AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DECOMPOSING ALLOYS BY ELECTROLYSIS AND DIALYSIS WHICH INVENTION IS ALSO APPLICABLE FOR ELECTRO-TYPING AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lake
& Co Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention
of "AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DECOMPOSING ALLOYS BY
ELECTROLYSIS AND DIALYSIS WHICH INVENTION IS ALSO APPLICABLE FOR
ELECTRO-TYPING AND OTHER PURPOSES Communicated to him from abroad
by Henry Renner Cassel, of the City and State of New York, United States
of America Electro-Metallurgist.
"
:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th September 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co., Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London, "AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR
.
DECOMPOSING ALLOYS BY ELECTROLYSIS AND DIALYSIS WHICH INVENTION IS ALSO
APPLICABLE FOR ELECTRO-TYPING AND OTHER PURPOSES "
[A communication.to
him from abroad by Henry Renner Cassel, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America Electro-Metallurgist]
In the treatment of metal alloys by means of electrolysis with the object of
perfectly separating the same, as in refining base bullion, it is essential, in order that
the operation may be perfectly carried out without regard to the. proportional
amount of the different metals contained in the alloy or bullion, that the solvent in
which the alloy or bullion anodes are placed, be prevented from coming in contact
with the cathodes of the apparatus, so that none of the metals dissolved from the
anodes shall be deposited on the cathodes; to this end I combine the chemical
action of dialysis with the electrical action of electrolysis, the discovery of which
combination enables me to accomplish the desired result in a perfect and economical
manner as regards the separation of metals, as well as the treatment of various
solutions and substances used in the useful arts and manufactures, with the object
of their concentration, or the separation of their constituent parts or elements.
The main feature of the application of dialysis to electrolytical operations is to
ensure the perfect separation of the anode solution from the cathode solution, or to
allow only such of the elements of the solution under treatment when placed in
the anode cell as are able to do so, to pass through the dialyser into the cathode
cell, or vice versa, according to the nature of the solution under treatment and the

page_text: desired change to be effected therein; the most negative element or elements being
freed in the anode cell, and the most positive in the cathode cell by means of the
electric current which is caused to pass from the anodes to the cathodes, so that the
solution is placed for treatment either in the anode or cathode cell according to the
electro-chemical properties of the constituents or elements it is necessary to separate
therefrom to change its condition as desired.
In the application of this invention I separate the anodes and cathodes by means
of a suitable colloidal substance, made either in the form of cells to be placed in the
vat or tank,... or as fixed partitions therein, and I have found in practice that
for most purposes these dialysing cells or partitions last longer and answer the
desired purpose better when made of wood, although animal membrane, or other
albumenoids may be used.
To more fully describe. my invention I will first explain the application of the
same to one of the useful arts, vizrefining base bullion, and then set forth
apparatus particularly adapted to the carrying out of my invention in a practical
manner.
The bullion, composed of, say, copper, silver, and gold, is suspended in the apparatus
as anodes in a sulphuric acid solution of about 7 degrees Baumé, and the cathode
cells are filled to the same level with any solution which has considerable electrical
conductivity, as sulphuric acid solution of about 10 degrees Baumè, in which are
suspended the cathodes of copper or any other suitable conductor. Upon the
anodes and cathodes being joined to an electric current generator in the usual
manner, the current passes through the two liquids and the dialysing cells, from the
anodes to the cathodes, causing oxygen to be freed at the anodes, which combines
with the copper and silver, and so causes them to be dissolved by the acid in the
anode solution; and hydrogen is freed at the cathodes, which is the only change
that takes place in the cathode cells, as the dialysers prevent the metals of the
anodes in solution from passing into the cathode cells. The gold, which is not
acted upon by the acid, falls to the bottom of the anode cells or tank, in a metallic
state, as the silver and copper are removed, by the acid; from the bullion.
When the anode solution is sufficiently charged with the copper and silver, it is
removed from the tank, and replaced by a fresh acid solution, or the saturated
solution may be gradually drawn off at the bottom of the tank, and the fresh
solution supplied at the upper part of it, so that the operation will be continuous as
long as any bullion remains in the apparatus. . As no change occurs in the cathode
cells, other than the discharge of hydrogen, they require no more attention than to
supply fresh acid solution to the cells from time to time, to compensate for loss from
evaporation or other causes.
The silver is separated from copper in the anode solution in a separate tank, by
placing, metallic copper therein, or precipitated as a chloride by the application of
hydrochloric acid or chlorine salt, or by other reagents well understood, and the
copper separated in the metallic form from the sulphate by means of electro-
deposition, leaving the free acid to be again applied to the anode tank to receive a
fresh supply of metal from the anodes.
