IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHLORINE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Deacon, of Appleton House, Widnes, in the County
of Lancaster, Alkali Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF CHLORINE."
Sealed the 18th July 1876, and dated tho 8th May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Deacon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th May 1876.
HENRY DEACON, of Appleton House, Widnes, in the County of Lancaster, Alkali
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHILORINE."
These improvements consist in absorbing hydrochloric acid gas from mixtures of
gases containing it, such as any of those mixtures of gases resulting from the manu-
facture of sulphate of soda from chloride of sodium by means of sesqui-oxide of
iron, impregnated with a salt or compound of copper, the same being heated to a
temperature of from about 400 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, and in then raising
the temperature of the absorbents employed, and exposing them to a current of hot
air whereby the absorbed hydrochloric acid gas is given off and partly decomposed
and chlorine liberated therefrom. The hydrochloric acid gas thus evolved may be
again similarly absorbed and the apparatus may be arranged either in series so as
to be alternately and repeatedly absorbing hydrochloric acid gas and evolving
chlorine or the apparatus may be arranged with mechanical means of moving the
impregnated or the sesqui-oxide of iron alternately from the cooler to the hotter parts
and back again. Burnt iron pyrites is a convenient form of sesqui-oxide of iron,
and it may bo dipped in or impregnated with a solution of some copper salt, such
as a chloride or sulphate of copper, and the apparatus itself may be constructed of
cast iron or other material with suitablo inlets and outlets and other mechanical
appliances, and may be set in brickwork with fireplaces, flues, and other necessary
arrangements for the application of heat.
This process may be worked in connection with what is known as Deacon's
process for the manufacture of chlorine. The hydrochloric acid gas contained in
the gases in that process may be absorbed and utilized by means of this Invention,
and the absorbing materials when the hydrochloric acid gas has been evolved
therefrom may be used as decomposing materials for Deacon's process, and this
Invention may be worked in conjunction with the manufacture of sulphate of soda
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page_text: in what are known as open furnaces, and this Invention may also be worked in
conjunction with the manufacture of sulphate of soda by the action of hot sulphurous
acid gas, air, and steam, on common salt. The presence of sulphurous or of sul-
phuric acids in the mixtures of these gases is to be avoided as much as possible.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
David Gamble, of St. Helens, in the County of Lancaster, Chemical Manufac-
turer, and Samuel Hall, of the East London Soap Works, Bow, in the County
of Middlesex, Manufacturer, the Executors of the Will of Henry Deacon, of
Appleton House, Widnes, in the said County of Lancaster, Alkali Manufacturer,
deceased, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th November 1876.
DAVID GAMBLE, of St. Helens, in the County of Lancaster, Chemical Manufacturer,
and SAMUEL HALL, of the East London Soap Works, Bow, in the County of Middle-
sex, Manufacturer, the Executors of the Will of Henry Deacon, of Appleton House,
Widnes, in the said County of Lancaster, Alkali Manufacturer, deceased.
"IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHLORINE."
These improvements consist in absorbing hydrochloric acid gas from any mixture
of gases containing it by means of sesqui-oxide of iron impregnated with a salt or
compound of copper, all heated to a temperature of about 400 or 800° F., and in
then raising the temperature of the absorbent materials and exposing them to a
current of hot air whereby the absorbed bydrochloric acid gas is given off and
partly decomposed and chlorine liberated therefrom. The hydrochloric acid gas
thus evolved may be again similarly absorbed and the apparatus may be arranged in
series so as to be alternately absorbing and evolving. Burnt pyrites is a convenient
form of sesqui-oxide of iron and may be dipped in a solution of some copper salt,
such as chloride or sulphate of copper, and the apparatus itself may be constructed
of cast iron with suitablo inlets and outlets and may be set in brickwork with
fireplaces, flues, et cætern, for the application of heat.
"
This process may be worked in connection with what is known as "Deacon's
process for the manufacture of chlorine. The hydrochloric acid gas in the gases
obtained in that process may be absorbed and utilized by means of this Invention,
and the absorbing materials when the hydrochloric acid gas, et cetera, are evolved
therefrom may be used as decomposing materials for "Deacon's process," and this
Invention may be worked in conjunction with the manufacture of sulphate of soda
in what are known as open" furnaces, and this Invention also may be worked in
conjunction with the manufacture of sulphate of soda by the action of hot sul-
phurous acid gas, air, and steam, or common salt.
