A NEW DISCOVERY OF THE MEANS OF FACILI- TATING THE CHEMICAL ACTION BETWEEN COPPER AND SEVERAL SALINE SUBSTANCES, SO AS TO PRODUCE IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ART OF SEPARATING GOLD AND SILVER FROM COPPER, PLATED OR UNITED WITH EITHER OF THOSE METALS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURING OF SULPHATE OF COPPER, AND IN THE MAKING OF MANY KINDS OF COLOURS FOR PAINTING
Year: 1806

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WALTER
HENRY WYATT, of Hatton Garden, London, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, by His
Letters Patent, bearing date at Westminster, the Fifteenth day of January,
in the forty-seventh year of His reign, did give and grant unto me, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, His special licence that I, the said
Walter Henry Wyatt, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, "A NEW DISCOVERY OF THE MEANS OF FACILI-
TATING THE CHEMICAL ACTION BETWEEN COPPER AND SEVERAL SALINE SUBSTANCES,
SO AS TO PRODUCE IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ART OF SEPARATING GOLD AND
SILVER FROM COPPER, PLATED OR UNITED WITH EITHER OF THOSE METALS, AND IN THE
MANUFACTURING OF SULPHATE OF COPPER, AND IN THE MAKING OF MANY KINDS OF
COLOURS FOR PAINTING," communicated to me, the said Walter Henry Wyatt, by
a Foreigner; in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging
me, the said Walter Henry Wyatt, under my hand and seal, to cause a
particular description of the nature of the Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same
(relation being thereunto had) may more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Walter Henry Wyatt, do hereby declare that the said Discovery or Invention
is described and ascertained in the manner following, that is to say:-
"It consists in new processes for rendering the chemical action of copper
on some saline substances more useful than it was hitherto." The chemical
action of copper (in its simple combined state), which is the subject of the
said new processes, exerts itself on the following saline substances, viz*,
the muriatic and some muriates, the arsenic or arsenous acid, and some
arseniates or arsenites, the sulphate of ammonia, and all the other ammoniacal
salts capable of experiencing the same action which is discovered to exist
between copper and sulphate of ammonia. The improvements which arise
from the new processes for rendering the chemical action of copper on the said
substances more useful belong to the following arts and manufactures, viz,
to the art of making colour for painting, to the manufacturing of sulphate of
copper, to the art of separating gold and silver from copper plated. or plated
copper, or by any other means, united with these metals in such proportions
as that the copper shall much exceed the quantity of the other metals.
The nature and the limits of the improvements, and the manner in which
they all arise from the said discovery, as from their single common source, will
be clearly explained by the following parts of this Specification, the first of
which contains the principles, and the second the description, of the processes
which are established on these principles, and by which are effectuated the
improvements in the above-mentioned arts and manufactures.
FIRST PART, containing the said Principles.
I. Principles of the processes for the improvements to be effected by the
chemical action of copper on muriatic acid and some muriates, and by the
products of this action.-A. It has been discovered, by the said Foreigner,
that concentration of the muriatic acid, far from being a necessary condition
of its being able to dissolve copper, that the weakest muriatic acid not only
effects this solution, but that it is even necessary to dilute this acid with a
certain quantity of water in order to prevent loss by volatilisation, and to
obtain the most useful part of the product. B. That boiling heat, "instead of
being necessary," prevents the said action from proceeding to its limits; that
muriatic acid dissolves copper completely at the common temperature of the
atmosphere, and that it is only at this low temperature that the reciprocal
action between these two substances can have its full effect. C. That the
most essential condition of the beginning and the completing the said action
has been overlooked; that it was searched for in concentration of the muriatic

