Iй- PROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OF BITUMINOUS MATTERS AND GAS TAR
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Puls, of Roxburgh Terrace, Haverstock
Hill, in the County of Middlesex, Chemist, for the Invention of "Iй-
PROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OF BITUMINOUS MATTERS AND GAS TAR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Puls at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd August 1858.
I, FRANCIS PULS, of Roxburgh Terrace, Haverstock Hill, in the County of
Middlesex, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OF BITUMINOUS MATTERS AND GAS TAR," to
be as follows, that is to say-
My Invention, which has reference to the distillation of bituminous matters
or gas tar, consists in distilling bituminous matters or gas tar with the addition,
of earthy, alkaline,, or metallic oxides, peroxides, suboxides, or carbonates,
sesquioxides or hydrates of those substances, by which means a mixture of
fluid and solid hydrocarbons and gaseous products are obtained.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Francis Puls in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd February 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
PULS, of Roxburgh Terrace, Haverstock Hill, in the County of Middlesex,
Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Francis Puls, Her special licence that I, the said Francis Puls, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Francis
Puls, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE DISTILLATION OF BITUMINOUS MATTERS AND GAS TAR," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Francis Puls, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Francis Puls, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):--
My Invention has reference to the distillation of bituminous matters and
gas tar, which it has hitherto been found difficult to distil in practice, in con-
sequence of the residuum of the distillation adhering so strongly to the interior
of the retort.
And my Invention consists of an improved mode of distilling such
bituminous matters or gas tar with the addition of, or mixed with earthy,
alkaline, or metallic oxides, peroxidies, sesquioxides, or protoxides, or the
carbonates or hydrates of those substances, or a mixture of any two or more
of the above-mentioned substances, for the purpose of preventing the 'adhesion
of the residuum to the interior of the retort, and for the purpose of obtaining

page_text: fluid, solid, and gaseous hydrocarbons or products from such bituminous
matters.
In order that my said Invention may be more fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I now proceed to describe in detail the manner in which
the same is to be performed when the bituminous matters to be distilled are
mixed with hydrate or carbonate of lime (that is to say):-
.
If I operate upon asphalte or other hard or solid bituminous matters, I
break them in pieces, or powder them, and then place them in a retort, either
in layers alternately, or otherwise, well surrounded and covered; or if in
powder, well mixed with about an equal bulk of slaked or hydrate of lime, or
wetted chalk, or carbonate of lime. I prefer to use the lime or chalk in
powder, but it must at least be broken into small pieces, and before using it I
mix it with water sufficient to damp or moisten it, without rendering it pasty;
but any excess of water would only be disadvantageous, by reason that it
would have to be distilled off before the bitumen could be distilled. The
quantity of lime or chalk should be such as will prevent the mixture from
becoming fluid when heated in the retort; and I prefer so to surround the
bituminous matters with the lime or chalk, as to prevent the bitumen in
its unmixed state from coming into contact with the interior of the retort. I
then subject the contents of the retort to such a degree of heat as will most
economically drive over the vapours of the different bydrocarbons contained in
or evolved from the bituminous matter used, taking care to regulate the heat
in such a way as not to destroy or decompose by too much heat the solid and
fluid hydrocarbons which may be distilled from the bituminous matters, and
convert them into gases. The temperature which I deem to be best for this
purpose is a low red heat, which I continue until the bituminous matters
distilled cease to evolve condensible vapours. The vapours arising from the
contents of the retort may be condensed by any of the means usually employed
for similar purposes. The more volatile of the oils contained in the product
may be separated by distillation, the heavier oils, may be separated from the
solid by pressure, suction, or any of the known processes. These oils will
require very little purifying, owing to the purifying properties of the hydrate
or carbonate with which the bituminous matters have been distilled. The gas
may be collected in gas holders connected with the condensing apparatus, and
those gas holders may be so regulated as to act as a suction apparatus, and
remove the vapours more quickly from the retorts. The gas may be used for
heating or lighting in the ordinary way.
When I operate upon gas tar or other fluid bituminous matters, I mix
them with the lime or chalk, so as to form a very dry paste, which will not

page_text: get fluid at the above-mentioned temperature by heat. The proportions of the
materials to be mixed together will, therefore, vary according to the degree of
fluidity of the bituminous matter to be operated upon; the more fluid matter
requiring somewhat more of the lime or chalk to produce a mixture of the
consistence above mentioned; but a quantity of lime or chalk equal in bulk to
the bituminous matter will generally be found sufficient...
The residuum remaining after the distillation of the bituminous matters,
when drawn glowing from the retort, may be laid in heaps; and in that manner
left to burn until all or nearly all of the carbon in it,is,burnt away, and the
lime or other materials will remain in such a state,: that. they may be used
again when mixed with the proper. quantity, of water.
When I operate with any of the other oxides, carbonates, or hydrates, above
mentioned, or any mixtures of them in distilling bituminous matters, the
process is the same as I have above described when using, lime or chalk..
Having now particularly ascertained, and described, the nature; of my
Invention,. and the manner in which the same is to be performed; I declare
that I claim as of my said Invention, the distilling of bituminous matters
(including gas tar) when mixed with any of the earthy, alkaline, and metallic
oxides, carbonates, or hydrates above mentioned, or any mixtures thereof, in
manner above described, for the purpose of preventing the adhesion of the
residutim to the retort, and obtaining the products arising from such dis-,
tillation.
In witness whereof; I, the said Francis Puls, have hereunto set my.
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of February, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Signed and sealed, in the presence of
ALEXANDER FORSYTH.
FRANCIS PULS. (L.S.).
Signed and sealed, in the presence of
ALEXANDER FORSYTH.
10, Lombard Street, London,
. Solicitor.
FRANCIS PULS. (L.S.).