Improvements in Obtaining Cyanides and Ammonia Direct from the Air or other Gases Containing Nitrogen.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 27th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Obtaining Cyanides and Ammonia Direct from the
Air or other Gases Containing Nitrogen.
I, JOHN YOUNG of 164 Bath Street in the City of Glasgow, Chemist, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the fixation of the nitrogen of the air or of gases
containing nitrogen and converting the same into cyanides or ammonia.
In carrying out the invention the following mixture is made use of viz. :-
Carbonate of potash, soda or any other alkalies, carbon or paraffin coke and
barium oxide, barium carbonate or any of the alkaline earths suitable proportions
being 60 per cent. of the alkaline carbonate, 25 per cent. carbon or coke and 25 per
cent. of the barium oxide, barium carbonate or alkaline earth, but I do not restrict
myself to these proportions.
This mixture is heated to fusion in a suitable air-tight apparatus made of iron or
any other material capable of resisting the action of this mixture. Air is passed
over or through this mixture by means of a pump or any other suitable apparatus
capable of causing a vacuum when cyanide of the alkali is formed and carbon
monoxide is given off which can be stored and used for heating purposes or any
other use it might be required for. If it is desirable to get rid of the carbonic
acid from the mixture this can be effected by passing a hydro carbon gas over or
through the mixture before the air is allowed to go in or along with the air. The
formation of cyanides can also be obtained by passing the air containing hydro
carbon gases or air and gases containing nitrogen such as ammonia gas or the waste
gases coming from the blast furnace or any of those gases containing nitrogen by
themselves. Any of the alkalies with any of the alkaline earths can be used but
preference is given to potash or soda and barium carbonates or oxides as good
results were obtained therefrom. If ammonia is wanted the mixture is allowed to
cool down a little after the formation of cyanide has been effected when steam is
passed over or through the mixture and the gases coming therefrom are passed
through an acid when an ammonia salt is formed.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1893.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Obtaining Cyanides and Ammonia Direct from the
Air or other Gases Containing Nitrogen.
I, JOHN YOUNG, of 164 Bath Street, in the City of Glasgow, 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 has for its object the fixation of the nitrogen of the air, or of
gases containing nitrogen and converting the same into cyanides and ammonia.
In carrying out the invention the carbonates or oxides of any of the alkalies
are mixed with the carbonates or oxides of any of the alkaline earths and also a
quantity of paraffin coke, commonly called still coke, or coke obtained from the

page_text: residue of oils, suitable proportions for this mixture being-Four parts of the
alkali carbonate or oxide to one part of the carbonate or oxide of the alkaline
earth, and two parts of paraffin coke or carbon; but I do not restrict myself to
those proportions. This mixture is heated to about a temperature at which
cyanide is volatilized in an apparatus suitable to withstand its action. Air or a
mixture of air and a hydrocarbon gas, or vapour from hydrocarbon oils or gases
containing nitrogen, is or are passed over or through the heated mixture either by
pressure or vacuum. The gases may be heated before entering the mixture.
Cyanide of the alkali is thus formed and can either be volatilised or allowed to
cool and dissolved out.
Charcoal or any other carbonaceous material can be substituted for paraffin
coke, or still coke but preference is given to the paraffin or still coke. The
volatilised cyanide can be separated from the inactive gases, by passing the cooled
gases containing the cyanide through a column of wool or cotton, the cyanide
being retained in the cotton or wool, and the inactive gases passing off.
If ammonia is wanted this can be formed by decomposing the cyanide with
steam.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The process of obtaining cyanides and ammonia by passing air or gases containing
nitrogen, or air and gases containing nitrogen along with hydrocarbon gases, over
or through a mixture of the carbonates or oxides of any of the alkalies with, the
carbonates or oxides of any of the alkaline earths and paraffin or still coke, charcoal
or any other carbonaceous material, substantially as described.
Dated this 26th day of September 1894.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.