Improvements relating to the Separation of Lead from Silver and from other Substances Associated therewith.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 19th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Separation of Lead from Silver and
from other Substances Associated therewith.
I, Doctor ALTO ARCHE, of III Rennweg 18, Vienna, in the Empire of Austria,
Chemist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a process of obtaining pure lead and its admixtures, such
as silver, from impure kinds of lead.
The crude lead obtained after the first smelting, or other kinds of lead containing
silver are cast in plates of any shape, preferably half a metre in length and width and
not more than one centimetre in thickness, and are subjected in tubs or vessels to an
electrolytic treatment. The said tubs or vessels are made of any suitable material,
such as wood, clay cement or the like. The edges of these tubs or vessels are
preferably provided with metal strips, rods or the like for conducting the electricity.
The electrolyte to be used preferably consists of a solution of about 1.5 per cent. of
lead nitrate in water to which has been added about 5 per cent. of nitric acid of the
specific gravity of 14. In this liquid the electrodes are immersed and suitably
connected with each other.
The electric current of a battery or of a dynamo-electric machine is used for the
decomposition. After the electrodes have been connected with the conducting wires
of such a source of electricity, the negative electrodes through the medium of the
electrolyte, yield perfectly pure lead to the positive electrodes upon which this lead is
deposited in the form of crystals whilst the metals admixed with the impure lead,
especially silver, will adhere to the negative electrodes in the form of a black slime.
The lead crystals which are now free from all admixtures including silver fall upon
the bottom of the tubs or vessels whence they can from time to time be removed with
the electrolyte through a discharge opening. After these lead crystals have been
purified by washing with water and by pressing and freed from the adhering liquid
they can be employed for any suitable purpose." The silver slime is likewise removed
from time to time from the electrolytic bath, dried and, if desired, treated to obtain
silver.
Dated this 19th dow of Nanamba 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Separation of Lead from Silver and
from other Substances Associated therewith.
I, ALTO ARCHE of III Renweg 18, Vienna, in the Empire of Austria, Chemist, 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 of treating impure or crude lead for the purpose
of separating and obtaining therefrom the pure lead and other substances such as
silver which
may be mixed with it.
In carrying the said invention into practice, the crade lead obtained from the first
smelting of the ore, or other kind of lead containing silver is fused and cast into plates
of any suitable size and shape preferably half a metre in length and the same in width
and not more than one centimetre in thickness. These plates are then subjected to an
electrolytic treatment as follows, that is to say:-The said plates are immersed in
tubs, tanks or vessels made of any suitable material not affected by the liquors
[Price Ad

page_text: employed in the process, such as wood, clay, cement or the like. The edges of these
tubs or vessels are preferably provided with metal strips, rods or the like, serving as
electrodes for conducting the electricity. The solution or electrolyte to be used
preferably consists of a solution containing about 1-5 per cent. of lead nitrate in water,
to which has been added about 5 per cent. of nitric acid of the specific gravity of 1-4.
The aforesaid lead plates are immersed in this liquid and suitably connected with a
source of electricity so that there shall be a flow of electricity frou one plate to another.
The electric current of a battery or preferably of a dynamo electric machine is used
for the decomposition. After the electrodes have been connected with the conducting
wires of such a source of electricity, the negative electrodes through the medium of
the electrolyte, yield perfectly pure lead to the positive electrodes upon which this lead
is deposited in the form of crystals, whilst the metals admixed with the impure lead,
especially silver, will adhere to the negative electrodes in the form of a black slime.
The lead crystals so obtained which are free from all silver and other foreign
substances or admixtures, fall upon the bottom of the tubs or vessels whence they can
from time to time be removed with the electrolyte through a discharge opening. After
these lead crystals have been cleansed by washing with water and by pressing, and
freed from the adhering liquid they can be employed for any purpose for which pure
lead is desirable. The silver slime is likewise removed from time to time from the
electrolytic bath, dried and, if desired, treated to obtain silver.
'
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that I claim :
The process of separating from impure lead, pure lead and the admixtures therewith
contained in the former, such as silver by subjecting the impure lead in a bath
consisting of an acidified solution of lead nitrate, to the action of an electric current.
Dated this 19th day of August 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.