page_text: acid and boiling heat, and that it was to be found in the simultaneous action
of the oxyginous part of atmospheric air and the said acid; that muriatic
acid highly concentrated and exposed to a higher temperature, but kept in a
full and well-closed vessel, has not the least action-on copper. D. That the
said muriatic acid, enabled by this particular attraction, leaves almost all the
bases with which it was previously united, in order to form a new combination
with copper or with its oxid. E. That the said muriatic acid, united with
earthy bases, leaves them if the earthy muriates are brought into contact with
copper and atmospheric air; that these muriates are decomposed; that a muriate
of copper is formed; and, consequently, that generally adopted affinity by which
metals are stated to be precipitated by alkaline soluable earths seems to be
overthrown. F. That the muriatic acid combined with metals separates from
them if the metallic muriates are brought under the above-mentioned circum-
stances; that these metallic muriates are decomposed; that a muriate of
copper is formed; that the muriate of iron itself undergoes this decomposition;
and that, consequently, another generally adopted affinity, viz', that by which
copper is stated to be precipitated by iron, appears likewise to be annihilated.
G. That muriatic acid united with the same metal, which we have seen
capable of separating from it all these bases even completely saturated with it
in the state of green, brown, or colourless muriate of copper, is still far from
being arrived at the limits of its particular attraction to the said metal; that
even all these saturated muriates of copper are completely decomposed if they
are brought in contact with new quantities of the same metal and atmospheric
air; that the said acid, from being saturated with the metallic base, tends to a
super-saturation, dissolves a new quantity of copper many times greater than
that employed for the first simple saturation, forms an almost surprizing quantity
of muriated oxid of copper, continues this action till a complete absorption
has rendered it insoluable and inert, and so presents to the chemical observer
the phenomenon of an acid which, after being saturated with a metal, remains
still able to dissolve many more quantities of the same substance. These are
the new facts, on the discovery of which are substituted for that single expen-
sive process by boiling concentrated muriatic acid, a whole series of new
processes, which all may be executed at a trifling expence, and to find in a
chemical action hitherto useless many important improvements for several
arts and manufactures.
To specify all the different ways by which the dissolution of copper in
muriatic acid may now be effected, and all the advantages which may be
drawn from the reciprocal action between these two substances, would be
unnecessary in this Specification, and it would be at the same time unne

page_text: cessary, because the above-indicated principles will lead naturally every chemical
manufacturer to find them all. The description shall therefore be confined to
some leading instances; and the; following are considered as the best calculated
for this purpose.
1. By muriatic acid,. obtained by any means. whatever,
weakened: to such a degree as to prevent loss by volatilisation; poured upon a
much larger quantity of copper than it is able to dissolve, exposed to the
action of the atmospheric air or to that of an air, gas, or. other substances
capable of affording more oxygene than atmospheric air, left either. untouched or
assisted by a proper multiplication of the points of contact between the metal,
the acid, and the air kept at the common: temperature of the atmosphere, or
supported in its-action by a somewhat higher. temperature; there. is obtained
either green, brown, or colourless liquid inuriate of copper mixed with the green,
solid, insoluble, sub-muriate or muriated oxid. of copper, or only this last in
inuch greater quantity, according to the purposo required, and to the: time
thought proper to be allowed to the said action:. 2. By making the muriatic
acid with muriate of soda and sulphuric acid in a convenient apparatus, and
by treating this muriatic acid. with copper in. the same manner, the same
products may be obtained besides the sulphato of soda. 3. By making a
compound liquid of muriate of soda, sulphuric acid, and water in required
and well-known proportions, or by employing the weak sulphuric acid .in.the
raw state in which it is obtained in the chamber of lead in the manufacturing
of oil of vitriol, and by treating the said compound liquid with copper in the
same manner, the same products are obtained (1.) and the sulphate of soda.
4. By a compound liquid of muriate of soda, sulphate of e
copper, and water
treated with the same metal in the same manner (1.) the same products.arc
also obtained, viz, the sulphate of soda and the green muriated oxid of copper,
with the considerable advantage of having the quantity of this last product
augmented by all the quantity of oxid contained in the sulphate of. copper,
and brought to the state of the muriated oxid, and of shortening the process
of forming the said products by employing a completely saturated muriate of
copper obtained by the reciprocal decomposition of the sulphate of copper and
the muriate of soda. 5. By a compound liquid of inuriate of soda, acidu-
lated sulphate of alumine (allum) and water, or by substituting to allum and
water any liquid containing allum, such as the lye of allum ores, or waste lye
(mother water) of allum manufactories, and by treating this compound. liquid
witli copper in the same manner (1.) this sulphate of soda, and a new pro-
duct consisting in a kind of combination of green muriated oxid of copper
and pure alumine, are obtained. 6. By a compound liquid of muriate of
soda, sulphate of iron and water, or by substituting to these last any liquid

