Improvements in Obtaining Cyanides.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 16th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 17th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Obtaining Cyanides.
We, ROBERT LANG BARK, of Claremont, Kilmalcolm, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, Technical Chemist, JOHN MACFARLANE, of 2, Doune
Quadrant, Kelvinside, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Chemical
Manufacturer, EDMUND JAMES MILLS, D. Sc., F.R.S., of 60, John Street,
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, aforesaid, Professor of Technical Chemistry,
and STEPHEN YOUNG, of 2, Beauly Terrace, Kelvinside, aforesaid, Chemical
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows, that
is, to say :-
Our said invention has for its object the obtainment or manufacture of cyanides
in an improved and economical manner.
In carrying out our invention we mix a quantity of an alkali or alkaline earth
(such as potassium hydrate for example) with carbon, in the form of coke, or wood
charcoal, or other suitable carbonaceous substance, and place the mixture in a
retort or suitable vessel which is heated. We then pass into or through the retort
or vessel, carbonic oxide, either pure or as ordinarily produced from air, and
ammonia, the two gases being introduced in a mixed or separate state, and being
previously heated if found desirable.
The gases may be obtained in a mixed state by aspirating carbonic oxide through
ammonium hydrate, and the exhausting or pumping apparatus employed for that
purpose may be arranged to force the gases into the retort or heating vessel with
more or less pressure. Gases which have passed through the retort may be passed
through it again repeatedly, either or both of the essential constituents being added,
if required, prior to each passage through.
As convenient and economical sources of the ammonia and carbonic oxide, or of
part thereof, gases from blast and other furnaces, from gas producers, from shale
retorts or from ordinary gas works, may be availed of and thereby utilised, the
gases being purified if required.
The reaction which takes place within the retort or heating vessel results in the
formation of a cyanide of the base present, which cyanide may be separated and
purified in any suitable known way. If the ultimate object is to form a ferro-
cyanide metallic iron in a more or less divided state may be put into the retort or
heating vessel along with the alkali or alkaline earth and carbon.
Dated this Sixteenth day of February 1892.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Obtaining Cyanides.
We, ROBERT LANG BARR, of Claremont, Kilmalcolm, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, Technical Chemist, JOHN MACFARLANE, of 2 Donne
O Quadrant, Kelvinside, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Chemical
Manufacturer, EDMUND JAMES MILLS, D. Sc., F.R.S, of 60 John Street,
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark aforesaid, Professor of Technical Chemistry,
and STEPHEN YOUNG, of 2 Beauly Terrace, Kelvinside, aforesaid, Chemical
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
Union 211

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, that is to say :-
Our said invention has for its object the obtainment or manufacture of cyanides
in an improved and economical manner.
In carrying out our invention we mix a quantity of an alkalin or alkaline earth
(such as potassium hydrate for example) with carbon in the form of coke or wood
charcoal, or other suitable carbonaceous substance, and place the mixture in a
retort or suitable vessel which is heated to a temperature of about 1500 degrees
Fahrenheit. We do not restrict ourselves to any particular proportions of the
alkali or alkaline earth, but may state that we have obtained good results with a
mixture containing 100 parts caustic potash and 22 parts carbon. We then pass
into or through the retort or vessel, carbonic oxide, either pure or as ordinarily
produced from air and ammonia, the two gases being introduced in a mixed or
separate state, and being previously heated if found desirable.
The gases may be obtained in a mixed state by aspirating carbonic oxide through
ammonium hydrate, and the exhausting or pumping apparatus employed for that
purpose may be arranged to force the gases into the retort or heating vessel with
more or less pressure. Gases which have passed through the retort may be passed
through it again repeatedly, either or both of the essential constituents being
added, if required, prior to each passage through.
As convenient and economical sources of the ammonia and carbonic oxide, or of
part thereof, gases from blast and other furnaces, from gas producers, for shale
retorts, or from ordinary gas works, may be availed of and thereby utilised, the
gases being purified if required.
The reaction which takes place within the retort or heating vessel results in the
formation of a cyanide of the base present, which cyanide may be separated and
purified in any suitable known way. If the ultimate object is to form a ferro-
cyanide metallic iron in a more or less divided state may be put into the retort or
heating vessel along with the alkali or alkaline earth and carbon.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is.
Obtaining cyanides by heating a mixture of an alkali or alkaline earth and
carbon, and passing through or over the mixture ammonia and carbonic oxide,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Fifteenth day of December 1802
EDMUND HUNT,
Per pro David Ferguson,
Applicants' Agent.