Improvements in or connected with the Manufacture of Acetylene or other Hydro-carbons from Carbide, and By-products thereof.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Aug., 1900-Accepted, 9th Nov., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Manufacture of Acetylene or
other Hydro-carbons from Carbide, and By-products thereof.
I, GEORGE JONES ATKINS, of The Laboratory, Ruskin Road, Tottenham, in
the County of Middlesex, Metallurgical Chemist, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to bo as follows:-
This invention has for its object a method of manufacturing acetylene and
other hydrocarbons and in obtaining valuable products therefrom.
I have discovered that the carbides which yield hydrocarbons, more especially
acetylene, by the addition of water are also acted upon in the same way by
organic and inorganic substances containing water of crystallization; or water,
or the elements of water, in unstable combination. Further, that numerous
organic matters, such as for instanco crushed beets, potatoes and the like, can
also be used even in the dry state for separating acetylene and obtaining valuable
dehydrated products. The salts I at present prefer to use for this purpose are
hydrated monosulphate and hydrated monocarbonate of soda, or of potash. Using
these alkali salts, especially in the case of the carbonate, an alkaline residue is
left which can be at once combined with an oil or other grease and water, to
form soap, nearly the whole of which is soluble, only sufficient insoluble grit
being found in the soup to act as a useful addition, as an abrasive. This soap acts
therefore not merely as a cleanser, but as a polisher. If the residue however be
lixiviated I obtain caustic alkali and an insoluble residue, which is valuble 8
a plate powder. When beet or potato, or other like starchy matter is employed,
a residue is obtained in the pulverulent form from which the limo can be sieved
out, the starchy matter remaining behind. If this starchy matter be now lixi-
viated in water, the starch remains behind as a solid residue, and the solution of
the albumenous and gelatinous matters is obtained.
'
In carrying out my process with soda or potash salts, the whole of the phos-
phorus compounds which are so deleterious in acotylene made by the water
process from ordinary carbides are entirely eliminated from the gas. The gas
therefore is much purer and less noisome than ordinary acetylene. Further, it
being formed in the dry way, it is free from the vapour of water, which is a
great advantage when it has to be passed into mains. In making the gas, the
carbide need not be broken up very fine, but the soda salt is best added as a fine
powder. The two are stirred or shaken together as required. In using it for
enriching gas for ordinary rooms, I may place a cylinder of the mixture in the
line of the gas pipe connected with the gas pipe at each end. By then arranging
the end of the cylinder in the form of a turbine or placing a turbine or other
wheel in the line of the gas, the slight power of the gas is sufficient to gradually
or rapidly rotate the cylinder when the cylinder is geared up to the turbine,
the cylinder and turbine being preferably connected to the gas pipe by anti-
friction or ball bearings. In this way the gas automatically mixes the material
and thus in nearly exact proportion to the quantity of gas used is the mixing
effected, and consequently the amount of acetylene increased. The gas can be

page_text: stored in ordinary gasometers or their equivalent, and in place of using a water
seal which is apt to allow a gradual exosmose of acetylene I employ silicate of
soda solution.
One advantage of my process over the water process is this, that as the
generation is gradual and it does not give off explosive phosphorus compounds I
can generate in a strong cylinder and obtain any degree of pressure that the
cylinder will bear, and thus in using it for motor cars I not merely can get the
force of explosion, but if compressed air be also used I can get an intense force
in a very small cylinder, using the force and expansion of the gases as well as
that of the explosion. The two compounds can be gradually fed together after
insertion in separate compartments if desired, by withdrawal of a partition or
otherwise.
Dated the 8th day of November 1900
Improvements in or connected with the Manufacture of Acetylene or
other Hydro-carbons from Carbide, and By-Products thereof.
I, GEORGE JONES ATKINS, of The Laboratory, Ruskin Road, Tottenham, in
the County of Middlesex, England, 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:-
This invention has for its object a method of manufacturing acetylene and
other hydrocarbons and in obtaining valuable products therefrom.