page_text: containing the said metallic salt, such as lye of pyritical efflorescent ores, or
increstallisable lye, or mother water of copperas manufactories, and by treating
the said compound liquid with copper in the same manner:(1.) the same
sulphate of soda and a new product, consisting in a supercial aggregation of
green muriated oxid of copper and oxid of iron, are obtained. These are
instances and examples of the different modes in which the reciprocal action
between copper and muriatic acid, may be put in motion by these new prin-
ciples, and of the different products which. may be obtained from this action
by the aid of the said principles. Every chemical reader must be convinced
that a great number of other modes and other products may be derived from
the same principles.
II. Principles of the process for the improvements to be effected by the
action of copper, or of its oxids, on the arsenic or arsenous acid, and some
arseniates or arsenetes, for making that useful compound of copper and arsenic
or arsenous acid which the immortal Scheele offered to the arts as a new
painting green. This great chemist gave a process which had two great incon-
veniences, but which was the only one which could be found out in the hitherto
generally adopted statement that the combination of oxid of copper and arsenic
or. arsenous acid, for the formation of the said painting green, could only bo
obtained by a double affinity; hence the necessity of Scheele's process, which,
by precipitating a solution of sulphate of copper with a solution of arsenous
acid or white oxid of arsenic in potash, renders all the sulphuric acid and
all the potash useless for the arts, they forming sulphate of potash, which is
thrown away with the liquid in which the said painting green is: formed.
Another inconveniency attached to Scheele's process is, that the colour
obtained by it is of a single and fixed shade, which is by no means the most
agreeable of the different shades which the arseniated painting painting
greens are capable of affording. The same chemical combination. between
the oxid of copper and the arsenous acid can be obtained by. a. simple affinity,
or, in other words, by a direct or immediate attraction between the two sub-
stances. And this discovery, laid down as a principle, saves all the .sulphuric
acid and all the potash wasted by the hitherto, adopted method of making
arseniated painting greens, and offers 'to.: the manufacturer several new pro-
cesses of making, in a very simple manner and with: a trifling expence,
arseniated painting greens of any shade, and much superior to that colour.
known by the name of Scheele's green. Another modification of the said
action consists in this particular property of the arsenic acid, to separate
partially from the oxid of copper with which it was previously combined, in
order to unite with a new quantity of the same oxid with which the arseniated;

page_text: oxid is brought in contact, and produces with these two quantities of oxid,
by an equal division of its attracting power, an arseniate of copper in which
the said acid exists in smaller but equal proportions. This property of the
arseniate of copper to cede part of its acid to oxid of copper, joined to this
other property of the same arseniate to change its colour by changing its
proportion of acid, offers to the said art that very great advantage of obtain-
ing arseniated greens of any desired shade, from a yellowish tint up to the
most beautiful green, and also to mend an ill-coloured shade by the means
of bringing the super-arseniated oxid in contact with such a quantity of simple
oxid of copper as is required for producing the intended shade. The same
discovery and principle of effectuating chemical combinations by simple
affinity, substituted for hitherto employed double affinity, is capable of
leading to many more useful applications for making several prussiates,
sulpburates, &c.
III. Principles of the processes for the improvements to be effected by the
reciprocal action between copper and sulphate of ammonia, as also on the
other ammoniacal salts, and by the products of this action. If the statement
made of the said action by one of the most celebrated chemists be exact,
there would be no possibility of rendering it useful to the Society, for
Fourcroy teaches us that there is no action at all, as he asserts that not one
of the alcaline sulphates acts upon copper; but it is discovered that there
exists a very powerful and remarkable action between copper and sulphate of
ammonia. A. That by the simple means of exposing this metal with the
solution of the said salt to the action of the atmospheric air, great quantities
of two new products, viz, 1st, the liquid, and 2dly, the solid sulphate of
ammonia and copper, are obtained; that this action, like that of copper and
muriatic acid, depends entirely upon the co-action of the extraneous oxygene,
since the same salt and copper, kept in full and closed vessels, experience no
change whatever; that the same action of copper extends itself to almost
all the species of the whole genus of ammoniacal salts, so that by the same
means we may now obtain nitrate, muriates, acetates, tartrates, borates,
phosphates of ammonia and copper, liquid and solid, and also many other
analagous combinations capable of affording immediate utility.
Having established the general principle of this general action of copper on
almost all the species of the ammoniacal salt genus, the special enumeration
would be useless, and one simple instance of the application of the said
general principle, and of its utility, will be sufficient. This instance will be
given in the reciprocal action between copper and acetate of ammonia. By
treating them in the above-indicated manner, the solid triple compound