I have found, in dissolving base bullion for the purpose of refining and
separating the metals therein contained, that said dissolution of the anodes takes
place with great rapidity when the electric current is sufficiently intense to
decompose enough of the water of the solution to cause an excess of oxygen at the
anodes, which ensures the gold being freed from the surfaces of the anodes and
falling to the bottom of the cells, from which it is collected when in sufficient
quantity; and the excess of oxygen also ensures a perfect oxidation of the anodes,
and so prevents the copper from precipitating any of the dissolved silver in a
inetallic form.
I provide apparatus for the purpose of my invention constructed and arranged
as follows that is to say-I provide a tank which forms the electrolysing bath, and
is of any convenient size and construction, but generally rectangular in form. The
anodes and cathodes may simply rest on the edges of the sides of the tank or on

page_text: metallic strips laid thereon, but it is advantageous to the carrying out of my
improved process that the distances between the anodes and cathodes be maintained
uniform. I provide two bars having recesses secured to the side of the tank. One
of these bars is connected to the opposite pole of the electric generator, and holds
one end of cross-rods which support the anodes, and the other bar is connected to
the negative pole of the generator, and holds one end of the frames to which the
upper edges of the dialysing cells are attached; and in recesses of the frames are
suspended the cathodes. The other ends of the cross rods rest in recesses formed
in a strip of insulating material, and the other. ends of the frames rest in recesses
formed in the top of the side of the tank, or in a strip of insulating material.
The dialysing cells are made of some colloidal substance or any suitable material
which offers a barrier to the metal salts in solution under the action of an electric
current, wood being preferably used for this purpose." The dialysing cells are
secured to flanges on the undersides of the frames, by means of a band, or other
suitable means. These frames may be wholly of metal, or they may be made of
an insulating material, with the lugs which rest in the recesses in the bar, and the
recesses in which the ears on the cathode rest, made of one piece of metal let
therein.
The cathodes are plates of carbon, platinized carbon, or suitable metal, provided
with ears by which they hang in the recesses in the frames.
The cathodes, instead of being placed in dialysing cells, may be entirely covered
with a dialysing protective covering which prevents the salts of the metals in the
anode solution from coming in contact with the cathodes, but allows the electric
current to pass to them; the water and acid of the solution soak through the
coverings to make the same conductors for the current.
The dialysing cells may be formed by means of partitions fixed in the tank so as
to divide it into narrow and wide, compartments alternately. The wide compart-
ments form the anode cells in which the base bullion or other anodes are suspended,
and in the narrow compartments are suspended the cathodes. All of the anodes
are electrically connected to a strip of metal which forms the positive pole of the
electric generator, placed on the edge of one side of the tank, by means of their
supporting rods, and all the cathodes are similarly electrically connected to the
negative pole of the generator, placed on the edge of the other side of the tank by,
means of supporting rods.
The dialysers, made preferably of wood, fit into grooves formed in the sides and
hottom of the tank into which grooves, after the dialysers are placed in position, &
suitable cement may be applied to make the compartments formed thereby water-
tight, if necessary.
.
I propose to place a false bottom near the bottom of the tank, made of felt or
other suitable material, to act as a filter to retain the gold or other undissolved
metals, or impurities, contained in the bullion, and allow the saturated anode
solution to pass through to be drawn out of the tank, by a siphon or a stop cock.
A stop-cock may be attached to each of the anode cells.
It is evident that a metal salt solution may he placed in the cathode cells to
have the metal deposited on the cathodes, which cathodes I sometimes make
electrotype moulds, so that the same electric current. which causes the dissolution:
of the anodes also causes the deposition on the cathodes; the dialysing cells acting
to prevent the intermixture of the anode and cathode solutions:
I have described the operation of separating metals by means of my improved
apparatus; it is evident that any solution capable of being changed in its nature,:.
or concentrated by means of the combined action of electrolysis and dialysis may
be advantageously treated in said apparatus, the nature of the material forming
the anodes and cathodes being changed to suit the particular solution or solutions
under treatment.
:

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th March 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR
DECOMPOSING ALLOYS BY ELECTROLYSIS AND DIALYSIS, WHICH INVENTION IS ALSO
APPLICABLE FOR ELECTROTYPING AND OTHER PURPOSES A communication to
me from abroad by Henry Renner Cassel of the City and State of New York,
United States of America Electro-Metallurgist
"
In the treatment of metal alloys by means of electrolysis, with the object of
perfectly separating the same as in refining base, bullion it is essential, in order that
the operation may be perfectly carried out without regard to the proportional
amount of the different metals contained in the alloy or bullion, that the solvent in
which the alloy or bullion anodes are placed, be prevented from coming in contact
with the cathodes of the apparatus, so that none of the metals dissolved from the
anodes shall be deposited on the cathodes. To this end I combine the chemical
action of dialysis with the electrical action of electrolysis, the discovery of which
combination enables me to accomplish the desired result in a perfect and economical
manner as regards the separation of metals, as well as the treatment of various
solutions and substances used in the useful arts and manufactures, with the object
of their concentration or the separation of their constituent parts or elements.
