Improvements in Recovering Salts or Salines from Solutions.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Recovering Salts or Salines from Solutions.
I, CHARLES HENRY HUNTLEY of 38 Great Dover Street London S.E.
Analytical Chemist 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:-.
In accordance with my invention relating to the recovering of salts or salines
from solutions, I proceed as follows:-I filter a solution containing salts or salines
through a filter made up as follows:-I employ a layer of asbestos filtering cloth
upon which is evenly spread, one inch deep, a layer of coarsely crushed freshly
niade animal charcoal. Upon this latter is spread another layer of asbestos
filtering cloth upon which is evenly spread a layer of coarsely crushed magnetic
iron ore, one quarter of an inch thick; and, lastly, upon said layer of crushed
magnetic iron ore, is superposed another layer of asbestos filtering cloth.
The solution is allowed to percolate through the above described filtering
device into a suitable non-metallic vessel. Compressed air is then for at least
half an hour forced through the solution, said compressed air having previously
been forced through a volume of distilled water having therein, in solution, two
and a half per cent. of permanganate of potash. The filtrate is then passed into a
suitable vessel or into suitable vessels of any suitable form and of the requisite
dimensions. I prefer to adopt a cubical form, and the material for the vessel or
vessels to be either iron or other convenient metal; or, otherwise, earthenware or
stone. Whatever the determined capacity and form of said vessel or vessels may
be, it is or they are, to be enclosed-except at the top to allow of access to the
inside in another or outer larger vessel or vessel made of the same material as
the one which it encloses and of such increased size relative thereto as will allow
of there being an intervening space of at least 5 inches clear at the bottom and
sides surrounding, between the two vessels when the smaller is placed within the
larger vessel.
This latter must be so constructed that when the smaller vessel is
disposed within the larger one, the latter shall be perfectly air and gas-tight,
and leaving the inner vessel open at its top-so as to allow of access thereto for
the removal of, or the placing therein, of any matter (liquid or solid) as may be
required. I fill the inner vessel or vessels aforesaid, with the requisite quantity of
filtrate, and then, by means of an air or other pump, completely exhaust the air
from the surrounding larger air-tight vessel or vessels and project or force into
same as much gas as the strength of the vessel will allow of: say generally, to a
pressure of about 250 lbs. pressure to the square inch. This gas is generated by
slight heat-applied in any convenient way-from ammonia, sulphurous acid, or
any other substance which will produce a volatile gas whose property shall be
that of absorbing heat and thereafter returning to its liquid or solid state. The
filtrate having been allowed to rest for a short time, then upon its being gently
stirred for a few seconds, the filtrate will be found to congeal, and the salts or
salines will be deposited at the bottom of the pan, and the mass of water which
formed the vehicle of solution may be easily withdrawn from the inner pan by
means of ice tongs or any other suitable and well known methods or means.
As the above described filter has withdrawn from the solution all adventitious
contaminations, metallic, chemical, or otherwise, the residual salts or salines will,
as the process of congelation proceeds, and the temperature of the solution
becomes gradually lowered, so the salts or salines will crystallize at their natural

page_text: crystallizing temperatures, and they can be removed from the pan or pans either
by wooden trays, or shovels, or by any other well known means, and in a state of
crystalline purity. The crystals can be readily and effectually dried in revolving
or other drying machine, by means of which any traces of moisture or "mother
liquor would be speedily withdrawn from the crystals.
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
Recovering salts or salines from solutions by the process herein described and
set forth.
Dated this 26th day of January 1895.
CHARLES HENRY HUNTLEY.