page_text: of oxid of copper, acetic acid, and ammonia are obtained, which product
may be applied as a colour for painting, or it may be used a material for
making acetated greens (verdegrise) by one of the following processes. (See
9th Process, C). B. Besides the remarkable action which the sulphate of
ammonia exerts upon copper in its metalliform state, the same salt acts upon
several compounds, of which this metal is the base, in a manner the more
deserving the attention of chemists, as it offers to them another of theso
extraordinary facts which require particular enquiries in order to make them
agree with the generally established laws of chemical affinities. This new
reciprocal action between sulphate of ammonia and compounds of copper
consist in a reciprocal decomposition, which happens when dissolutions of
copper by acids are mixed in certain proportions with sulphate of ammonia,
according to the established laws of electric attraction, and especially, according
to the greater affinity between acids and alcalies, the sulphuric acid should
not part with the ammonia in order to unite with a metallic base in a low
temperature and by the moist way; but it does, for by dissolving crystallized
sulphate of ammonia in liquid nitrate, or muriate, or acetate of copper, or by
mixing the solutions of the two salts together, and by exposing this compound
liquid in open vessels to the common temperature of the atmosphere, large
beautiful blue crystalls were obtained, which has the form and essential

page_text: second process for making the muriated painting green is established upon the
known principle already described, that oxids of copper in a certain state become
muriated oxids if they are allowed to remain for some time in a saturated
solution of green muriate of copper.
2. Process for making the new earthy Muriated Green. The colour to
which this name is given is that compound of green muriated oxid of copper
and alumina obtained by the modification which is described in the First Part
under I., 5. It may be made by two processes, viza. by separating the
said products (I., 5.) from the undissolved copper and from the saline liquid, by
elixiviation, filtration, and other known means. B. By modifying the action
described in the First Part under I., 5., in the following manner: instead of
mixing a given quantity of muriate of soda with such a proportion of sulphate
of alumina as the reciprocal decomposition might require, such a quantity only
is taken of the latter as is necessary for employing in the colour any desired
quantity of alumina; sulphate of copper is substituted for the omitted part of
the sulphate of alumnine. Dissolve these substances in a sufficient quantity
of boiling water; treat this solution with copper in the indicated manner till
the action is completed, and separate the carthy muriated green which is
produced by the chemical action already described.
3. Process for making a new colour called Sulphated Green for painting.-In
order to obtain this colour, pour upon the solid sulphate of copper and ammonia
(First Part, 111., 2.,) obtained by the reciprocal action between copper and sul-
phate of ammonia a certain quantity of solution of sulphate of copper, and let the
mixed solution of these substances remain till the intended action is completed.
By this simple process all the ammonia contained in the triple compound,
(111., 2.,) separates from it in order to form a simple and soluble sulphate of
ammonia, a proportional quantity of simple oxide of copper is precipitated. This
simple oxid being in contact with the undecomposed part of the dissolved sul-
phate of copper, becomes sulphated oxid (according to the principle, Process 1, b.).
The same sulphated oxid is produced from the said triple compound by the
separation of the ammonia. These two quantities of insoluble sulphated oxid
forin the sulphated green for painting; and the remaining liquid being now a
compound of sulphate of copper and sulphate of ammonia, after its separation
from the said green by decantation, filtration, clixiviation, and the other known
means, offers a very useful material for the operation described hereafter. Sec
Process 7, a., a., where this liquid is employed to fabricate oxid of copper and
sulphate of ammonia, by mixing it with a sufficient quantity of the compound
of oxid of copper and ammonia.
Modification of this process of the triple compound (III., 2.).-Any other oxid
of copper capable of being converted into sulphated green may be employed.