The main feature of the application of dialysis to electrolytical operations is to
ensure the perfect separation of the anode solution from the cathode solution, or to
allow only such of the elements of the solution under treatment when placed in the
anode cell as are able to do so, to pass through the dialyser into the cathode cell or
vice versa, according to the nature of the solution under treatment and the desired
change to be effected therein; the most negative element or elements being freed
in the anode cell, and the most positive in the cathode cell by means of the electric
current which is caused to pass from the anodes to the cathodes, so that the
solution is placed for treatment either in the anode or cathode cell according to the
electro-chemical properties of the constituents or elements it is necessary to separate
therefrom to change its condition as desired.
:
In the application of this invention I. separate the anodes and cathodes by
incans. of a suitable colloidal substance, made either in the form of cells to be
placed in the vat or tank, or as fixed partitions therein, and I have found in practice
that for most purposes these dialysing cells or partitions last longer and answer the
desired purpose better when made of wood, although animal membrane, or other
albuminoids may be used.
To more fully describe the said Invention I will first explain the application of
the same to one of the useful arts that is to say, the refining of base bullion and
then describe apparatus particularly adapted to the carrying out of this Invention
in a practical manner..
. The bullion, composed of, say copper, silver, and gold, is suspended in the
apparatus as anodes in a sulphuric acid solution of about 7 degrees Baumé, and the
cathode cells are filled to the same level with any solution which has considerable
electrical conductivity, as sulphuric acid solution of about 10 degrees Baumé, in
which are suspended the cathodes of copper, or any other suitable conductor.
Upon the anodes and cathodes being joined to an electric current generator in the
usual manner, the current passes through the two liquids and the dialysing cells,
from the anodes to the cathodes, causing oxygen to be freed at the anodes, which
combines with the copper and silver, and so causes them to be dissolved by the

page_text: acid in the anode solution; and hydrogen is freed at the cathodes, which is the only
change that takes place in the, cathode cells as the dialysers prevent the metals of
the anodes in solution from passing into the cathode cells.. The gold, which is not
acted upon by the acid, falls to the bottom of the anode cells or tank in a metallic
state, as the silver and copper are removed, by the acid, from the bullion. When
the anode solution is sufficiently charged with the copper and silver, it is removed
from the tank, and replaced by a fresh acid solution, or the saturated solution may
be gradually drawn off at the bottom of the tank, and the fresh solution supplied at
the upper part of it so that the operation will be continuous as long as any bullion
remains in the apparatus. As no change occurs in the cathode cells other than
the discharge of hydrogen, they require no more attention than to supply fresh acid
solution to the cells from time to time, to compensate for loss from evaporation or
other causes.
The silver is separated from copper in the anode solution in a separate tank, by
placing metallic copper therein, or precipitated as a chloride, by the application of
hydro-chloric acid or chlorine salt, or by other reagents well understood; and the
copper separated in the metallic forin from the sulphate by means of electro
deposition, leaving the free acid to be again applied to the anode tank to receive a
fresh supply of metal from the anodes.
I have found in dissolving hase bullion for the purpose of refining and
separating the metals therein contained, that the said dissolution of the anodes'
takes place with great rapidity when the electric current is sufficiently intense to
decompose enough of the water of the solution to cause an excess of oxygen at the
anodes, which ensures the gold being freed from the surfaces of the anodes and.
falling to the bottom of the cells, from which it is collected when in sufficient
quantity and the excess of oxygen also ensures a perfect oxidation of the anodes,
and so prevents the copper from precipitating any of the dissolved silver in a
metallic form. -
:
In the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of apparatus partly in section, and
adapted to the carrying out of the said Invention.
Figure 2, is a transverse section of the same through one of the cathode cells.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of an apparatus, showing a modification in the
construction of the dialyser, which is shown as a close covering for the cathode.
Figure 4, is a detached view of a cathode and its protective covering.
Figure 5, is a transverse section of the same
Figure 6, illustrates a modification, showing the dialysers arranged as partitions
in the tank or vat, and
Figure 7 is a transverse section of the same through one of the cathode cells.
The tank a which forms the electrolysing bath, is of any convenient size and
construction, but generally rectangular in form.
