Improved Means for Suspending the Corrosive Action of Acids and Acid Mixtures, more particularly Applicable to the Manu- facture of Disinfecting Compounds and Polishing Powders.
Year: 1884

page_text: Improved Means for Suspending the Corrosive Action of Acids
and Acid Mixtures, more particularly Applicable to the Manu-
facture of Disinfecting Compounds and Polishing Powders.
I, DAVID URQUHART of N° 4 The Sanctuary Westminster in the County of
Middlesex Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVED MEANS FOR SUSPENDING THE CORROSIVE ACTION OF ACIDS AND ACID
MIXTURES, MORE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF DISINFECTING
COMPOUNDS AND POLISHING POWDERS, to be as follows:-
In carrying out this invention I mix the acid of which it is desired to suspend
the corrosive action with roasted infusorial earth, freshly precipitated silica, or
other powdered and absorbent substances which are not attacked by the acid. The
material which I prefer to use, however, is infusorial earth.
parts
When treating Sulphuric Acid, I mix 1 part by weight of earth with
of the acid, and thus obtain a semi-dry powder, which can be handled without
danger and may be packed in iron or even wooden cases.
In order to thoroughly mix the acid and the powder used, I prefer to employ an
apparatus consisting of a hopper for the earth which is fed from it through an
opening capable of adjustment, into a leaden or earthenware shoot, into which same
shoot I allow the acid to run in the right proportions required for producing the
semi-dry powder.
From this shoot the powder and acid mixed pass to an earthenware or other
suitable tube, containing in its interior a spindle provided with blades and also
fixed projections on the sides. The blades being placed slightly on a slant, the
revolution of the spindle causes the powder and acid to move through the tube
while at the same time it thoroughly mixes them.
This apparatus thus produces a continuous flow of the semi-dry powder required.
and the proportions of acid and powder can be easily regulated to suit the different
uses to which the material is to be put and the different strengths of acids used.
The acids thus prepared may be used for many of the purposes for which the
fluid acids are at present employed, but I specially employ Sulphuric Acid and
Hydrochloric Acid thus prepared for the production of disinfecting powders and
powders for cleaning brasses and other metals and other like purposes.
P

page_text: In applying my invention to the manufacture of disinfecting powders, I mix the
semi-dry powder obtained as above (by mixing infusorial earth and Sulphuric
Acid) with dry Chloride of Lime. This mixture when exposed in a saucer slowly
evolves Chlorine and thus acts as a powerful disinfectant.
I also form a disinfecting compound by mixing the inert Sulphuric Acid with
dry Sulphite of Lime, or Sulphite of Soda. This powder when moistened slowly
evolves Sulphurous Acid, another powerful disinfectant.
Hydrochloric Acid may be employed instead of Sulphuric Acid for these
purposes after being absorbed by the dry earth. When the quantity of Chlorine
to be evolved is required quickly and in considerable quantity, I mix one equivalent
of Chlorate of Potash for six equivalents of Hydrochloric Acid in the semi-dry
powder; when hot water is added to the mixture Chlorine is abundantly evolved.
Many other mixtures may be made which on the addition of water will give off
disinfecting gases or fumes.
Inert Sulphuric Acid prepared as above described can also be advantageously
used as a cleaning and polishing powder, for brass and other materials.
When required for this object, the proportion of Acid is very much diminished
in order not to corrode the materials more than is necessary to remove the dirt and
oxides.
Another use of the acids prepared as described is as an absorbing medium for
ammonia and ammoniacal salts from gases, such as blast furnace gases, coke
ovens &c. In applying the inert acid for this purpose, I place the semi-dry powder
on perforated trays in a close chamber, and allow the gases to pass through the
powder. The ammonia combines with the acid and is thus fixed, provided the
temperature of the gases is less than that at which the salt is volatilised.
If it is desired to obtain the ammoniacal salts formed by the passage of the
gases, the powder is washed with hot water in a series of vats so arranged as to
allow of the water passing through the vats seriatim. When the salts have thus
been obtained as a concentrated solution, the liquor is evaporated and the powder
may be dried and treated again with acid.
Inert acids cannot be used to extract ammonia from illuminating gas, as the
acid attacks some of the carburetted compounds and diminishes the illuminating
power of the gas.
P Ta
1001
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant,
28, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.

