IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SULPHIDES AND IN THE SEPARATION OF METALLIFEROUS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES THEREFROM AND THEREBY, AND IN THE MEANS EMPLOYed therefor
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hollway, of Jeffrey's Square, in the City of London,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SULPHIDES AND
IN THE SEPARATION OF METALLIFEROUS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES THEREFROM
AND THEREBY, AND IN THE MEANS EMPLOYed therefor."
"
Sealed the 13th May 1879, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
Sealed the 13th May 1879, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
dated the 9th November 1878.
i
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hollway at the Office
(
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th November 1878:
JOHN HOLLWAY, of Jeffrey's Square, in the City of London.
$8 IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TREATMENT OF SULPHIDES AND IN THE SEPARATION OF METALLIFEROUS
& OTHER SUBSTANCES THEREFROM & THEREBY, & IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED THERE-
FOR."
These improvements consist in treating sulphides, with or without the addition
of other metalliferous substances or slag-producing materials, as fuel, and obtain,-
1st. Nearly the whole of the sulphur from the sulphides as sulphurous acid.
2nd. In separate groups, the metals originally contained in the sulphides and
other substances operated on, either in the form of sulphides, oxides, or in the
metallic state.
In carrying out the process I employ a vessel or furnace having tuyeres so
arranged that while I am driving air upwards through the molten sulphides I can
also drive air downward into the vessel, and in this way I am able to moderate
the temperature of the operation so as to control the volatilization of the metals.
The mouth of the vessel must be so placed that the sulphurous acid and the
metallic and other substances carried over by the vapours can be collected. I
regulate the temperature of the operations by increasing or decreasing the quantity
of air driven through and upon the sulphides.
As an example, when treating galena I find it convenient to commence the
operation by introducing some molten sulphides of lead into the vessel; and by

page_text: blowing air through and upon it, I obtain by the oxidation of the sulphide the
necessary heat to melt a further quantity of galena which I throw in from time to
time, thus making it a continuous process. In this way I first produce sulphurous
acid and oxide of lead, which latter reacts on the sulphide of lead, and by mutual
decomposition metallic lead is obtained with the evolution of a further quantity of
sulphurous acid. With the lead first reduced is found the silver and gold originally
contained in the galena and other substances operated upon. I regulate the
quantity of air driven through as compared with that driven down on the surface
of the sulphides, in order to obtain sufficient heat to keep the mass fluid, and yet
to so moderate the temperature in the upper part of the furnace as to control the
volatilization of the lead.
When however I am treating ores containing a variety of metals, some of which
I desire to volatilize, I employ a higher and gradually increasing temperature, and
I obtain the additional heat necessary by increasing the upward blast of air and
decreasing the downward blast.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Hollway in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th May
1879.
JOHN HOLLWAY, of Jeffrey's Square, in the City of London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TREATMENT OF SULPHIDES AND IN THE SEPARATION OF METALLIFEROUS AND
OTHER SUBSTANCES THEREFROM AND THEREBY, AND IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED
THEREFOR."
These improvements consist in treating sulphides with or without the addition
of other metalliferous substances or slag-producing materials in such a manner that
I utilize the sulphides as fuel, and obtain,―
First. Nearly the whole of the sulphur from the sulphides as sulphurous acid.
Second. In separate groups, the metals originally contained in the sulphides and
other substances operated on either in the form of sulphides, oxides, or in the
metallic state.
In carrying out the process I employ in preference a vessel or furnace, having
tuyeres so arranged that while I am driving air upward through the molten
sulphides I can also drive air downward into the vessel, and in this way I am able
to moderate the temperature of the operation so as to control the volatilization of
the metals. The mouth of the vessel must be so placed that the sulphurous acid
and the netallic and other substances carried over by the vapours can be collected.
I regulate the temperature of the operations by increasing or decreasing the quantity
of air driven through and upon the sulphides.
As an example, when treating galena find it convenient to employ a basic-
lined vessel, and I commence the operation by introducing some molten sulphide
of lead into the vessel, and by blowing air through and upon it I obtain by the

page_text: oxidation of the sulphide the necessary heat to melt a further quantity of galena
which I throw in from time to time, thus making it a continuous process. In this
way I first produce sulphurous acid and oxide of lead, which latter reacts on the
sulphide of lead and by mutual decomposition metallic lead is obtained with the
evolution of a further quantity of sulphurous acid. With the lead first reduced is
found the silver and gold originally contained in the galena and other substances
operated upon; I regulate the quantity of air driven through as compared with that
driven down on the surface of the sulphides, in order to obtain sufficient heat to
keep the mass fluid and yet to so moderate the temperature in the upper part of
the furnace as to control the volatilization of the lead.
When however I am treating ores containing a variety of metals, some of which
I desire to volatilize, I employ a higher and gradually increasing temperature, and
I obtain the additional heat necessary by increasing the upward blast of air and
decreasing the downward blast.
I therefore claim as new and as of my Invention, the utilization of sulphides in
lieu of fuel; the obtaining in separate groups, as metals, or in the form of oxides,
sulphides, or as slag, the metals originally contained in the sulphides, and in the
means employed therefor, all as hereinbefore substantially set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hollway, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Signed and sealed in the
presence of
FRANCIS WILLIAM BARNES,
416, Strand,
JOHN LONGMAID,
W.C.
20, Victoria Grove,
Stoke Newington,
London.
JOHN HOLLWAY. (L.S.)