page_text: 4. Process for making several other new and known colors for painting,
by the application of the same principles (Process 1., b.). By treating certain
oxids of copper with other solutions of this metal, there may be obtained,
by the application of the said principle, several other useful colors for
painting; but it is not necessary to detail in this Specification these various
modifications, and therefore an account of the method of preparing the
acetated green is given as an example of their utility. By treating a.con-
venient oxid of copper with a solution of acetate of the same metal,
an acetated oxid of copper may be obtained, which more or less completely.
separated from the soluable acetate, forms a painting green more or less
similar to the common verdigrise of the shops, but much superior, by its
being free from all the impurities contained in that common product. (See 8,
Process b.)
5. Process for making several new and known colors for painting .by. the
means discovered in the chemical action of copper on sulphate of ammonia,
and on the other ammoniacal salts (First Part, III.).-All the products formed.
by the said action. are triple compounds of oxid of copper, ammonia, and acid ;.
many of them may be employed in this triple state, as, green or blue colours.
for painting; they all can be converted into double compounds (or oxid united
with an acid without ammonia in an insoluable state) by the 3d Process
properly modified; that is to say, by treating each of the said triple .com-
pounds with a solution of copper made with an acid of the same nature as
that which is one of the ingredients of the said compound, and from this.
double state other colours for painting, and similar to these formed by the
3 and 4 Processes, are obtained.
6. Process for making Carbonated Greens for painting. To the.common
and well-known methods of making these greens, the following are substituted,
viz-A. Upon the green muriated oxid (First Part, I., 1., 2., 3., 4.) pour:
solution of oxid of copper in ammonia, which will hereafter be called cuirrate.
of ammonia, prepared with solution of ammonia or carbonate of ammonia..
Note A. This cuiratte may be made by any means whatever; that which has
been commonly used is obtained by treating the compounds of muriated oxid
of copper and oxid of iron, (First Part, I.,. 6.) or the compound containing.
alumina, (ib. I., 5.) with the product of distilled putrified urine. Let these
substances remain in contact in closed vessels till the intended action is com-
pleted, a double exchange takes place, the muriated oxid becomes carbonated
oxid of copper, and the remaining liquid is now a compound of muriate and
and cuirrate of ammonia, as a very useful material for several of the processes.
to be described hereafter. B. Precipitato any dissolution of copper by carbo-

page_text: nate of ammonia in certain proportions; allow the precipitate to remain in the
liquid, and to be exposed to the action of atmospheric air, and in many cases
a very beautiful carbonated green is formed by these means.
7. Process for making Arseniated Greens for painting.-These greens are
made by two new methods, vizt.-A. By treating oxid of copper with alkaline
arsenites. B. By precipitating oxid of copper in a more useful manner than
it can be done by Schccle's method. Each of these two general methoils
comprehends the following particular modifications, viz-a. a. Arsenite of
ammonia is made by the most economical means. Pour the dissolution of
this arsenite upon oxid of copper; cover the vessel; stir the mass from
time to time; let it stand till the oxid of copper has attracted the arsenous acid
in the proportion intended, or in other words, till this oxid is changed into
arseniated painting green of a desired shade, then separate the liquid from
the colour by the known means, and with precautions necessary for preventing
loss of ammonia. This process is established upon the discoveries and prin-
ciples described (First Part, II.). The arsenite of ammonia may be obtained by
any convenient means whatever; that which has been commonly used by the
said Foreigner is prepared by simple solution of fine-powdered white oxid
of arsenic in the boiling ammoniacal liquid, which is obtained by distillation
of putrified urine. The oxid of copper may be likewise obtained by a con-
venient method; that which has been commonly made use of by the said
Foreigner is obtained in the following inanner:-Sulphate of copper (which
is made by the process to be described hereafter) is reduced to very fine
powder by a gentle heat; this powder dissolved in cuirrate of ammonia, which
is obtained by the above described means. (See 6 Process, Note A.) The liquid
sulpate of ammonia is separated from the precipitate by the known means,
and immediately employed for the fabrication of sulphate of copper and
ammonia, (First Part, III., 1., 2.) and the said separated precipitate, used in its
moist and divided state, is the most convenient oxid of copper for making the
arseniated painting green by the above-described method. A. b. in some
cases, and for some particular purposes, is substituted for the simple oxid of
copper (employed in A. a.), that product which is called solid sulphate of
copper and ammonia, (see First Part, III., 2.) and treated in the same manner
with the same arsenite of ammonia (see the preceding Process, A. a.); and by
this simple means the most beautiful arseniated painting greens are obtained,
besides the great advantage of the useful employ of a product which is pro-
duced in great quantities, and at a trifling expence. A. c. In some other
cases there is obtained by the same method (A. a.) the same arseniated
painting greens, by using any of the other triple compounds which are obtained.