-
I have discovered that the carbides which yield hydrocarbons, more especially
acetylene, by the addition of water, are also acted upon in the same way by
organic and inorganic substances containing water of crystallization, or water,
or the elements of water in unstable combination. Further, that numerous or-
ganic matters, such as for instance crushed bent, potatoes, and the like, can also
be used even in the dry state for separating acetylene and obtaining valuable
dehydrated products. The salts I at present prefer to use for this purpose are
hydrated monosulphate and hydrated monocarbonate of soda, or of potash. Using
these alkali salts, especially in the case of the carbonate, an alkaline residue is
left which can be at once combined with an oil or other grease and water to form
soap, nearly the whole of which is soluble, only sufficient insoluble grit heing
found in the soap to act as a useful addition, as an abrasive. This soap acts
therefore not merely as a cleanser, but as a polisher. If the residue however
bo lixiviated I obtain caustic alkali and an insoluble residue, which is valuable
as a plate powder. When beet, or potato, or other like starchy matter is em-
ployed, a residue is obtained in the pulverulent form from which the lime can
be sieved out, the starchy matter remaining behind. If this starchy matter be
now lixiviated in water, the starch remains behind as a solid residue, and the
solution of the albumenous and gelatinous matters, is obtained.
In carrying out my process with soda or potash salts, the phosphorous com-
pounds which are so deleterious in acetylene made by the water process from
ordinary carbides are eliminated more or less from the gas. The gas therefore
is much purer and less offensive to the smell than ordinary acetylene. Further.
it being formed in the dry way, it is more or less free from the vapour of water,
which is a great advantage when it has to be passed into mains. In making the

page_text: gas, the carbide need not be broken up very fine, but the soda salt is best added
as a fine powder. The two are stirred or shaken together as required. The gas
can be stored in ordinary gasometers or their equivalent, and in place of using
a water seal which is apt to allow a gradual exosmose of acetylene I employ
silicate of soda solution. One advantage of my process over the water process
is this, that as the generation is gradual and explosive phosphorous compounds
are not given off I can generate in a strong cylinder and obtain any degree of
pressure that the cylinder will bear, and thus in using it for motor cars I not
merely can get the force of explosion, but if compressed air be also used I can
get an intense force in a very small cylinder using the force and expansion of
the gases as well as that of the explosion. The two compounds can be gradually
fed together after insertion in separate compartments if desired by withdrawal of
a partition or otherwise.
For the purposes of my invention I take any suitable carbide, and bring it
into contact with solid or comparatively dry salts or other compounds or sub-
stances containing hydrogen and oxygen either in the form of chemical com-
pounds combined with other elements, or in chemical combination as water of
crystallization or water of combination with other elements, not including,
however, water in its ordinary liquid state uncombined with other substances as
I am aware that it is not novel to decompose the carbides by bringing them
into contact with water.
For example I take calcium carbide and bring it into contact with an equal
quantity or thereabout of sodium carbonate, when mutual decomposition takes
place, and acetylone gas is generated which can be utilized for illuminating
and other purposes, and there remains a residual product consisting of calcium
and sodium carbonates and oxides.
Or, for example, I take calcium carbide and bring it into intimate contact with
an equal quantity or thereabout of hydrated monosulphate or hydrated mono-
carbonate of soda or potash; acetyleno gas is produced and can be utilized, and
then I combine the alkaline residue with an oil or other grease and water to form
воар.
When using mineral salts in combination with carbide in which caustic_salt
remains as a residue, and I desire to utilize the latter for making soap, I, in
some cases, combine with the salts before decomposition any suitable oleaginous
or resinous matters in suitable proportions, say ten per cent. of the latter to
ninety per cent. of the former, and I mix then thoroughly together, and then
combine them with an equal quantity or thereabout of carbide. Such oleaginous
or resinous mutters may consist of the waste of oil mills, such as that of linseed,
cotton seed, castor oil seed olive oil waste and so forth. All these contain oil
and organic matter, and the oil is thus recovered as an oleate. If resins be used
resinates are recovered.
