IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SODA AND POTASH
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Isaac James Wells, of the Firm of Wells &
Galloway, of Widnes, in the County of Lancaster, Alkali Manufacturers, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SODA AND
POTASH."
Sealed the 29th December 1876, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor,
ALL T 1976
Sealed the 29th December 1876, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor,
and dated the 24th June 1976.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Isaac James Wells at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th June 1876.
THE
GEORGE ISAAC JAMES WELLS, of the Firm of Wells & Galloway, of Widnes,
in the County of Lancaster, Alkali Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MANUFACTURE OF SODA AND POTASH."
This Invention has for its object economy of materials and plant, and more
especially the advantageous use of lime mud, a by product in caustic soda manufac-
ture, consisting principally of carbonate of lime, water, and caustic lime. Although
this mud is commingly used by black ash manufacturers as a partial substitute for
limestone its use has always been considered a disadvantage in the production of
black ash or rough soda or potash.
In the usual mode of working revolving and reverberatory furnaces a charge con-
sisting of sulphate of soda, carbonate of lime (or limestone), slack, and a small
proportion of this lime mud is inserted into the furnace, and the whole set
revolving or worked till the decomposition is accomplished. This lime mud, owing
to its bulk and composition, has hitherto only been used in small proportions, and
the yield from the furnace has been decreased by its use, and in one process its use
is quite impracticable.
My Invention consists in first putting into the furnace a mixture of all the
sulphate of soda and coal, or nearly all required in the operation, and a large
quantity of the aforesaid lime mud. The operation is then proceeded with till the
mass is brought to a state of fusion or nearly so. At this point I insert the lime-
stone required to complete the decomposition, which limestone is of far less quantity

page_text: than is commingly used in most processes, even reckoning the amount of lime con-
tained in the mud previously added.
Among the advantages of this process are,-
1st. That a large amount of lime mud can be used to advantage, which lime mud
has hitherto been considered so great a drawback to the alkali manufacturer who
produces caustic.
2nd. The black ash produced is very open and porous, yielding good vat liquor, and
containing a very small proportion of undecomposed sulphate compared with the
results obtained from other purposes.
3rd. The amount of limestone and slack being decreased there is less blue waste to
be dealt with.
4th. That larger charges can be worked in a revolver in a given space of time
by the old process.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said George Isaac James Wells in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th December 1876.
GEORGE ISAAC JAMES WELLS, of the Firm of Wells and Galloway, of Widnes,
in the County of Lancaster, Alkali Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF SODA AND POTASH."
This Invention has for its object economy of materials and plant, and more
especially the advantageous use of lime mud, a bye product in caustic soda manufac-
ture, consisting principally of carbonate of lime water and caustic lime. Although
this mud is commonly used by black ash manufacturers as a partial substitute for
limestone, its use has always been considered a disadvantage in the production of
black ash or rough soda or potash.
In the usual mode of working revolving and reverberatory furnaces a charge con-
sisting of sulphate of soda, carbonate of lime (or limestone), slack, and a small pro-
portion of this lime mud is inserted into the furnace, and the whole set revolving or
worked till the decomposition is accomplished. This lime mud, owing to its bulk
and composition, has hitherto only been used in small proportions, and the yield
from the furnace has been decreased by its use, and in one process its use is quite
impracticable.
My Invention consists in first putting into the furnace a mixture of all the
sulphate of soda and coal, or nearly all required in the operation, and a large
quantity of the aforesaid lime mud; the operation is then proceeded with till the
mass is brought to a state of fusion or nearly so. At this point I insert the lime-
stone required to complete the decomposition, which limestone is of far less quantity
than is commonly used in most processes, even reckoning the amount of lime
contained in the mud previously added.
Among the advantages of this process are,-
1st. That a large amount of lime mud can be used to advantage, which lime mud
has hitherto been considered so great a drawback to the alkali manufacturer who
produces caustic.
2. The black ash produced is very open and porous, yielding good clear vat
liquor, and containing a very small proportion of undecomposed sulphate compared
with the results obtained from other processes.
3d. The amount of limestone and slack being decreased there is less blue waste
to be dealt with.
4th. That larger charges of sulphate of soda can be worked in a revolver in a
given space of time than by the old process.
Having now particularly described my Invention, and the manner of carrying it
into effect, I have to state that I do not confine myself to any particular quantities

page_text: as these can be greatly varied, but what I believe to be new in this Invention, and
claim under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the improved mode
of furnacing sulphate of soda or of potash by first working up the salt cake and
fuel with lime mud into a softened or fused condition, and then adding sufficient
limestone or its equivalent to complete the process.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Isaac James Wells, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of December, in the year of our
Lord 1876.
Witness,
W. P. THOMPSON,
British & Foreign Patent Agent,
6, Lord St.,
Liverpool.
GEORGE L. J. WELLS. (LS.)