page_text: from copper and other ammoniacal salts (see ib. III.) instead of the above
mentioned oxids. A. d. In other cases the muriated oxid of copper is treated
(ib. I., 1., 2., 3., 4.) in the same manner, (A. a.) and the same arseniated green
is obtained. By the method A, and by each of its modifications a., b., c., d.,
neither acid nor alcali is lost, as in Scheele's process, by an useless combina-
tion. The oxid of arsenic unites with the oxid of copper by direct and simple
attraction; the ammonia serves only as a vehicle for bringing the oxid of
arsenic into a liquid state, and may be employed immediately after the
operation in the formation of new quantities of oxid of copper. Eight
other modifications e., f., g., h., i., k., I., m., of the same method A. are formed
by treating each of the above-mentioned oxids (see A., a., b., c., d.) with
arsenite of potash and arsenite of soda, to be made likewise by simple solution
of white oxide of arsenic in a hot solution of the one, and the other of these
two alcalis in the same manner (A).
The modifications of the second method of making arseniated greens
(method B., by precipitation) are numerous; but every chemical reader can
easily point them out by the principle and some leading modifications which
shall herein be described.
Principle of the modifications comprehended under method B.-Bt. Dissolve
white oxid of arsenic in muriatic acid, and obtain, by a proper dilution, a
liquid which may be called arseno-muriatic acid. B t,t. In another case, and
for other purposes, the same product (B †) is obtained by mixing muriate of
soda with white oxid of arsenic, and treating them with diluted sulphuric acid.
In this case the said arseno-muriatic acid (or as it is now become, the. muriate
of arsenic,) contains a certain quantity of a triple salt, which is either easily to
be separated by christillization, or may in many cases be allowed to: rėmain.
Bt.tt. For other purposes arsenite of ammonia is made (see 7 Process;. A. a.).
With B†, and Bt, t, precipitate cuirrate of ammonia (Process 6, Note A)
Use oxid of copper or muriate of copper in order to bring the different ingre-
dients to a required proportion, and by these means arseniated green of any
desired shade is obtained, and the remaining liquid muriate of ammonia is used
either for making the triple compound (of muriate of copper and ammonia)
according to the principle, (First Part, III.) or for any other purpose. With
Bt,t,t, precipitate solutions of copper made by whatever acid, and the same
arseniated green is obtained, and an ammoniacal salt for the same use.
.
8. Process for making Acetated Greens (Verdigrise).-a. Make vegetable
acid by the most economical means; distil this acid in an economical appa
ratus; dissolve in this distilled acid any of the oxids of copper obtained. by

page_text: the preceding processes, and make with this solution, by a convenient evapora-
tion, cristallization, and the other known means, that product known in trade
by the name of distilled verdigrise or cristals of Venus.
The method of obtaining the oxid of copper for the manufacturing of this
kind of verdigrise is the only part of this process claimed as a new discovery:
Besides the method described, (see 7 Process, A. a.) the said oxid is obtained
by different means, each of which is derived from the preceding discoveries,
and one of these other means consists in the precipitation of the liquid muriate
of copper (obtained in several of the preceding processes) by carbonate of lime.
b. With the liquid acetate of copper (Process 8, a.) and one of the oxids of
copper in a convenient state, acetated green, of the same nature as the common
verdigrise of the shops, is made by the application of the principle (sec
Process 1, b.) and by a method similar to the 4th process. c. Instead of a
simple oxid of copper as in (b.) treat the triple compound which has been
already described.
9. Process for making Blue Colour.-A. Several triple compounds, which
are obtained by means of the discovery of the action existing between copper and
the ammoniacal salts, (III., First Part) and particularly the triple compound
of oxid of copper, ammonia, and sulphuric acid (III., A., 2., ib.) are of a fine
light blue, and may be used as colours for painting if properly employed.
B. Precipitate the green liquid muriate of copper, obtained either by separating
or by elixiviating the muriated oxid (1 Process, a.) with lime, and treat this
precipitate with lime in the known manner and proportions, and by these means.
a fine. blue colour for painting is obtained, besides the liquid muriate of lime for
the making of muriate of ammonia (sal ammonia), or as a material for the pro-
cess of making soda. (Sec 16th Process, b.) C. Precipitate the ciurrate of
ammonia (sec the 6th Process, Note A.,) with a fixed caustic alkali, a precipi-
tate is obtained of a fine light blue, capable of being rendered deeper in
colour by treating it with lime, and the ammonia may be separated by distil-
lation for new operations. D. Join all the liquids obtained by the several
processes, and which contain ammoniacal salts too much diluted for obtaining
them by evaporation, and treat these liquids with lime in convenient propor-
tions, and bring them by these means to a liquid triple salinc compound.
containing a great excess of uncombined ammonia. E. From the remainders
of the distillation of several dry animal substances made for obtaining
ammonia the Prussia acid is to be extracted, and apply it to the making of
Prussian blue.
10. Process for making all the different colours for painting which can be.

