Improvements in the Treatment of Ores.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Ores.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to me by
Charles Gordon Richardson, Professor of Chemistry, of 31, Sully Street, William
Dickinson Firstbrook, Gentleman, of 148, King Street East, both in Toronto, in
the Province of Ontario, and Eugene Harmon Davis, Manufacturer, of 1084, Sher-
brook Street, Montreal, in the Province of Quebec, all in the Dominion of Canada)
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to processes for treating ores containing sulphur as
sulphides or arsenic as arsenides or both as sulph-arsenides.
The object of the invention is to treat ores of the kind mentioned in such a
manner as to thoroughly, quickly, and inexpensively, remove the sulphur, arsenic, or
other similar substance contained in the ore.
The process consists principally in subjecting the ore to the action of steam only
so that the hydrogen of the steam combines with the sulphur or arsenic and
replaces the latter by the oxygen of the steam.
The process is carried out as follows: The ore, preferably pulverized, is placed
in a closed receptacle heated or otherwise, and then the ore is subjected to the
action of superheated or other steam only by passing the steam over the ore which
latter is preferably kept in a state of agitation by suitable means in order to allow
the steam to come in contact with every particle of the ore. This treatment causes
a chemical reaction to the effect that the hydrogen in the steam combines with the
sulphur, arsenic, or other analogous substance contained in the ore to form
sulphuretted hydrogen or arseniuretted hydrogen or both as a mixture of arseni-
uretted hydrogen and sulphuretted hydrogen or similar gas, according to the
nature of the matter contained in the ore and to be driven off or removed
therefrom. The oxygen of the steam combines with the ore by taking the place of
the sulphur, arsenic, or other analogous matter removed. The steam is allowed to
act upon the ore until the desired amount of sulphur, arsenic, etc., is removed from
the ore and the oxygen has combined with the ore. The ore is then removed from
the receptacle and a fresh charge put in. The sulphur or arsenic or both may be
recovered or removed from the sulphuretted or arseniuretted hydrogen or mixture
of both, by any suitable means.
By treating the ore in the manner described, the ore is roasted besides ensuring
the elimination of the sulphur, arsenic, etc.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is--
1. The herein described process for treating orcs containing sulphur, arsenic,
or other analogous substance, consisting in subjecting the ore to the action of
steam to combine the hydrogen of the steam with the sulphur arsenic or other
analogous substance contained in the ore, in the manner described.
2. The herein described process for treating ores containing sulphur, arsenic,
or other analogous substance, consisting in subjecting the ore to the action of
steam to combine the hydrogen of the steam with the sulphur arsenic or other
analogous substance contained in the ore and to substitute in the ore the oxygen
of the steam for the removed sulphur, arsenic, or other analogous substance, as
described.

page_text: 3. The herein described process for treating ores containing sulphur, arsenic,
or other analogous substance, consisting in subjecting the ore to the action of
steam only, to roast the ore, as set forth."
Dated this with daw of Naremban 1001
A. MELVILLE CLARK.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.