IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURETTED HYDROGEN FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SULPHURIC ACID OR SULPHUR AND IN BYE PRODUCTS OBTAINED IN SUCH PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Urquhart of N° 4 The Sanctuary Westminster
in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURETTED HYDROGEN FOR THE PRODUCTION OF
SULPHURIC ACID OR SULPHUR AND IN BYE PRODUCTS OBTAINED IN SUCH
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Urquhart at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th November 1883.
DAVID URQUHART of N° 4 The Sanctuary Westminster in the County of
Middlesex " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURETTED HYDROGEN
FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SULPHURIC ACID OR SULPHUR AND IN BYE PRODUCTS
OBTAINED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURETTED HYDROGEN AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR
"
My invention relates to the manufacture of sulphuretted hydrogen for the
production of sulphuric acid or sulphur from alkaline sulphates, such as sulphate
of Baryta and Strontia, the simultaneous production during the manufacture of
monohydrates of the said bases employed.
In carrying out my invention, I grind the sulphate to a fine powder and mix it
intimately with a certain proportion, by preference two equivalents, of finely
powdered coal, coke or carbon, and then roast it in a reverbatory furnace or
preferably in a muffle furnace so constructed that the flame of the fire shall be
separated from the powdered mass by a brick arch.
This roasting of the sulphate may also be performed in Iron or Fire-clay
retorts such as those ordinarily used in Gas Works, and heated in any convenient
manner
Having obtained a mass consisting of Sulphide of Barium (if Barium is used)
and an excess of Coal or Carbon, I spread the same in a thin layer on a floor and
slightly moisten it. This causes the whole to set hard and it can then be broken
up into lumps. These lumps I place in a small cupola furnace somewhat resembling
the blast furnaces used in the manufacture of Pig iron, only of much smaller

page_text: dimensions, and constructed with flues in the thickness of the walls to maintain the
temperature.
I use a boiler for generating steam and a separate oven in which the steam can
be superheated to about 800° or 1000° F-by passing through coils or pipes placed
in the oven; the products of combustion from the oven passing through the flues
that surround the Cupola.
The superheated steam from this oven I pass in at suitable tuyeres near the
bottom of the Cupola and cause it to rise through the lumps of agglomerated
Sulphide which have been heated by the flues to about the same temperature as
that of the steam. If the temperature is properly regulated the steam will
decompose the Sulphide, forming Mono-Hydrated Oxide of Baryta and Sulphuretted
Hydrogen, which latter will escape by an opening provided near the top of the
Cupola.
The Sulphuretted hydrogen thus obtained I pass through coolers or Surface
condensers in order to eliminate the excess of steam, from which coolers it goes to
burners at which it is consumed and converted into Sulphurous Acid and Steam.
These mixed gases I pass into Sulphuric Acid chambers constructed in the ordinary
manner, and there convert them into Sulphuric Acid. The Nitric Acid required for
conversion is supplied by a small separate furnace and Nitre Pots. Or I treat the
Sulphuretted hydrogen for. the manufacture of Sulphur in the well known manner.
The pressure of steam in the boiler is as a rule sufficient to cause the passage of
the Gases through the Cupola, Condenser and to the Burner, but should this not be
found sufficient, a fan or blowing apparatus can be inserted between the Condenser
and Burner in order to facilitate the draught.
As the Sulphur is. eliminated from the. Sulphide in the Cupola, the Mono
Hydrate of the Alkaline earth which forms, melts and runs to the bottom of the
furnace where it is collected in a properly constructed hearth either of metal or
fire-clay, and from which it is run off from time to time through a conveniently
situated tap hole.
In order to ensure the fluidity of the melted hydrate in the hearth I sometimes
make this of cast iron and place it in a bath of Lead or an alloy of Lead and
Bismuth or any other alloy, so arranged as to be fusible a little above the
temperature at which the hydrate fuses.
>This bath is heated by a separate. furnace and the products of combustion are
also sent through the flues around. the Cupola.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said David Urquhart in the Patent Office on the 17th May 1884.