page_text: obtained from oxid of iron, such as yellow, brown, red; &c.-a: Treat the com-
pound of muriated oxid of copper and oxid of iron (see First Part, I., 6.) with
pure or carbonated ammonia; separate the cuirrate of ammonia formed by the
complete solution of the muriated oxid of copper, and from the oxid of iron left
untouched are obtained the said colours by a proper degree of heat, and the
other known or any other. means. In this process the method of obtaining
the oxid of iron is the only part claimed as new. The operation is made in
order to obtain the cuirrate of ammonia for making oxid of copper and
sulphate of ammonia, (see:7; Process, A. a.) or carbonated greens: (6. Process),
or.for making soda (14:Process; a.). b. In other cases precipitate sulphate of
iron with ammonia in order to obtain the sulphate of ammonia; for making
sulphate of copper and. ammonia, (see First Part, III., 1., 3.,) separate the
precipitated oxid of iron, and use it for making the said colours:
.
11. Process for making all the colours for painting which hitherto were
made by precipitation with. potash or soda; by a new method, by which the
expence of these alkalis is made. unnecessary.-Instead of potash or soda,
employ pure carbonated or mixed ammonia. By these means the same
colours for painting are obtained which are made by precipitation with potash
or soda, and instead of rendering: these alkalis; and the acid which combines
with them in the precipitation, useless, the ammoniacal salt is employed which
is contained in the remaining liquid for the maufacturing either of sulphate
copper and ammonia, or of any of the other triple compounds (see First
Part, III.) The means of obtaining ammonia in abundance, and with little
expence, are known. Any of these means may be employed.
of
II. PROCESSES for effecting Improvements in the Manufacturing of Sulphate
of Copper (Blue Vitriol).-A. by the application of the sulphate of copper and
ammonia (First Part, III., 1., 2.) B. by the application of the muriated oxid
of copper (ib., .I., 1., 2., 3., 4.) C. By the application of the reciprocal action
between sulphate of ammonia.and several solutions of copper (ib.; III., .B.)
The processes for effectuating these applications are the following:-.
12 Process.-Make sulphate of ammonia, by the most economical means;
with this salt in the state of a concentrated solution. Make the solid triple
compound of oxid of copper, sulphuric acid, and 'ammonia, in the manner
already described (see First Part, III!) By treating this triple compound with
liquid sulpate of copper all the ammonia it' contains is separated from it, and
this alkali is brought to use (see 3d Process); and from the remaining insoluble
part obtain the simple sulphated oxid of copper, with which the purest sulphate
of copper is made, by its solution in such weak sulphuric acid as before
directed, (see First Part, J., 3.) and by the other known means: The sulphate

page_text: of ammonia for the making of the said triple compound may be made by any
convenient method whatever. Besides the before-mentioned means, (see
Process 7, A. a.; Process 9, B., &c.) that of decomposing sulphate of lime
by carbonate of ammonia may be employed, and in other cases precipitate
with the same alkali either the mother water of copperas manufactories, or lye
of pyritical ores, in order to obtain by the same operation a material for iron
colours. (Process 9, B.)
18. Dissolve the muriated oxid of copper (First Part, I., 1., 2., 3., 4.)
in the same weak sulphuric acid; by evaporation and cristallization very
pure sulphate of copper is obtained, besides a remaining liquid which gives no
more cristals of sulphate of copper, but which is soluble muriate of copper,
containing all the muriatic acid employed for the formation of the muriated
oxid, and deserving very much the name of mother water, because, by the
simple means of exposing it with copper to the atmospheric air, it regenerates,
if it may be so expressed, the same murinted oxid for a new manufacturing
of sulphate of copper, according to the discovery before described.
First Part, I., G.)
(Sec
14. The process for effecting the third method of making sulphate of
copper is by treating sulphate of ammonia with several solutions of copper.
III. PROCESSES for effectuating Improvements in the Art of Separating
Gold and Silver from Copper, plated or combined by any other way with
these Metals in certain Proportions.
15th Process. Treat the clippings and other refuse of plated goods, either
with muriatic acid obtained by any method whatever, or with a compound
liquid of muriate of soda and diluted sulphuric acid, or with any other
compound by which the reciprocal action between copper and muriatic acid
may be effectuated in the same manner as described above (see First
Part, I., 1.); or if it be intended to accelerate the said action, and to prevent
the intermixing of the green solid muriated oxid of copper with the separated
gold or silver, modify the said manner of treating by any means capable of
answering this particular purpose; and one of these means consists in
decanting the saline liquid from the metal when it is come to a degree of
saturation near but still anterior to the formation and precipitation of the said
muriated oxid; and in pouring on the remaining metal new and sufficient
quantities of dissolving liquid for completing the separation of the precious
metals for separating gold or silver alloyed with copper by fusion. By the same
method it is required that the copper be in great proportions, and that the
metallic compound be of a form capable of presenting a great surface to the
dissolving liquid. Gold separated by this method from clippings of plated goods

