Separation of Carbonic Oxide from Nitrogen, Carbonic Acid, Hуarogen, and other Gases Contained in the Gaseous Mixture Resulting
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Apr., 1837
Complete Left, 25th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1888
Separation
of Carbonic Oxide from Nitrogen, Carbonic Acid,
Hуarogen, and other Gases Contained in the Gaseous Mixture
Resulting from the Incomplete Combustion of Coal and of Coke
by the Tise of the Chlanding of Connau
Hуarogen, and other Gases Contained in the Gaseous Mixture
Resulting from the Incomplete Combustion of Coal and of Coke
by the Use of the Chlorides of Copper and of Iron.
I HENRY GARDNER of 166 Fleet Street, in the city of London, Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention which has been communicated to me from
abroad by Robert Jesse Henderson of Oswego, New York, United States of America,
Engineer, to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to separate carbonic oxide from nitrogen, carbonic
acid, hydrogen, and other gases contained in the gaseous mixture resulting from the
incomplete combustion of coal and of coke, by the use of the chlorides of copper and
of iron.
Carbonic oxide gas has the property of being absorbed or dissolved in a solution of
cuprous chloride at ordinary atmospheric pressure, and this solution remains under a
reduced pressure equal to 15 to 16 inches or say 40 centimètres of mercury; at lower
pressures the gas escapes from the solution.
If carbonic oxide gas mixed with other gases is brought in contact with cuprous
chloride solution at a pressure bigher than this hmit the carbonic oxide alone will be
absorbed.
If afterwards a pressure less than 15 to 16 inches or say 40 centimetres of mercury
is produced over or on the surface of the liquid, absolutely pure carbonic oxide gas
will be obtained.
To put the process in practice agitating vessels are required in which the reduction
of pressure is produced; and another apparatus communicating with the first, in which
greater exhaustion is effected.
It is necessary to use a pump for returning the liquid deprived of carbonic oxide to
he agitating vessels.
In
Cuprous chloride changes rapidly in contact with oxygen and excess of water.
he gaseous mixture coming from the generators there is always a notable proportion

page_text: of water vapour and of oxygen these gases must therefore be eliminated before
reaching the agitating vessels, as otherwise the cuprous chloride would be rapidly
changed.
To arrive at this result it is sufficient after having passed the gas through a
refrigerator to agitate them in a solution of protochloride of iron which on contact
with oxygen changes to sesquichloride. This solution also would be very rapidly
changed if it were not regenerated. Therefore in the case in question, a generator
provided with a blast must be used and vapour of water is injected in order that this
latter may give, on contact with carbon at a red heat a certain quantity of hydrogen
in the gaseous mixture. The use of this hydrogen gas is to bring back the solution of
sesquichloride to the state of protochloride, and thus to make it capable of indefinitely
absorbing the traces of oxygen in the gaseous mixture.
Finally to absorb the vapour of water a column of coke moistened with sulphuric
acid is necessary.
This column will also serve to absorb the ammoniacal vapour derived from the
combustion of coal: the sulphate of ammonia produced will have a certain value,
which will diminish the cost price of the carbonic oxide.
To produce completo separation of the carbonic oxide from the other gases the
following series of apparatus is required.
1. One or more generators producing the gas containing hydrogen, that is to say,
with injection of water vapour.
2. Apparatus to cool the gases. This should be of the surface condensing type, in
order that there may be no contact of water with the gases and consequent mixture
therewith.
3. Apparatus containing protochloride of iron to absorb the oxygen.
4. A sulphuric acid column to absorb ammoniacal vapour and water vapour.
5. Gas agitators or agitating vessels containing protochloride of copper dissolved in
hydrochloric acid.
6. An apparatus communicating with the first in which the liquid will be-subjected.
to a pressure less than 15 to 16 inches or say 40 centimetres of mercury.
To sum up, the separation of carbonic oxide gas from the other gases produced by
combustion is effected by means of protochloride of iron and protochloride of copper.
The two liquids may if required be mixed in the agitating vessels.
Dated this 26th day of April 1887.

