New or Improved Process for Rendering Ore Friable by Chemical Means.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Nov., 1899-Accepted, 18th Aug.,
1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Process for Rendering Ore Friable by Chemical
Means.
I, KARL MILLER, of 291, Burdett Road, Bow, London, E., Metallurgical
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In modern
The process of chilling heated ore for the purpose of rendering it friable is
known of old and is practised in many districts at the present time.
times various descriptions of furnaces specially designed for the said purpose
have been constructed, but from the reports available it would appear that no
extensive use has been made of such furnaces in the different mining dis-
tricts, probably on account of their being too complicated and too difficult to
manage. Only one construction (Wilkinson's) has been the subject of closer
investigation by a commission of mining experts, however, although they found
it offering many advantages, nothing has since been heard of it.
The object of my present invention is to aid in the disintegration of the
ore by chemical means, principally by generating gases, such as oxygen and
To attain this end I
hydrogen, in the liquid employed for chilling the ore.
use solution of soda and caustic soda, to which, before each operation, a small
proportion of peroxyde of hydrogen or sodium is added. Upon the redhot ore
being plunged into this solution, a rapid action will ensue, shown and demon-
strated by the foaming of the liquid. The gases generated not only penetrate
the cracks and fissures in the ore resulting from the chilling process, but tend
to widen and enlarge such cracks and fissures and to prevent them from closing
up again upon cooling of the ore as is frequently the case when only plain
water is used for the chilling bath.
The chemicals peroxyde of hydrogen or sodium can readily and cheaply be
produced on the spot in all mining centres, as it is not necessary that they
should be absolutely pure, and the quantities required are so small that the
expense is only trifling.
The solution of soda and caustic soda can be used again and again. In the
place of peroxyde of hydrogen and sodium, permanganate of potash may also
be employed.
If the before named chemicals should not be readily procurable, the oxygen
and hydrogen can be generated by inducting an electric current into the chilling
bath, and for this purpose I propose to fit the chilling tank with a false bottom
and to provide suitable dimensioned copper or similar metal strips along the
bottom proper, their ends being suitably connected with a dynamo or other
convenient source of electric current. The said metal strips are to be so arranged
as to distribute the generation of gases over the full surface extent of the bottom
so that they may rise through the ore under treatment and then escape through
the superposed liquid into the open air.
01
P Act 1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Process for Rendering Ore Friable by Chemical
Means.
I, KARL MILLER, of 291, Burdett Road, Bow, London, E., Metallurgical
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:-
The process of chilling heated ore by water, with the object of endeavouring
to, render it friable, is known of old, and has been practised with a slight degree
of success or none at all according to the ore treated. In modern times various
descriptions of furnaces, specially designed for the said purpose, have been con-
structed, but from the reports available, it would appear that no extensive use
has been made of such furnaces in the different mining districts, probably on
account of their being too complicated and too difficult to manage. Only one
construction (Wilkinson's) has been the subject of closer investigation by a
commission of mining experts, some 50 years ago. Although they found it
offering many advantages, nothing of a practical nature has since been heard of,
with respect to it, and my process can be carried out by any means for heating
the ore.
The object of my present invention is to effectually aid in the disintegration
of all classes of ore by the disruptive effort of gases, such as oxygen and hydrogen
generated in the interstices and fissures of the ore by means of the liquid
employed by me for chilling the ore. To attain this end I use a solution of
soda and caustic soda, in about equal proportions, to which, before each opera-
tion a small proportion of peroxide of hydrogen or peroxide of sodium is added,
that is about 1 per cent. of the latter to the soda solution. Upon the red hot
ore being plunged into this solution, a rapid action will ensure which will be
maintained for a considerable time shown and demonstrated by the ebullition
and foaming of the liquid, lasting 5 or 6 times as long as the ebullition of
water or of any other liquid solution. The gases generated not only penetrate
the cracks and fissues in the ore resulting from the chilling process, but tend
to widen and enlarge such cracks & fissures to a sufficient extent to prevent them
from closing up again, and cohering, upon the cooling of the ore, as is frequently
the case when only plain water is used for the chilling bath.
The said chemicals, viz., the peroxide of hydrogen and the peroxide of sodium,
can readily and cheaply be produced on the spot in all mining centres, as it is
not necessary that they should be absolutely pure, and the quantities required
are so small that the expense is only trifling.
The solution of soda and caustic soda can be used again and again. In the
place of peroxide of hydrogen and sodium, permanganate of potash may also
be employed to the extent of about five per cent. in combination with the caustic
soda solution, but the effect of disintegration is not so good as in the former case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1st. In a process for the disintegration of ores by chilling them when red-
hot in a liquid bath, the employment of a chemical or chemicals in the said bath
adapted to readily evolve free gases, by or during contact of the red-hot ore
therewith, to thoroughly permeate the said ore and widen fissures therein, and
thus to render it easily friable, substantially as described.

page_text: 2nd. In a process for the disintegration of ores by chilling them when red-
hot in a liquid bath, the composition of the said bath, consisting of a solution
of soda and caustic soda in about equal quantities, with about 1 per cent. of
peroxide of hydrogen or peroxide of sodium added thereto, immediately before
the introduction of the red-hot ore, substantially as described.
3rd. In a process for the disintegration of ores by chilling them when red-
hot in a liquid bath, the composition of the said bath, consisting of a solution
of soda and caustic soda in about equal quantities, and about 5 per cent. of
permanganate of potash added thereto immediately before the introduction of
the red-hot ore, substantially as described.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1899
FELL & JAMES,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.