page_text: is exactly of the same standard as it was before its plating on copper, and
requires only to be melted with a small quantity of nitre; but the separated
silver ought to be melted with a sufficient quantity of any fixed alkali, in order
to separate the small quantity of muriatic acid or muriate. This method of
separating gold and silver from copper offers to society the great advantage of
substituting to the expensive nitric acid, which is necessary for other purposes,
an acid which nature offers with profusion, and of obtaining all the precious
metals contained in the clippings of plated goods, or in other compounds of a
low standard, at a small expence, with contingent products, much more than
sufficient to cover the whole expence; for by the simple means of pouring the
decanted muriate of copper, upon new quantities of the same metal, all the
copper dissolved from the said alloy joined to the quantity taken from the
second metal, and all the muriatic acid employed for the said separation, may
be brought to the state of green muriated oxid of copper, (First Part, I.,
1., 2., 3., 4.) and this may be employed either in the manufacture of sulphate
of copper (see the 11th Process), or for the making of greens for painting.
(See the 1st Process; the 6th, a.; the 7th, A., d.)
In the various operations which have been described, it is evident that a very
considerable quantity of sulphate of soda must necessarily be formed. This
sulphate of soda is to be decomposed either by the common methods, or by
the following processes described below, so as to obtain the soda or fossil
alkali in such a state as to be rendered useful for again preparing the various
green paints which have been described.
IV. PROCESSES for effectuating Improvements in the Art of Decomposing
Muriate of Soda, and of rendering its Acid and Alcali separately Useful.
16th Process. After having separated from the said muriate the muriatic
acid, and after having brought this acid in a state where it offers new utility
to society, by combining it with copper by more economical means, join the
different quantities of sulphate of soda obtained by the different processes (see
First Part, 2., 3., 4., 5., 6.); separate from this salt by the known means tho
heterogeneous substances which it may contain. If it be thought necessary
decompose it in a manner capable of extracting from it the soda, either pure,
carbonated, or combined with substances similar to those contained in the
barillas of the shops, operate the said decomposition (of the sulphate of soda)
either by any of the well-known methods, according to circumstances, or by
such new method as may be thought proper to make use of. If in the first
case the decomposition by iron is preferred, the oxid of this metal is employed,
which is obtained by one of the processes before mentioned (see First
:

page_text: Part, I., 6.); and in the second cases the two following processes may be
employed A. Convert the sulphate of soda by the known means into
sulphurėt only by heat and charcoal, or any other convenient combustible
substance; facilitate, if necessary, the formation and conservation of this sul-
phuret by adding (to the sulphate and charcoal) a certain quantity of pure or
carbonated soda; decompose the formed sulphuret by treating it in a convenient
manner with cuirrate' of ammonia obtained by the preceding processes, (see
6th Process, a., Note (a.),) so that an insoluble sulphuret of copper is formed,
and the decanted liquid containing soda and ammonia may be separated by
distillation. Lastly, the precipitated sulphuret of copper may be employed
either in the manufacturing of sulphate of copper, or applied to any other
useful purpose.
B. Apply the muriate of lime obtained as an accidental
product in several of the processes (6., B., and 9., B.) to the decomposition of
sulphate of barytes. In order to obtain muriato of barytes, decompose this
last muriate by carbonate of ammonia and muriate of ammonia, and carbonate
of barytes are obtained, and the last serves for decomposing the sulphate of
soda in order to obtain its base.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Henry Wyatt, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Fifteenth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seven, and in the forty-seventh
year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, by the
grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
King, Defender of the Faith.