming cemented or coked together by the partial
enamelling of the same to prevent their close melting together and burning
together by forming simultaneously with the burning process and within the mass
itself gaseous products and thus producing porosity which is rendered possible by
the application of substances of the aforesaid nature.
The quantity of alkalies or alkaline earths or magnesia, or the compound of such
bases which I use varies according to the temperature at which the masses formed
are burnt and according to the porosity which it is desired they should have. If
the process is carried out at very high temperature I use a small quantity (say
about one half to one per cent of the weight of the silicious earth) if the
temperature used is low the addition of the bases must be correspondingly larger.
Of the socalled anorganic compounds of the said bases I chiefly use the carbonates,
sulphates, nitrates and phosphates, as also those with chlorine and fluor From all
these compounds the silicious acid liberates the bases and combines therewith
partly under the influence of the heat alone and partly also by the influence of
steam and reducing agents.
I also use the boracic and basic silicious acid compounds which as for instance is
the case with borax, waterglass and various cements are able to combine with still
larger quantities of silicious acid.
Of organic substances, or substances of organic derivation I use either non-
nitrogenous substances, such as sugar, starch or ground wood or nitrogenous
substances such as blood, gluten glue or ground bone.
The firm burnt porous masses obtained as aforesaid I coat for certain purposes
fully or partly with an enamel for which purpose I expose the masses after they
have been burnt and while still glowing hot to alkaline vapours either in the kiln

page_text: itself or in a specially constructed kiln or furnace or by burning in other suitable
enamels on the surface. By this latter process I prevent the porous masses from
taking up any dampness from without and also when the masses are used for
filtering purposes or for taking up liquid I prevent such liquid from exuding
everywhere.
The chief qualities of the masses so produced are, great power to resist fire,
small specific gravity, very small conductivity as to heat and sound, and electricity,
great hardness of the separate silicious earth particles which can be regulated as
required and lastly great porosity and power of absorption.
The following are some of the applications.
1. As a fireproof material for arches and other interior parts of furnaces,
fireplaces and the like having scarcely one third of the weight of Dinas bricks with
the same fire resisting property and less conductivity for heat, for the last named
reason I also use my material for preventing radiation of heat from furnaces, boiler,
fire places, and steam pipes
2. Because of the small specific gravity, not even a third of ordinary bricks,
I use the mass for light solid fireproof vaults and partitions in dwelling houses
factories and ships.
Because of the small conductivity as to sound the mass is used for keeping out
the same in telephone chambers, in such places where a large number of telephones
are operated close together. In order to prevent the material used in such places
from absorbing moisture I glaze the pieces partly or wholly in the manner above
described.
3. The great porosity of the mass renders it eminently applicable to the filtering
and cleaning of the liquids and gases the more so as it consists of almost pure
silicious earths, which resist a great number of acids and other substances which
attack all other materials for the purpose. In order also to give the mass the
decolorizing action of coal the carbon of the added organic substances may be
preserved during the burning by keeping out the air and as the carbon from
nitrogenous substances such as blood is particularly active I use it specially for
such purposes. When the filtering material after long use has become stopped up
or inactive it is washed dried and made glowing hot or again soaked with blood
or other suitable substance dried and made glowing hot air being excluded so as to
acquire a thorough carbon coating throughout all its parts and spaces. For making
filter columns and the like in which the liquids or gases are only to move in a
certain direction. I use glazing part of the surface.
4. The great hardness of the coherent silicious earth particles which may be
increased as required in the burning process renders the masses suitable for cutting
grinding, or polishing, of metals, glass and other substances.
5. The great porosity of the mass involves also a great capability for absorbing
liquids, on which with few exceptions it has no chemical action.
I may thus use the mass to the production of solid dynamite or nitro-glycerine
cartridges which for the purpose of preventing oozing out of the liquid may be
glazed on the greater part of the surface, which is thus closed by the thin enamel
already several times mentioned. I also apply the mass to the periodical or
continuous absorption of petroleum and the like in order to burn it in lamps and
other places.
The mass also serves to absorb and transport sulphurets of carbon of which it
absorbs nearly double its own weight, forming dry masses which are easily
manipulated. The masses saturated therewith I also apply to the protection of
vines against the phylloxera, as the sulphuret of carbon is retained therein and
only gradually evaporates. The pieces are put into holes bored in the earth, close
to the roots of the vine and when they have at last given up their sulphuret of
carbon, they may be again saturated therewith.
I also apply the mass to the transport and distribution of bromine and com-
pounds of bromine with iodine or chlorine of which it can absorb up to five times
its own weight forming therewith a dry substance. I use the porous silicious

page_text: masses saturated with bromine or bromine compounds for disinfecting rooms, ships.
and vessels, goods living and dead human and animal bodies and for medicinal and
chemical operations, for producing solutions of bromine. The masses having
absorbed the bromine and given it out will absorb it afresh as the bromine has no
effect on them.
Concentrated sulphuric acid, smoking nitric acid and a great number of other
caustic liquids may also be absorbed by the mass in like manner and be transported
without danger and used and applied for many purposes.
Having now described the nature of the said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed I declare that I claim.
First: The manufacture and application of firm porous masses consisting mainly
of artificially produced or natural silicious acid. (in the latter case especially the
mineral called infusorial earth) in a finely divided state and mixed with the sub-
stances named, the said mixture being moulded dried and burnt whilst the air is
admitted for burning up wholly the pore forming substanco all substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
Second: The manufacture and use of firm porous masses consisting mainly of
artificially produced or natural silicious acid (in the latter caso especially the
mineral called infusorial earth) in a finely divided state and mixed in the propor-
tions stated with the substances named the said mixture being moulded, dried
and burnt while the air is excluded in order only to carbonize the pore-forming
substance so that its carbon remains in the pores all substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
Third: A firm porous body consisting mainly of silicious acid and whose pores
are free from substances deposited therein substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
Fourth: A firin porous body consisting mainly of silicious acid and whoso pores
contain carbon substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
:
Fifth Firm porous bodies consisting mainly of silicious acid manufactured in
the manner described and partly or wholly coated with enamel substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
In Witness whereof I the said Adolph Frank have hereunto set my hand and
seal this second day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and eighty threo :
ADAL DH RD AZ