Improvements in the Manufacture of Cyanides.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 20th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 20th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Cyanides.
I, HAMILTON YOUNG CASTNER of 13 Abchurch Lane, in the City of London,
Managing Director of The Aluminium Company Limited, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of alkali cyanides by the employment
of the alkali in a metallic state, carbon in a natural or nascent condition and
nascent nitrogen which may be produced by the decomposition of aminonia.
Many processes have been suggested for the production of alkali cyanides by
the decomposition of ammonia and the combination of nascent nitrogen with carbon
and alkali but in all cases the alkali used has been in the form of carbonate or
hydrate.
The reactions of these processes have been more or less complicated by the
presence of carbonic acid or oxide produced during the operation and large losses
of nitrogen occur. These defects together with a varying high temperature give a
product of irregular composition due to varying proportions of alkaline carbonate
and cyanate.
The essential novelty of the present invention is the substitution of an alkaline
metal in place of the alkaline salt whereby the combination of the three elements
is easily effected, the yield is almost theoretical and the product is pure. It will
be apparent to any one familiar with this class of process that given the suggestion
of employing the needed alkali in a metallic state, that many processes may be
devised for obtaining the desired result without departing from the essential
requisites of nascent nitrogen and carbon either nascent or natural.
For instance the process may be carried on by causing metallic sodium to flow
down a column of heated charcoal in an iron retort set vertically in a furnace and
provided with suitable inlet and outlet pipes while dry ammonia is admitted at the
bottom and ascends.
Instead of the retort containing heated charcoal it may contain some inert
material in fragments such as iron or porcelain which will serve to retard the
flow of the molten metal, and also expose a large surface of the same to the action
of the ascending ammonia and hydrocarbon gases which enter the retort near the
bottom.
In each case by regulating the amount of materials entering the retort in
proportion to the composition of the product the yield so far as the alkali metal is
concerned will be almost theoretical. The gases escaping and which may contain
ammonia may be treated in any of the usual methods for its recovery. The cyanide
formed by the reaction melts and flows to the lower end of the retort where it may
be drawn off as desired.
The reactions taking place may be exuressed as follows
The process may also be carried on by passing dry ammonia gas through heated
carbon and the resulting gas consisting of ammonia cyanide and hydrogen over
molten alkali metal whence cyanide of the metal used will be formed and ammonia
set free, which may again be passed over heated charcoal to form ammonia cyanide
and then over the molten metal to form more cyanide.

page_text: It will be apparent that where metallic sodium is mentioned the same remarks
apply to potassium in which case the product will be cyanide of potassium. Also
that instead of using a pure alkali metal an alkaline alloy may be used or the
vapour of an alkali metal. In all cases it is essential that little or no oxygen gases
are present during the reactions.
I am aware that cyanides have been formed by the action of nascent nitrogen on
a hented mixture of carbon and alkali, that ammonia and hydrocarbon gases have
been passed over or through fused alkali, that ammonia cyanide has been formed
by passing ammonia over heated carbon and having originated the commercial
employment of sodium in connection with ferro-cyanides for the making of cyanide
Iain familiar with this process but so far as 1 ain at present aware, the employ-
ment of the alkali in a metallic state, either pure, as an alloy, or as a vapour for
the direct preparation of cyanides, with nascent nitrogen and carbon either nascent
or natural, the process being carried ou in one operation or in succeeding steps
is new.
Dated the 23rd day of June 1894.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 50, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent,
For the Applicant.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Cyanides.
1, HAMILTON YOUNG CASTNER of 13 Abchurch Lane, in the City of London,
Maunging Director of The Aluminium Company Limited, 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 the manufacture of alkali cyanides by the employment
of the alkali in a metallic state, carbon in a natural or nascent condition and
nascent, nitrogen which may be produced by the decomposition of ammonia.
Many processes have been suggested for the production of alkali cyanides by
the decomposition of ammonia and the combination of nascent nitrogen with carbon
and alkali but in all cases the alkali used has been in the form of carbonate or
hydrate.
The reactions of these processes have been more or less complicated by the
presence of carbonic acid or oxide produced during the operation and large losses
of nitrogen occur. These defects together with a varying high temperature give a
product of irregular composition due to varying proportions of alkaline carbonate
and cyanate.
The essential novelty of the present invention is the substitution of an alkaline
metal in place of the alkaline salt whereby the combination of the three elements
is easily effected, the yield is almost theoretical and the product. is pure. It will
be apparent to any one familiar with this class of process that given the suggestion
of employing the needed alkali in a metallic state, that, many processes may be
devised for obtaining the desired result without departing from the essential
requisites of nascent nitrogen and carbon either nascent or natural.
For instance the process may be carried on by causing metallic sodium to flow
down a column of heated charcoal in an iron retort set vertically in a furnace and

page_text: provided with suitable inlet and outlet pipes while dry ammonia is admitted at the
bottom and ascends.
Instead of the retort containing heated charcoal it may contain some inert
material in fragments such as iron or porcelain which will serve to retard the
flow of the molten metal, and also expose a large surface of the same to the action
of the ascending ammonia and hydrocarbon gases which enter the retort near
the bottom.
In each case by regulating the amount of materials entering the retort in
proportion to the composition of the product the yield so far as the alkali metal is
concerned will be almost theoertical. The gases escaping and which may contain
ammonia may be treated in any of the usual methods for its recovery.
The
cyanide formed by the reaction melts and flows to the lower end of the retort where
it may be drawn off as desired.
The reactions taking place may be expressed as follows :—
It will be apparent that where metallic sodium is mentioned the same remarks
apply to potassium in which case the product will be cyanide of potassium. Also
that instead of using a pure alkali metal an alkaline alloy may be used or the
vapour
of an alkali metal. In all cases it is essential that little or no oxygen
gases are present during the reactions.
1. -
I am aware that cyanides have been formed by the action of nascent nitrogen on
a heated mixture of carbon and alkali, that ammonia and hydrocarbon gases have
been passed over or through fused alkali, that ammonia cyanide has been formed
by passing ammonia over heated carbon and having originated the commercial
employment of sodium in connection with ferro-cyanides for the making of cyanide
I am familiar with this process but so far as I am at present aware, the employ-
ment of the alkali in a metallic state, either pure, as an alloy, or as a vapour for
the direct preparation of cyanides, with nascent nitrogen and carbon either nascent
or natural, the process being carried on in one operation or in succeeding steps
is new.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The improvements in the manufacture of alkaline cyanides consisting in treating
previously or separately made alkaline metal with nascent nitrogen and carbon as
described.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent,
For the Applicant.