Improvements in Extracting Metals from Sea Water.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Extracting Metals from Sea Water.
We, WALTER SMITH ROCK, of 1, Romney Villas, near First Tower, St. Aubin's
Road, Engineer, and JOSEPH SINEL, of Green Street, St. Heliers, Naturalist, both
of Jersey, one of the Channel Islands, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a process for the extraction of metals contained in
sea water.
According to the invention we precipitate certain of the metals, notably gold
and bismuth, by means of iron or of a material consisting chiefly of metallic iron,
such for instance as galvanized iron or tinned iron plate.
In carrying out the invention we advantageously arrange the metallic iron or
other surface of the kind above specified within a suitable vessel of wood, porcelain
or other suitable material, and into this vessel we cause to flow the sea water from
which the metals are to be extracted or deposited. The water on coming into
contact with the iron in the vessel oxidises the latter so that the metals contained
in the said water are deposited or precipitated.
To increase and accelerate the oxidation of the iron we may provide pieces of
carbon in contact, or in electrical connection with the iron, the said carbon being
in the form of graphite, coke, moulded carbon or charcoal.
The greater portion of the precipitated metal is deposited upon the iron or
carbon, but a small portion thereof remains suspended in the sea water after the
latter has passed over the iron surface. This suspended metallic precipitate can
be removed by filtering or by being allowed to settle in suitable chambers or tanks.
The precipitate is removed and separated by the ordinary processes employed in
the treatment and purification of metals occurring in minerals or alloys.
Batod the 14th day of War 1808
We; WALTER SMITH ROCK, formerly of 1, Romney Villas, near First Tower,
St. Aubin's Road, now of Craig Tarra, Saumarez, St. Clements, Engineer, and
JOSEPH SINEL, formerly of Green Street, now of 12, Royal Crescent, St. Heliers,
Price 8.11

page_text: Naturalist, both of Jersey, one of the Channel Islands, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement: —
This invention relates to a process for the extraction of metals contained in
sea water.
According to the invention we precipitate certain of the metals, notably gold,
by means of iron or of other material such as galvanized iron, or tinned iron plate
which acts by virtue of the iron contained in it.
In carrying out the invention we may arrange the iron in any manner such that
a circulation of water is secured around it, whereby the iron is oxidized, and the
sea water is deoxidized thereby causing a precipitation of the contained metals.
To increase and accelerate the oxidation of the iron we may provide pieces of
carbon in contact, or in electrical connection with the iron, the said carbon being
in the form of graphite, moulded carbon or coke.
In a suitable arrangement for carrying out the invention we place the iron or
iron and carbon in a containing vessel or chamber through which we cause water
to flow from a higher level; or we may utilize the natural circulation of the water
in the sea, the objects being the same in either case. Arrangements of this kind
are illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing in which:-
-
Figure 1 shews a reservoir a containing sea water and an external closed con-
tainer or chamber having a false bottom 6' and nearly filled with pieces c of iron
or iron and carbon. The container bis fed with sea water through the inlet pipe d
which supplies the water to the bottom of the said chamber b, the said water then
flowing up through the iron or iron and carbon and depositing the metals as
herein before described, finally escaping through the outlet pipe e.
Figure 2 is an arrangement similar to Figure 1 with the exception that the
inlet pipe d enters the chamber b at the upper end thereof and the outlet pipe e
conveys away the exhausted water from the lower end of the said chamber.
Figure 3 illustrates a plant wherein the chamber b is placed inside the reser-
voir a and is formed with a perforated top 62 to allow the water to pass into the
chamber, the said water then percolating through the contents of the chamber and
issuing through the outlet pipe e which is fitted to the bottom of the chamber:
Figure 4 is an arrangement similar to that illustrated in Figure 3 with the
exception that the water flows through the chamber. b from the bottom which is
perforated to allow of its entrance and escapes through the outlet pipe e, in this
case fitted to the upper part of the chamber;
Figure 5 illustrates the case where the chamber b is placed in the sea; a current
of water ascends through the chamber owing to the chemical action and the result-
ing heat and passes out through the perforations in the upper end of the chamber.
In all the figures arrows indicate the direction of flow of the sea water.
The greater portion of the precipitated metals is deposited upon the iron or
carbon, but a small portion remains suspended in the sea water after the latter
has passed over the iron surfaces. This suspended precipitate can be removed by
filtration.
The precipitate of metallic matter obtained by the action of the iron is removed
as occasion requires and separated by the ordinary processes employed in the
treatment of metals occurring in minerals or alloys.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A process for the extraction of metals contained in sea water, such process
consisting in bringing the sea water into contact with iron so as to precipitate the
said metals, substantially as described.
2. In a process for the extraction of metals contained in sea water, wherein the
said water is brought into contact with iron, the combination with the iron of

page_text: carbon in the form of graphite, moulded carbon or coke, the said carbon being
in contact or in electrical connection with the iron, substantially as, and for the
purpose, herein before described.
3. In a process for the extraction of metals from sea water by means of iron,
the arrangement of a vessel or chamber containing the iron, or iron and carbon,
through which chamber the sea water is caused to flow, substantially as described.
4. The described process for the extraction of metals contained in sea water, such
process consisting in bringing the sea water into contact with iron, (or iron and
carbon) so as to oxidize the iron, deoxidize the water and precipitate the contained
metals which can be separated by the usual means, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Dated the 30th day of November 1898
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.