"
In applying this Invention, firstly, to what is known as "Deacon's process," the
gases derived from that process, and which usually consist of a mixture of nitrogen,
oxygen, hydrochloric acid, chlorine, and steam, are caused to pass into chambers or
cylinders or other receptacles (preferring to use cylinders and herein-after for brevity
calling them "cylinders") inade of cast or wrought iron or other suitable material
set in brickwork or masonry and provided externally with fireplaces and flues for
the purpose of heating such "cylinders," such, as for instance, those for which prior
Letters Patent have been granted to the said Henry Deacon, and numbered
respectively as follows:-

page_text: y much
10
sesqui-oxide of iron, usually chloride or sulphate of copper, as described in prior
Letters Patent granted to the said Henry Deacon and numbered and dated
respectively:
No. 1403 A.D. 1868
505
1909
1873
1875
The operation is commenced with these "cylinders" at a temperature of about
450° F. When passing through such a "cylinder" nearly all the hydrochloric acid
gns which the gaseous mixture derived from "Deacon's process" contains is thus
absorbed. If this absorption is not sufficiently completo the gases may be caused
to pass through a second or more "cylinders" similarly filled with sesqui-oxide of
iron impregnated as before mentioned. When the first "cylinder" has absorbed
sufficient hydrochloric acid or has risen sufficiently in temperature it is used for the
purpose of producing chlorine. Hot air or a mixture of air and hydrochloric acid
gas previously heated is caused to enter the "cylinder" instead of the mixture of
chlorine and acid as mentioned above, whereby the hydrochloric acid which has
been absorbed is given off again in the form of chlorine, and at the same time the
decomposition of the hydrochloric acid now entering the "cylinder" is effected.
Several such "cylinders" are arranged as a series and used in rotation, first, for the
absorption of hydrochloric acid gas, and then as decomposing "cylinders," thus
effecting a more complete decomposition of the hydrochloric acid gas than has
hitherto been accomplished.
2nd. When working this Invention in conjunction with the manufacture of
sulphate of soda in what is known as "open furnaces," "driers," or "roasters," where
the hydrochloric acid gas produced is more or less diluted with the products of
combustion and other gases, these gases are caused to pass through such "cylinder"
or "cylinders" filled with sesqui-oxide of iron impregnated as herein-before men-
tioned. A number of "cylinders" being used to effect a sufficiently complete
absorption of bydrochloric acid. When one "cylinder" has been completely charged
or saturated with hydrochloric acid gas it is disconnected from the series, and
heated air is caused to pass through this "cylinder" raising the temperature when
necessary by artificial means to about 800° F., whereby the hydrochloric acid, all or
part of it, in the form of chlorine, is obtained free froin the products of combustion
with which it was formerly contaminated. Should part of the hydrochloric acid be
given out as such, it may be passed through another "cylinder" to cause tho
absorption of the hydrochloric acid and purification of the remaining chlorine, which
may be applied in any well-known manner to the manufacture of bleaching powder
or other chlorine products, and the gases of open furnaces are thus made available
for the production of chlorine by what is known as "Deacon's process."
3rd. In a similar manner this Invention is applied to utilize the hydrochloric
acid evolved when manufacturing sulphate of soda by causing hot air, sulphurous
acid, and steam to act upon common salt. The gaseous mixture obtained in this
manufacturing operation is usually too poor in hydrochloric acid to be advantageous
for the continuous and direct production of chlorine of what is known as "Deacon's
process."
By this Invention this source of hydrochloric acid may be utilized. The gaseous
mixture containing hydrochloric acid, sulphurous and sulphuric acid, and other
gaseous and volatilo products are caused to pass through a series of "cylinders"
filled with sesqui-oxide of iron, usually burnt pyrites, impregnated as herein-before
mentioned, and kept at a temperature of about 450° F. The oxide of iron absorbs
the hydrochloric acid, and when one of the "cylinders" is sufficiently charged with
hydrochloric acid it is disconnected and a current of hot air is caused to pass
through it.
If necessary, the cylinder may be artificially heated to about 800° F. Chlorine
is thus obtained in a sufficiently concentrated state for use in the manufacture of
bleaching powder or other chlorine products.

page_text: Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, we would observe in conclusion that what wo consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is, the use of sesqui-oxide of iron impregnated with active
salts, as herein-before described and referred to, for the purpose of absorbing
hydrochloric acid and the subsequent evolution of chlorine by the application of
heated air, whereby hydrochloric acid mixed with other gases may be advantageously
utilised for the production of chlorine of sufficient purity to be subsequently used
in the manufacture of bleaching powder or of other chlorine products.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Hall, on behalf of the said David
Gamble and myself, have to this our Specification set my hand and seal, this
Sixth day of November, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.