page_text: Separation of Carbonic Oxide from Nitrogen, Carbonic Acid,
Hydrogen, and other Gases Contained in the Gaseous Mixture
Resulting from the Incomplete Combustion of Coal and of Coke
by the Use of the Chlorides of Copper and of Iron.
I, HENRY GARDNER, of 166 Fleet Street, City of London, Patent Agent do hereby
declare the nature of this invention which has been communicated to me from abroad
by Robert Jesse Henderson, of Oswego, New York, United States of America,
Engineer, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to separate carbonic oxide from nitrogen, carbonic
acid, hydrogen, and other gases contained in the gaseous mixture resulting from the
incomplete combustion of coal and of coke, by the use of the chlorides of copper and
of iron.
Carbonic oxide gas has the property of being absorbed or dissolved in a solution of
cupreous chloride at ordinary atmospheric pressure and at a temperature equal to
about 120, and this solution remains under a pressure or vacuum equal to 15
to 16 inches (or say 4" centimeters) of mercury, by increasing the vacuum the gas
escapes from the solution.
If carbonic oxide gas mixed with other gases is brought in contact with cupreous
chloride solution at a pressure higher than this limit the carbonic oxide alone will be
absorbed.
If afterwards a vacuum beyond 15 to 16 inches (or say 40 centimeters) of
mercury is produced over or on the surface of the liquid, or the liquid increased in
temperature to about 160, absolutely pure carbonic oxide gas will be obtained.
To put the process in practice one or more agitating or bubbling vessels are
required in which a vacuum less than 15 to 16 inches (or say 40 centimeters) is
produced, and another apparatus communicating with the first in which a greater
exhaustion, or vacuum is effected.
It is necessary to use a pump for returning the liquid deprived of the carbonic
oxide to the agitating or bubbling vessels.
Cupreous chloride changes rapidly in contact with oxygen and excess of water. In
the gaseous mixture coming from the generators there is always a notable proportion
of water vapour and of oxygen: these gases must therefore be eliminated before
reaching the agitating or bubbling vessels as otherwise the cupreous chloride would
be rapidly changed.
To arrive at this result it is sufficient after having passed the gases through a
refrigerator to cause them to bubble in a solution of protochloride of iron which on
contact with oxygen changes to sesquichloride. This solution also would be very
rapidly changed if it were not regenerated. Therefore in the case in question a
generator provided with a blast must be used, and vapour of water injected in order

page_text: that this latter may give on contact with carbon at a red heat a certain quantity of
hydrogen in the gaseous mixture. The use of this bydrogen gas is to bring back the
solution of sesquichloride to the state of protochloride, and thus to make it capable of
indefinitely absorbing the traces of oxygen in the gaseous mixture.
Finally to absorb the vapour of water a column of coko moistened with sulphuric
acid is necessary.
This column will also serve to absorb the ammoniacal vapours derived from the
combustion of coal, the sulphate of ammonia produced will have a certain value which
will diminish the cost price of the carbonic oxide.
To produce complete separation of the carbonic oxide from the other gases the
following series of apparatus is required.
1. One or more generators producing the gas containing hydrogen, that is to say,
with injection of water vapour.
2. Apparatus to cool the gases. This should be of the surface condensing type, in
order that there may be no contact of water with the gases and consequent mixture
therewith.
3. Apparatus containing protochloride of iron to absorb the oxygen.
4. A sulphuric acid column (or column of coke moistened with sulphuric acid) to
absorb ammoniacal vapour and water vapour.
5. Gas agitators or bubbling vessels containing protochloride of copper dissolved in
hydrochloric acid.
6. An apparatus communicating with the first in which the liquid will be subjected
to an increased vacuum in order to effect complete exhaustion of the gas.
To sum up the separation of carbonie oxide gas from the other gases produced by
combustion is effected by means of protochloride of iron and protochloride of
copper. These two liquids may if required be mixed in the agitating or bubbling
vessels.
- Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
In the separation of carbonic oxide from nitrogen, carbonic acid, hydrogen, and
other gases.
First. The use of a blast generator with injection of steam in the manner and for
the purpose described.
-
Secondly. The use of protochloride of iron and protochloride of copper either a
separate or otherwise as hereinbefore described.
Thirdly. The use of a column of coke moistened with sulphuric acid for the purpose
described.
Fourthly. The use of cupreous chloride as described subjected to a vacuum less
than 15 to 16 inches (or say 40 centimeters) of mercury for the absorption of the
carbonic oxide gas, and afterwards subjected to an increased vacuum for the purpose
of effecting its disengagement.
The 25th day of January 1888