IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING POTASH FROM THE YOLK OF WOOL, AND FROM THE RESIDUUM OF THE DISTILLATION OF BEETROOT JUICE OR OF MOLASSES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE RECOVERY OF SODA FROM THE LYES OF PAPER PULP
Year: 1874

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Hunter Henry Murdoch at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th January 1874.-A communication from abroad by Auguste
Louis Joseph Lesage, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
Chemist.
I, HUNTER HENRY MURDOCH, of No: 7, Staple Inn, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING POTASH FROM THE
YOLK OF WOOL, AND FROM THE RESIDUUM OF THE DISTILLATION OF BEETROOT JUICE
OR OF MOLASSES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO THE RECOVERY OF SODA FROM THE LYES OF PAPER PULP,” (a com-
munication to me from abroad by Auguste Louis Joseph Lesage, of
Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Chemist) to be as follows-
This Invention as communicated to me relates to an improved process
of treating the "yolk" of wool, and the residuum of the distillation of
beetroot juice or of molasses in order to obtain potash therefrom, and it
consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of apparatus
and furnaces herein-after described, whereby a larger proportion of
carbonate of potash, and less sulphate is obtained than when the

page_text: incineration is effected in the open air and by ordinary means, and the
noxious gases, fumes, and vapours produced by the incinerating process
are entirely or nearly consumed.
According to this Invention the "washing" of wool or liquor con-
taining the yolk or the residuum of the distillation of beetroots or
molasses is gradually evaporated by being made to pass through a series
of evapourating boilers or pans made of sheet iron or copper and heated
as herein-after described, until the said liquor has been reduced to the
required degree of concentration. It then passes into a furnace or oven
herein-after called the preparatory furnace, in which it is subjected to
the action of the heat and flames issuing from the incinerating furnace,
it then enters the incinerating furnace in which the incineration takes
place and the potash is obtained. The potash is then removed to a
perforated building or chamber constructed as herein-after described
where it is allowed to cool.
The preparatory furnace is constructed next to the incinerating furnace
at a rather higher level than the latter, so that the heat and fumes and
volatile products of combination from the said incinerating furnace
traverse the said preparatory furnace, and then pass into a suitable flue
where the said fumes, and gases, and products of combustion are con-
´sumed, as herein-after described.
The first evaporating boiler or pan is mounted over the preparatory
and incinerating furnaces, and is heated therefrom. The intermediary
evaporating pans or boilers are placed by preference on either side of the
first evaporating boiler, and the last evaporating pan or boiler is
mounted by preference behind the said furnaces, so that its contents
may readily pass into the preparatory furnace. The said evaporating
pans or boilers are placed at such a level one in respect of the other that
the substance from the first evaporator will pass through the series of
evaporators, and into the preparatory furnace by the force of gravity.
On the side of the incinerating furnace or oven is a fire-grate or
furnace, the hot air and products of combustion from which pass partly
into the said incinerating furnace, and partly into a suitable flue under
one of the evaporators which is heated thereby. On the side of the
preparatory furnace is another fire-grate or furnace, the flames and other
volatile products of combustion from which pass partly into the flue which
receives the fumes, gases, and volatile products of combustion from the

page_text: incinerating and preparatory furnaces and effects their combustion, and
partly into a flue heating another of the evaporators placed above it.
.
When more than four evaporating pans or boilers are used, additional
fire-grates or furnaces provided with suitable flues are used to heat such
additional boilers or pans, and the flues from all the furnaces and fires
are made to communicate with and open into a terminal flue, con-
structed under and giving heat to the last of the series of boilers or
evaporators herein-before referred to, which boiler or evaporator is
situated by preference behind the incinerating and preparatory furnaces,
and in the said terminal flue the volatile products of combustion from
the different furnaces and the yet unconsumed fumes, and gases, and
vapours from the incinerating furnace are further consumed before
passing to the chimney. Suitable dampers in each of the said flues are
used to regulate the passage of the gases and volatile products of com-
bustion as required.
The evaporators communicate one with the other by means of pipes
perforated with holes at the parts within the said evaporators, so that
the liquid enters such evaporators in a divided state so as not to interfere
with the ebullition taking place therein. The last evaporator com-
municates with the preparatory furnace by means of a pipe also
perforated with holes within the said furnace.
The liquor to be operated upon is by preference taken from the tank
or reservoir underneath the incinerating furnace, and is fed into the first
evaporating boiler by a pump or otherwise. It there is subjected to a
first evaporating process and passes gradually through the series of
evaporators into the last evaporator behind the preparatory and
incinerating furnaces, it then enters the preparatory furnace where it
falls in a divided state, and is traversed by the products of combustion
issuing from the incinerating furnace. The liquor is then in a sufficiently
concentrated state to be fit for incineration, and it is made to pass into
the incinerating furnace where the potash is produced...
The chamber or building in which the potash is allowed to cool ac-
cording to this Invention consists of a floor formed of iron girders or bars
placed sufficiently far apart to allow of air entering from the outside, and
heat escaping from the inside. The walls inclosing three of the sides of
the said chamber or building are double walls, the inner walls being per-

page_text: forated with holes and separated from the outer walls (in which holes or
apertures are also formed) by an air space.
The fourth side of the said chamber is closed by an iron door or
shutter by which the potash is charged into the chamber and removed
therefrom
This Invention is also applicable to the recovery of soda from the lyes
of paper pulp.