Improved Method of and Apparatus for the Formation of Organic Oxides and the Oxidation of Matter Suspended or Dissolved in Liquids.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 9th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 26th-Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for the Formation of Organic
Oxides and the Oxidation of Matter Suspended or Dissolved in
Liquids.
I, JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, of Norfolk House, Victoria Embankment, London,
W.C., Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
My invention relates to the formation of organic oxides and to the oxidation of
watter suspended or dissolved in liquids.
My invention is based upon the property which carbon in several of its forms
has of absorbing large quantities of gases and thereby aiding chemical action between
gases so absorbed or between the gases absorbed and other matter in contact with
the said carbon. My invention consists in a method of and apparatus for utilising
this property to cause chemical combination between oxygen and an oxidisable body
or oxidisable bodies suspended or dissolved in a liquid.
In carrying my invention into effect I immerse carbon in one of its porous forms
in the said liquid and I supply oxygen thereto either by blowing injecting or other-
wise forcing air or oxygen or a mixture of these into the said liquid or by liberating
oxygen in the liquid by means of the electrolytic decomposition either of water
when such forms the whole or part of such liquid or of other oxygen compound
or compounds existing in or forming part of the said liquid.
The gas or gases may be forced into the liquid by means of a blower or other
equivalent device and the carbon may be retained in any desired position in the
liquid by shelves gratings or perforated plates or other devices. The oxygen may
be generated in any convenient manner and may be supplied either direct from
the generator or from a separate receptacle. The electrolytic decomposition of the
water or other electrolyte may be brought about by any of the well known appliances
as for example those employed in the case of a water voltameter. Suitable devices
may be employed for collecting the hydrogen or other gas or gases given off or
the said bydrogen may be treated by any of the well known methods of obtaining
depolarisation.
When desired the operation instead of being carried on in a stationary vessel may
be carried on in a moving one whose movement may be either rotary or reciprocating.
cylinder capable of being rotated
A convenient form of rotary vessel consists of a.
round its geometric axis and driven by power suitable arrangements being made
for the admission of the liquid and of the air or oxygen to the said cylinder and
its discharge therefrom for conducting the electric current by means of immersed
electrodes or otherwise to and from the said liquid. This revolving cylinder may
when desired be fitted with shelves or ledges for the purpose of carrying the carbon
a certain distance and then allowing it to drop through the liquid.
and
or
TELLANE Cth day of November 1888.
"

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for the Formation of Organic
Oxides and the Oxidation of Matter Suspended or Dissolved in
Liquids.
1, JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, of Norfolk House, Victoria Embankment, London,
W.C., Consulting Engineer, 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:—
My invention relates to the formation of organic oxides and to the oxidation of
matter contained in liquids, whether such matter be suspended or dissolved
therein.
My invention is based upon the property which carbon in its porous forms has of
absorbing large quantities of gases and thereby aiding chemical action between gases
so absorbed or between gases absorbed and other matter in contact with the said
carbon. My invention consists in a method of utilising this property to cause
chemical combination between an oxidisable body or oxidisable bodies contained in
a liquid and oxygen supplied either by a forced current or by electrolysis.
In carrying my invention into effect I immerse carbon in one of its porous
forms in the liquid containing the oxidisable matter; and I supply oxygen thereto
either by (a) blowing, injecting or otherwise forcing oxygen into contact with the
said liquid, or (b) by liberating oxygen in the liquid by means of the electrolytic
decomposition either of water, when such forms the whole or part of such liquid,
or of other oxygen compound or compounds existing in or forming part of the said
liquid.
In the Complete Specification accompanying my Letters Patent No. 3826 of the
year 1886 I describe a method of forining organic oxides and of oxidising matter
suspended or dissolved in liquids which depends upon catalytic action. The method
constituting my present invention differs from that of my previous invention described
in the above cited Specification only in that the action instead of being catalytic is
due to the absorptive power of the carbon as aforesaid.
I may carry my method into practice in the forms of apparatus mentioned in the
Complete Specification accompanying my said previous Letters Patent all of which
forms give good results in practice. Such forms of apparatus as well as the ways
of using them are well known and require no description here: and I desire it to
be understood that I do not here lay any claim to the apparatus employed in carrying
my invention into practice. Any engineer understanding the principle of my
invention would have no difficulty in designing suitable apparatus for any case that
might arise.
When the oxygen is supplied to the liquid by means of a forced current it may
be obtained from any convenient generator or storage receptacle. As a rule however
the most convenient source of the oxygen is a current or stream of atmospheric air
forced by means of a blower.
I prefer to carry out my invention by the electrolytic way of supplying the oxygen
as in this case the oxygen is utilised in its nascent condition.
therefore more active than when the oxygen is supplied by means of a forced
The oxidation is 4
current.
It will of course be understood that if the liquid has not oxygen as one of its
constituents and does not contain an oxygen compound which can be decomposed
electrolytically so as to liberate oxygen then the plan of employing a forced 4
current of oxygen must be adopted as the electrolytic plan is then inapplicable.
The form of carbon which I prefer to employ is freshly prepared Kerosene
coke in pieces about the size of hazle nuts but where the presence of impurities
in the carbon is not likely to be prejudicial, as for example when sewage is the
matter which it is desired to oxidise, then cinders from ordinary domestic fires will 5

page_text: answer the purpose admirably. I may here mention that porous carbon obtained
during combustion with free access of air appears to give better results as a general
rule than porous carbon prepared in a closed vessel.
It is not absolutely necessary that the current of electricity supplied should be
a direct or continuous one, as, contrary to the generally accepted notion, an
alternating current will set free an appreciable quantity of the constituent gases of
the water or other oxygen compound. A direct or continuous current is however
much to be preferred.
Of course some of the oxygen supplied to the liquid enters into direct combination
with the oxidisable matter but the operation is greatly hastened and facilitated by
the presence of the porous carbon.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The improved method of forming organic oxides and of oxidising matter
suspended or dissolved in a liquid consisting in supplying a forced current of air
or oxygen to the said liquid whilst porous carbon is immersed therein substantially
as described.
2. The improved method of forming organic oxides and of oxidising matter
suspended or dissolved in a liquid consisting in supplying oxygen electrolytically
to the said liquid whilst porous carbon is immersed therein substantially as
described.
3. The improved method of producing oxidation substantially as specified.
Dated this 7th day of Sentember 1990
J. G. LORRAIN.