DAVID URQUHART of N° 4 The Sanctuary, Westminster, in the county of
Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURETTED HYDROGEN
FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SULPHURIC ACID OR SULPHUR, AND IN BYE PRODUCTS
OBTAINED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURETTED HYDROGEN AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR"
My invention relates to the manufacture of sulphuretted hydrogen for the
production of sulphuric acid or sulphur from alkaline sulphates, such as sulphate of
Baryta and Strontia, and to the simultaneous production during such manufacture
of monohydrates of the said bases employed.
In carrying out my invention I grind the sulphate to a fine powdeṛ and mix it
intimately with a certain proportion, by preference two equivalents of finely
powdered coal, coke or carbon and then roast it in a reverberatory furnace or
preferably in a muffle furnace so constructed that the flame of the fire shall be
separated from the powdered mass by a brick arch.
This roasting of the Sulphate may also be performed in Iron or Fire-clay retorts,
such as those ordinarily used in Gasworks and heated in any convenient manner.
Having obtained a mass consisting of Sulphide of Barium (if Barium is used)
and an excess of coal or carbon, I spread the same in a thin layer on a floor and
slightly moisten it. This causes the whole to set hard and it can then be broken
up into lumps. These lumps I place in a small cupola furnace somewhat resembling
the blast furnaces used in the manufacture of pig-iron only of much smaller
dimensions and constructed with flues in the thickness of the walls to maintain
the temperature. I use a boiler for generating steam and a separate oven in which
the steam can be superheated to about 800° or 1000° Fahr. by passing through
coils or pipes placed in the oven, the products of combustion from the oven passing
through the flues that surround the cupola.
The superheated steam from this oven I pass in at suitable tuyeres near the
bottom of the cupola and cause it to rise through the lumps of agglomerated
Sulphide which have been heated by the flues to about the same temperature as
that of the steam. If the temperature is properly regulated, the steam will
decompose the Sulphide, forming Mono-Hydrated Oxide of Baryta and Sulphuretted
Hydrogen, which latter will escape by an opening provided near the top of the
Cupola.
The sulphuretted hydrogen thus obtained I pass through coolers or surface
condensers in order to eliminate the excess of steam, from which coolers it goes to
burners at which it is consumed and converted into sulphurous acid and steam.
These mixed gases I pass into Sulphuric acid chambers constructed in the ordinary
manner and there convert them into Sulphuric acid. The nitric acid required for
conversion is supplied by a small separate furnace and Nitre-Pots. Or I treat
the sulphuretted hydrogen for the manufacture of sulphur in the well known
manner.
The pressure of steam in the boiler is as a rule sufficient to cause the passage
of the gases through the cupola, condenser and to the Burner, but should this not be
found sufficient, a fan or blowing apparatus can be introduced between the condenser
and burner in order to create or increase the draught.
As the Sulphur is eliminated from the Sulphide in the Cupola, the Mono-
Hydrate of the Alkaline earth which forms, melts and runs to the bottom of the
furnace where it is collected in a properly constructed hearth, either of metal or

page_text: fire clay, from which it is run off from time to time through a conveniently situated
tap-hole.
In order to ensure the fluidity of the melted hydrate in the hearth, I sometimes
make this of cast iron and place it in a bath of lead or alloy of lead and Bismuth
or other alloy so arranged as to be fusible a little above the temperature at which
the hydrate fuses.
This bath is heated by a separate furnace the products of combustion from which
may be sent through the flues around the cupola.
Having thus described the nature of my invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim :-
First The manufacture of sulphuretted hydrogen and monohydrates of the
alkaline earths by first roasting the sulphates of such earths to sulphides and then
treating these with superheated steam, substantially as herein described.
Second: In the manufactnre of monohydrates of the alkaline earths in the
manner referred to in the preceding claim, the use of a cupola furnace with hearth
in a bath of molten metal, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
In Witness whereof I the said David Urquhart have hereunto set my hand
and seal this sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight
hundred and eighty-four.