}
:
The anodes b, b, and cathodes c, c,, may simply rest on the edges of the sides of the
tank a, or on metallic strips laid thereon, but as it is advantageous to the carrying
out of the improved process that the distances between the anodes and cathodes be
maintained uniform, the supports for them and their electrical connections are:
preferably made as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Two bars e and f having recesses e¹ and f' are secured to the side of the tank a,
the bar e is connected to the positive pole of the electric generator, and holds one
end of the cross-rods g, g, which support the anodes b b, and the bar fis connected
to the negative pole of the generator, and holds one end of the frames i, i, to which
the upper edges of the dialysing cells d, d, are attached; and in the recesses ¹¹ of
the frames i, i, are suspended the cathodes c, c,. The other ends of the rods g, g;
rest in recesses formed in the strip of insulating material and the other ends of
the frames i, i, rest in recesses formed in the top of the side of the tank, or in a
strip of insulating material j.
:
:
The dialysing cells d d are made of some colloidal substance, or any suitable
ز
,

page_text: material which offers a barrier to the metal salts in solution under the action of an
electric current, wood being preferably used for this purpose.
The cells d d are secured to flanges on the undersides of the frames ii by means
of a hand, or other suitable means. These frames may be wholly of metal or they
may be made of an insulating material, with the lugs which rest in the recesses in
the bar and the recesses in which the ears on the cathode c rest made of
one piece of metal let therein.
The cathodes c, c, are plates of carbon, platinized carbon, or suitable metal provided
with ears by which they hang in the recesses i¹, ¹, in the frames i i
!
In Figures 3, 4, and 5 the cathodes c c, instead of being placed in dialysing cells,
as in Figures 1 and 2, are entirely covered with a dialysing protective covering dd,
which prevents the salts of the metals in the anode solution from coming in contact
with the cathodes c, c, but allows the electric current to pass to them; the water
and acid of the solution soak through the coverings to make the same conductors
for the current.
The dialysing cells in the apparatus shown in Figures 6 and 7 are formed by
means of the partitions d d fixed in the tank a, so as to divide it into narrow and
wide compartments alternately The wide compartments form the anode cells in
which the base bullion or other anodes b b are suspended, and in the narrow
compartments are suspended the cathodes c, c, All of the anodes bb are electrically
connected to the strip of metal k which forms the positive pole of the electric
generator, placed on the edge of one side of the tank a by means of their supporting
rods g, g, and all the cathodes are similarly electrically connected to the negative
pole, of the generator, placed on the edge of the other side of the tank a, by
means of supporting rods g¹, g¹,
The dialysers d, d, made preferably of wood, fit into.grooves formed in. the sides
and bottom of the tank a, into which grooves, after the dialysers are placed into
position, a suitable cement may be applied to make the compartments formed
thereby water-tight if necessary.
I sometimes place a false. bottom 7 near the bottom of the tank a, made of felt
or other suitable material, to act as a filter to retain the gold or other undissolved
metals, or impurities contained in the bullion, and allow the saturated anode
solution to pass through to be drawn out of the tank a, by a siphon or the stop
cock m.
This filter arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 may, if desired, be
applied to the modifications shown in the other figures. In Figure 6 a stop cock n
is shown attached to each of the anode cells
:
According to the foregoing description a solution is placed in the cathode cells
which permits hydrogen only being evolved at the cathodes. It is evident that a
metal salt solution may be placed therein to have the metal deposited on the
cathodes, which cathodes I sometimes make electrotype moulds, so that the same
electric current which causes the dissolution of the anodes also causes the deposition
on the cathodes; the dialysing cells acting to prevent the intermixture of the anode
and cathode solutions
I have described the operation of separating metals by means of my improved
apparatus ; it is evident that any solution capable of being changed in its nature, or
concentrated by means of the combined action of electrolysis and dialysis may be
advantageously treated in the said apparatus, the nature of the material forming
the anodes and cathodes being changed to suit the particular solution or solutions
under treatment.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim.
First The improved process of treating metals and the like, which method
consists in subjecting the said metals to the combined actions of dialysis and
electrolysis, substantially as, and for the purposes, herein before set forth.
Second: An apparatus for treating or separating metals and other substances,

page_text: as described, by the combined action of dialysis and electrolysis, and consisting of
an electrolytic bath, a provided with dialysing cells or partitions d, d, vertically
arranged to separate the anodes b b and cathodes cc and their solutions, substan-
tially as set forth.
Third: In a dialysing and electrolysing apparatus, the combination of the tank a,
in which is formed or placed a solution to be treated, the anodes b, b, suspended
therein, the cathode dialysing cells d d the cathodes c c suspended in the cathode
cells, and the false bottom filter substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty-fourth day of March in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
117 M
PORT LAKE