IMPROVE- MENTS IN AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHATE OF IRON OR COPPERAS FROM PICKLE,' AND IN THE TREATMENT OF PICKLE.
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Bowen Bowen, of Nicholl Street, Swansea, in the
County of Glamorgan, Chemical Manufacturer, for the Invention of " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHATE OF IRON
OR COPPERAS FROM PICKLE,' AND IN THE TREATMENT OF PICKLE.
""
Sealed the 3rd July 1877, and dated the 5th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Bowen Bowen at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th March 1877.
65
SAMUEL BOWEN BOWEN, of Nicholl Street, Swansea, in the County of Glamorgan,
Chemical Manufacturer. IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANU-
FACTURE OF SULPHATE OF IRON OR COPPERAS FROM 'PICKLE, AND IN THE TREAT-
MENT OF PICKLE,'"
6
According to my Invention I purpose using in connection with the white pickling
apparatus a pan of suitable size constructed of wood or lead which will serve as a
washing pan; this pan is partially filled with water into which the plates are intro-
duced from the white pickling apparatus; by this means the greatest part of the
Liquor which is held mechanically between the plates is washed off before going to
the scouring trough; the liquor from the washing pan is afterwards used instead of
water for the next course of pickling. The refuse "pickle" from the white pickling
apparatus is run into a filter constructed of wood, about 7 feet long, 4 feet wide,
and 18 inches deep, with pieces of timber laid across the bottom about 5 inches
deep, 1 inches thick, and 3 or 4 inches apart; the bottom of this filter is strewn
firstly with rough ashes, then with sawdust; by this means all the sawdust and
foreign matter held mechanically in the liquor is separated. The filtrate I cause to
be run or pumped into suitable vessels to be kept in reserve for further use instead
of water for the black pickling.
Instead of using water in the black pickling, as used at present, I purpose using
the weak filtered liquor from the white pickling apparatus which would be kept at
hand ready for use. By using this liquor it does not in any way interfero with the
process of pickling, so that when the black pickle is run off it will be in a more
concentrated form by containing the sulphate of iron held in solution in the white
pickle; by this means it will do away with the evaporation of the white pickle for
recovery of the copperas which it contains.

page_text: In connection with the black pickling apparatus I also purpose using
pan of
suitable size, constructed of wood or lead, same as used for the white pickling
apparatus. This pan is partially filled with the weak filtered liquor which is kept
for use from the white pickling into which the plates are introduced from the black
pickling apparatus; by this means the greatest part of the liquor which is held
mechanically between the plates is washed off before they are placed into the
scouring trough. From the black pickling apparatus and washing pan I cause the
refuse liquor to be run into a filter constructed of wood similar to the one used
for the white pickling, and the filtrate run into casks or vats (with the divisions)
sunk into the ground to the same level.
The above vessels are provided with perforated false bottoms about a foot or so
from the bottom, into these vessels iron is placed in the shape of shearings, etc.; then
the acidulated liquor from the above filter is run into these vessels, which are so
constructed as to allow the liquor to run from the first vessel to the bottom of the
second, and from the top of the second to the bottom of the third, etc., so that all the
acidulated liquor may come in contact with the iron, so when the liquor is drawn
from the last vessel by means of an overflow pipe it would be in a neutralized state,
or nearly so. A jet of steam should be blown into the liquor of the first neutralizing
vessel to assist its action upon the iron, also to keep the liquor from crystalizing.
From the above overflow pipe the liquor is run into a receiver and allowed to stand
for a short time so that the oxide of iron, etc., formed may subside. From this
receiver the liquor is run or pumped into an evaporating pan which is heated by
steam passed through a coil of lead piping placed at the bottom of the pan; when
the liquor has attained to the crystallizing poiut it is run into casks or coolers
(these coolers may be made of stonework well cemented) to crystalize; when it is
sufficiently crystalized the mother liquor is returned to the neutralizing vessels to
be further neutralized with iron if found necessary. When casks are used this can
be effected by placing the casks in rotation, and troughs placed underneath into
which the mother liquor is run by means of a plug hole in the centre of each cask.
Fork-shaped sticks are suspended in the liquor to assist crystalization.
According to the above processes for manufacturing copperas, about 10 tons of
copperas could be made for every 1000 boxes of tin plates manufactured.
$
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Bowen Bowen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
September 1877.
:
SAMUEL BOWEN BOWEN, of Nicholl Street, Swansea, in the County of Glamorgan,
Chemical Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANU-
FACTURE OF SULPHATE OF IRON OR COPPERAS FROM PICKLE,' AND IN THE TREAT-
MENT OF PICKLE.'"
According to my Invention purpose utilizing the whole of the pickling liquor
of tin works for the manufacture of sulphate of iron by an improved mode of manu-
facture, preventing to a great extent the pollution of streains and rivers adjacent to
tin works. In the first place in connection with the white pickling apparatus I
purpose using a trough of suitable size, constructed of wood, or of wood lined with
lead; this trough is partially filled with water into which the plates from the
pickling apparatus are placed so as to wash off most of the liquor which is held
mechanically between the plates before going to the scouring trough. When the
course of pickling is over the washings from the washing trough are used in the
next course of pickling instead of water, whilst the refuse pickle is run or pumped
into a filter (described hereafter) so as to separate the sawdust and foreign matter
which is suspended in the liquor; the filtrate is then run into casks filled with iron
in the shape of shearings on the same principle as described under the head of black