Or again, I take the calcium carbide for example and bring it into intimate
contact in equal or other suitable proportions with crushed potatoes or other
organic matter containing starch; acetylene gas is produced as before and can be
utilized, and there remains a starchy and albumenous residue from which the
lime can be sifted out, the starchy and albumenous matter remaining behind to
be further treated by known means for the recovery of the starch and other
constituents.
I also produce acetylene gas by bringing carbide into intimate contact with
any suitable organic matter, vegolable or animal, containing water in the form
of water of combination or otherwise, with or without the addition of mineral
salts containing hydrogen and oxygen. For example, I mix beet-pulp, seaweed,
or fish offal with an equal proportion or thereabout of carbide.
I also produce acetylene gas and lime and earth-metal products by mixing
with calcium carbide in equal or other suitable proportions an earth-metal salt
containing hydrogen and oxygen, such for example as the aluminium hydrates
and sulphates.

page_text: I also produce acetylene gas and alkaline or acid salts by mixing with
calcium carbide in equal or other suitable proportions organic matter con-
taining alkaline or acid compounds, such for example as fruit waste of limes,
grapes, or the like.
In treating vegetables or fruit, or the waste of such substances, they may be
combined with the carbide without adding salts because they all contain, as well
as organic matter, both acid and alkaline salts. In the case of the acid salts of
fruit such as tartaric, citric and oxalic the lime residuo left from the decom-
position of the carbide forms tartrates, citrates and oxalates which can be readily
recovered by well known means.
Seaweed in a solid moist state mixed in equal or other suitable proportions
with the carbide may be used for decomposing such carbide for the production of
gas, and as it contains alkalies in combination with chlorine, iodine, bromine
and proto-cellular tissue it gives valuable residues such as for example alkalies,
chlorides, iodides and bromides, and cellular matter.
to
If the seaweed or other cellular matter is dried and ground with
a salt such as sodium carbonate for example before the same is
mixed with the carbide it prevents, to a great extent, the volatilization
of the water of crystallization of such salt, which if allowed
take place greatly retards the decomposing power of the salt, and larger quan-
tities of the latter have to be used than when volatilization of the water of
crystallization is more or less prevented. Cellulose in the shape of sawdust, for
example may be used for the same purpose.
By combining the oleaginous, cellular or other organic materials abovenamed
with salts that contain a large amount of water of crystallization before such salts
are mixed with the carbide I am enabled to overcome a serious difficulty, namely,
that such salts 11-8 the carbonate and sulphate of sodium, magnesium
and aluminium that contain large quantities of water of crystallization
generate sufficient heat to liquify them directly they are brought into contact
with the carbide, and there occurs then a rush of aqueous vapour, and the result-
ing liquid and semi-liquid salt is difficult to regulate and feed into the generator;
or mix with the carbide therein. By using oil, resin or cellular matter, how-
ever, as above described, the generation of heat is largely prevented, the decom-
position is retarded, and great advantages are gained both as regards the regula-
lion and controlling of the generation of the gas, the quantity of gas generated,
the commercial result arising from the production of a valuable bye-product,
and facility of feeding the salt and carbide into the generator.
The organic materials used abovementioned for preventing more or less the
rise of temperature may contain water in chemical combination.
The salt when combined with the oil, resin, or other body, can be made into
pellets of any shape or size, thus obviating the difficulty experienced in supply-
ing the salt to the generator in the ordinary crystal form, or in the ground form.
Aqueous vapour, if allowed to generate, acts at once upon the carbide, and if
it contains any phosphides, phosphoretted hydrogen is forined which, as is well
known, is very objectionable and dangerous when mixed with acetylene gas.
An important feature of my invention is that in consequence of the gradual
combination due to their solid condition of the carbide and decomposing material,
and the less rapid liberation of hydrogen and oxygen than when free water is
used, the temperature does not become excessive; and further, the aqueous con-
stituents being decomposed and not volatilized, the phosphorus remains in the
residue, and is not carried off in the acetylene gas which is thus kept com-
paratively pure, is less offensive to the smell than heretofore, and not liable to
explosion when compressed.
