IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF METALLIC OXIDES, AND APPARATUS THERFOR
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carl Kesseler, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the
IN
Empire of Germany, Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF METALLIC OXIDES, AND
APPARATUS THERFOR." A communication from Albert Wegelin, Ernst Hübner,
and Emil Pollacsek, of Halle on the Saale, in the Empire of Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Carl Kesseler at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th December 1878.
CARL KESSELER, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the Empire of Germany,
Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF
METALLIC OXIDES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR." A communication from Albert
Wegelin, Ernst Hübner, and Emil Pollacsek, of Halle on the Saale, in the Empire
of Germany.
The Invention consists in dissolving metallic oxides in carbonate of ammonia,
and in precipitating therefrom the contained metal in the shape of metallic salts. Also
in the recovery of the carbonate of ammonia by distillation, and in the arrangement
and construction of apparatus for the above purposes in such manner that the
operations can go on uninterruptedly without loss of materials. The metallic oxides
may be formed by treating metals with steam, and the oxides are dissolved in a
solution of carbonate of ammonia of varing strengths. This solution is subjected
to distillation by superheated steam, during which the ammonia is recovered, and
the metal precipitated in the distillation apparatus as a subcarbonate of the metal
treated. The dissolving apparatus consists of a kettle or boiler of metal containing
a stirrer, and is in connection with a filtering apparatus and a precipitating apparatus
furnished with a stirrer and strainer.

page_text: :
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Carl Kesseler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th June
1879.
CARL KESSELER, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the Empire of Germany,
Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF
METALLIC OXIDES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR." A communication from Albert
Wegelin, Ernst Hübner, and Emil Pollacsek, of Halle on the Saale, in the Empire
of Germany.
The Invention consists in dissolving metallic oxides in carbonate of ammonia,
and in precipitating therefrom the contained metal in the shape of metallic salts.
Also in the recovery of the carbonate of ammonia by distillation, and in the
arrangement and construction of apparatus for the above purposes in such manner
that the operation can go on uninterruptedly without loss of materials. The
metallic oxides may be formed by treating metals with steam, and the oxides are
dissolved in a solution of carbonate of ammonia of varying strength. This solution
is subjected to distillation by steam, during which the ammonia is recovered and
the metal precipitated in the distilling apparatus as a subcarbonate of the metal
treated. If the ammonical solution contains metals in such a form that they can
be precipitated by other metals, this metallic precipitation is effected before sub-
jecting the solution to distillation; copper, for instance, is replaced by zinc, silver
by copper, &c. If in course of time the carbonic acid has degenerated, the ammonia
is supplied with fresh carbonic acid in any convenient manner. The described
processes are carried out in the following apparatus:-1. Dissolving apparatus A, A,
with filters a, a. 2. Filtering apparatus B, B. 3. Precipitating apparatus C, C.
4. Distilling apparatus D, D. 5. Rectifier E. 6. Receiver or automaton F. 7. Con-
densers G., 8. Supplementary condensers or Woolf's bottles H, H, H. 9. Sulphuric
acid reservoir I. The dissolver A consists of a vessel of sheet iron containing a
stirrer and provided with an inlet for filling the vessel, an outlet for discharging the
residuum, an opening for taking samples of the liquid, a pipe d for discharging
liquid, a pipe al for establishing communication with the air space or top of the
condenser, and also a pipe w for supplying water to the vessel. It is further
furnished with an opening for letting in carbonate of ammonia from the condenser,
a water gauge, and 2 filters a, a, each having two filtering layers for the liquid
lying in a troubled state over the residuum, and for the liquid contained in the
latter. The discharged liquid which still contains mechanically suspended impurities
is for further purification conducted through the filtering apparatus B. which is
constructed of cast iron and has on its cover the inlet valve for the decanted liquid,
and laterally two valves, one over and the other under the filtering medium, for
conducting the liquid from the residuum of the dissolver, if it is still turbid after its
passage through the filter a through the filtering apparatus. The vessel B is also
provided with a valve leading to an air exhausting apparatus in order to accelerate
the filtration, and with a discharge valve to the precipitator C. The latter is made
of wrought iron and furnished with a stirrer and a wooden grate for receiving the
precipitating substance. It has further two man holes, an opening for discharging
residua, a filter a with two filtering layers, a pipe d¹ for letting off the liquid, an
inlet-pipe for the flow of liquid from the dissolver or from the filtering apparatus, a
pipe a for air communication with the dissolver, and a water gauge with gauge
cock. The ammoniacal solution from which the metal or metals have been
precipitated flows automatically to the distilling apparatus D which is constructed
of wrought iron with bulged cover and conical bottom. There is also a stirrer, a
manhole, a steam and ascension pipe, a pipe g for the escape of gas, one for letting
in the residuum, one for air connection with the precipitating apparatus, a water
inlet, a pressure gauge with safety-valve, a water gauge with gauge cock. This
apparatus serves for the distillation of the carbonate of ammonia and the

page_text: separation of the metallic salts by the direct action of steam of 5 atmospheres
pressure. The gases which are developed pass into the rectifier E,, which
consists in a box made of sheet iron and containing two systems of pipes. These
are surrounded by water which entering at the bottom and running off at the top
regulates the temperature of the gases. The latter, entering from above, are,
on their way down, freed by condensation of the greater part of the steam
which they may have carried with them, which as residuum runs into the
automaton F, and is from there led back to the distilling apparatus. The gases of
carbonate of ammonia after having left the rectifier enter into the condenser G
where they are condensed. This apparatus has a cooling-worm and a pipe-connection
for the outlet into the dissolving apparatus. The gases which are not condensed in
the condenser go into the supplementary condensers or Woolf's bottles H. The last
remnant of gases are received by the reservoir for sulphuric acid J.
The arrange-
ment of the different apparatus is such that the operation goes on in them
continuously, so that a loss of raw-material or of productions, whether partly or
entirely finished, is prevented, and the regeneration of the carbonate of ammonia
is complete. In order to avoid stoppages in its working, the arrangement is divided
into 2 complete systems (each as above described) in such manner that either may
be worked by itself, or the two together. Likewise any single apparatus of the one
system may be worked together with the remaining apparatus of the other system.
Claims: 1. The process of dissolving metallic oxides in carbonate of ammonia, and
of precipitating therefrom their respective metals as inetallic salts.
2. The process
of recovering the carbonate of ammonia by distillation. 3. The apparatus necessary
_for_the_process above-described-and-their-peculiar-arrangement. The whole sub-
stantially in the manner as described and illustrated, and for the purpose set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Carl Kesseler, have hereunto set my hand and