page_text: pickling. The last cask is provided with an overflow pipe so as to run the liquor
into a receiver, and from thence it is used in the washing trough as required.
In connection with the black pickling apparatus I also purpose using a washing
trough of suitable size, constructed of wood, or of wood lined with lead. This trough
is partially filled with water and the neutralized liquor from the neutralizing casks
above described. Into this trough the plates from pickling apparatus are placed so-
as to wash off the liquor which is held mechanically between the plates before the
plates are placed into the scouring trough. When the course of pickling is over the
washing from the washing trough is afterwards used instead of water for the next
course of pickling; thus the sulphate of iron contained in the liquor is saved instead.
of being run into the streain. Afterwards the refuse pickle is run or pumped into a
filter (which is described below) so as to separate the sawdust and foreign matter,
which is suspended in the liquor; the filtrate is then run into casks sunk into the
ground on a level, or otherwise these casks are filled with iron in the shape of
shearings, and are so, constructed and arranged that the liquor from the first may
flow to the bottom of the second; and from the top of the second to the bottom of
the third, and so on, the number of casks varying according to the amount of liquor
which is run from the picklers daily.
To effect the continuous flow of liquor from the first to the last cask I connect
the casks by means of a three-inch pipe about six or eight inches from the top of
each cask, with a flange beaten on the inside; through the pipe connecting No. 1
and No. 2 casks an elbow-shaped pipe is passed, the short end flanged on the inside
of No. 1 cask with the long end terminating at the bottom of No. 2 cask, and so
forth; by this means the acidulated liquor would come into fresh contact with the
iron in each cask. The last cask is provided with an overflow pipe through which
the neutralized liquor flows into a receiver, which may be a cask sunk into the
ground. Steam should be blown into the first and second casks so as to help the
neutralizing of the liquor, and also to keep the liquor from crystalizing. The liquor
from the receiver is pumped into a lead cistern which is placed above the evapo-
rating pan so as to allow any impurities to subside before being run into the
evaporating pan. The liquor in this pan is evaporated by passing steam through a
coil of lead piping of one inch bore, at a pressure of 30 lbs. to the squarei nch, the lead
pipe is afterwards continued through the upper cistern so as to keep the liquor hot
by means of the waste steam and condensed water conducted from the pipes in the
evaporating pan; from the upper cistern the lead pipes are passed through the
receiver below, and ultimately into a cask outside which receives the condensed
water. When the liquor in the evaporating pan is sufficiently concentrated a
pellicle is formed on the surface; at this stage the steam is stopped and the liquor
is run into casks to crystalize.
The casks should be placed in double rows with passages on the outside, and be
provided with troughs extended over the whole length provided with plug holes
over each cask over the end of each trough. The main trough from the evaporating
pan is placed so as to run the liquor into the troughs by means of plug holes.
Under each row of casks a trough is fitted, imbedded in clay, communicating with a
main trough leading to the neutralizing casks. When crystalization has ceased the
mother liquor is returned to the neutralizing casks through plug holes at the bottom
provided with long plugs; by this means any acid liquor would be neutralized, and
would return to the evaporating pan with the fresh liquor. Pieces of wood are
suspended in each cask to assist crystalization.
The filter above referred to, which is used for filtering the refuse liquors, should
be constructed as follows:-A platform is formed of planks with sides about six inches
deep which is lined with lead; inside is placed pieces of timber laid across the bottom
about 5 inches deep, three inches thick, and eight inches apart; between these pieces
coke and rough ashes are placed with a layer of sawdust on the surface; then a frame-
work of wood is placed inside the lower frame, about 18 inches deep, and resting
upon the cross pieces of timber with another layer of sawdust on the inside.

page_text: The advantages derived by working the refuse liquor according to the above
described processes will be,-
1st. A much larger quantity of copperas can be manufactured than is made by
the ordinary processes.
2nd. All the liquor can be utilized for the manufacture of copperas, and the liquor
being in a neutralized state does not damage the crystalizing casks by eating the
iron hoops as is generally the case.
Lastly, and not the least, the pollution of rivers would be prevented.
I do not confine myself to the exact mode given above, as it may be altered to
suit circumstances without departing from the nature of my Invention.
I claim as my Invention the improved process and apparatus, substantially as
described for the purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Bowen Bowen, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.