Care should be taken that the material combined with the carbide contains
sufficient basic salt to combine with the phosphorus. For example tartrate of
potash is present in grape waste, and soda in seaweed, but if such materials

page_text: contain insufficient potassium or sodium, carbonate of potassium or sodium may
be added as required.
Other salts besides those containing water of crystallization or water of com-
bination may be employed to decompose the carbide, for example ammonium
nitrate contains no water of crystallization or water of combination but con-
tuins hydrogen and oxygen and when such salt is combined with calcium car-
bide in equal or other suitable proportions decomposition takes place, acetylene
and other gases are liberated, and basic compounds remain as residual products.
In this case there is little or no rise of temperature and therefore a comparatively
exothermic condition prevails.
In the above description I have referred more particularly to calcium carbide,
but it is obvious that any other suitable carbide may be employed, the gases
generated and residual products remaining varying according to the nature of
the materials employed.
One advantage of my process of generating acetylene gas over the well known
water process is that as the generation of gas is gradual, and explosive phos-
phorous compounds are not given off, I an enabled to generate the gas in a
strong cylinder and obtain any degree of pressure that the cylinder will bear,
so that in using the gas for motor car propulsion, for example, i not only get the
force of explosion but, if compressed air be also used, I get au inteuse force in a
small cylinder, using the force of expansion of the gas and air as well as that of
the explosion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is:-
First. Process for the manufacture of acetylene gas and other useful products
which consists in mixing with a carbide one or more solid comparatively dry
substances containing hydrogen and oxygen either in chemical combination with
other elements, or as water of crystallization, or as water of combination, sub-
stantially as described.
Second. Process for the manufacture of acetylene gas and lime and alkaline
products, which consists in mixing with calcium carbide an alkaline salt, sub-
stantially as described.
Third. Process for the manufacture of acetylene gas and lime and earth-metal
products, which consists in mixing with calcium carbide an earth-metal salt,
substantially as described.
Fourth. Process for the manufacture of acetylene gas and soap which con-
sists in mixing with calcium carbide an alkaline sait, and then treating the
alkaline residue with oleaginous or resinous materials, substantially as described.
Fifth. Process for the manufacture of acetylene gus and soup which con-
sists in mixing with calcium carbide an alkaline salt which has previously been
mixed with oleaginous or resinous material, substantially as described.
Sixth. Process for the manufacture of acetylene gas and starch which con-
sists in mixing with calcium carbide crushed potatoes or other organic matter
containing starch, substantially as described.
Seventh. Process for the manufacture of acetylene gas and salts such as
tartrates, citrates and oxalates by the aid of carbide which consists in mixing
with calcium carbide organic matter containing the acids of such salts, sub-
stantially as described.
Eighth. Process for the manufacture of acetylene gas and alkaline salts which
consists in mixing with calcium carbide organic matter containing alkaline com-
pounds, substantially as described.
Ninth. Process for the manufacture of acetylene gas and acid salts which con-
sists in mixing with calcium carbide organic matter containing acid compounds,
substantially as described.
Tenth. Process for the manufacture of acotylene and other gases and chemical

page_text: compounds which consists in mixing with calcium carbide salts containing
hydrogen and oxygen in combination with other elements not in the form of
water of crystallization or water of combination, substantially as described.
Eleventh. Process for the, manufacture of acetylene and other gases more or
less free from phosphorous compounds, which consists in mixing with a carbide
a salt of soda or potash which has been previously mixed with oleaginous or
resinous material, substantially as described.
Twelfth. Process for the manufacture of gas and alkaline chlorides, bromides
and iodides, and cellular mattor, which consists in mixing seaweed with car-
bide, substantially as described.
Thirteenth. In the manufacture or storage of acetylene gas the employment of
a liquid seal consisting of a solution of silicate of soda substantially as described.
Dated thin and day of A 1000
G. J. ATKINS.
Per W. H. Beck,
Agent.