page_text: I, DAVID URQUHART of N° 4 The Sanctuary Westminster, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
'for "IMPROVED MEANS FOR SUSPENDING THE CORROSIVE ACTION OF ACIDS AND
ACID MIXTURES, MORE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF
DISINFECTING COMPOUNDS AND POLISHING POWDERS," and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
In carrying out this invention, I mix the acid, of which it is desired to suspend
the corrosive action, with roasted infusorial earth, freshly precipitated, or other
powdered and absorbent substances which are not attacked by the acid. The
material which I prefer to use, however, is infusorial earth.
When treating Sulphuric Acid, I mix 1 part by weight of earth with three parts
of the acid and thus obtain a semi-dry powder, which can be handled without
danger and may be packed in iron or even in wooden cases.
In order to thoroughly mix the acid and the powder used, I prefer to employ an
apparatus consisting of a hopper for the earth which is fed from it through an
opening capable of adjustment, into a leaden or earthenware shoot, into which same
shoot, I allow the acid to run in the right proportions required for producing the
semi-dry powder.
From this shoot the powder and acid mixed pass to an earthenware or other
suitable tube containing in its interior a spindle provided with blades and also fixed
projections on the sides. The blades being placed slightly on a slant, the
revolution of the spindle causes the powder and acid to move through the tube
while at the same time it thoroughly mixes them.
This apparatus thus produces a continuous flow of the semi-dry powder required,
and the proportions of acid and powder can be easily regulated to suit the different
uses to which the material is to be put, and the different strengths of acids used.
The acids thus prepared may be used for many of the purposes for which the
fluid acids are at present employed, but I specially employ Sulphuric Acid and
Hydrochloric Acid thus prepared for the production of disinfecting powders and
powders for cleaning brasses and other metals and for other like purposes.
In applying my invention to the manufacture of disinfecting powders, I mix the
semi-dry powder obtained as above (by mixing infusorial earth and sulphuric acid)
with dry Chloride of Lime. This mixture, when exposed in a saucer slowly evolves
Chlorine, and thus acts as a powerful disinfectant.
I also form a disinfecting compound by mixing the inert Sulphuric Acid with
dry Sulphite of Lime or Sulphite of Soda. This powder, when moistened, slowly
evolves Sulphurous Acid, another powerful disinfectant.
Hydrochloric Acid may be employed. instead of Sulphuric Acid for these
purposes, after being absorbed by the dry earth. When the quantity of Chlorine
to be evolved is required quickly and in considerable quantity, I mix one equivalent
of Chlorate of Potash for six equivalents of Hydrochloric Acid in the semi-dry
powder when hot water is added to the mixture, Chlorine is abundantly evolved.
Many other mixtures may be made which, on the addition of water, will give off
disinfecting gases or fumes.
Inert Sulphuric Acid, prepared as above described, can also be advantageously
used as a cleaning and polishing powder for brass and other materials.
When required for this object, the proportion of acid is very much diminished.
in order not to corrode the materials more than is necessary to remove the dirt and
oxides.

page_text: Another use of the acids prepared as described is as an absorbing medium for
Ammonia and Ammoniacal salts from gases, such as blast furnace gases, coke
ovens &c.
In applying the inert acid for this purpose, I place the semi-dry powder
on perforated trays in a close chamber and allow the gases to pass through the
powder. The ammonia combines with the acid and is thus fixed provided the
temperature of the gases is less than that at which the salt is volatilised.
".
If it is desired to obtain the ammoniacal salts formed by the passage of the
gases, the powder is washed with hot water in a series of vats so arranged as to
When the salts have thus
allow of the water passing through the vats seriatim.
been obtained as a concentrated solution, the liquor is evaporated and the powder
may be dried and treated again with acid.
Inert acids cannot be used to extract ammonia from illuminating gas, as the acid
attacks some of the carburetted compounds and diminishes the illuminating power
of the gas.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is-
1. The herein described method of suspending corrosive action of acids and the
like by mixing them with absorbent substances, such as infusorial earth.
2. The manufacture of material applicable for cleaning metals, producing
disinfectants and evolving and absorbing gases, by admixture of fluid acids with
absorbent powders such as infusorial earth, substantially as herein described.
Dated this 25th day of September 1884.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant,
28, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.