Improvements in the Manufacture of Mercury.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Mercury.
1
A communication from abroad by CHEMISCHE FABRIK VON HEYDEN, GESELL-
SCHAFT MIT BESCHRÄNKTER HAFTUNG, of Radebeul, near Dresden, Saxony,
German Empire, Manufacturers.
I, JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of the Firm of J. C. Mewburn & Ellis, of 55
and 56, Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agenis, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:---
Various modifications of silver have been brought to public knowledge by Carey
Lea (Am. Journal of Science, 111 series vol. XXXVII, page 476 et seq.) of
which modifications that which is soluble in water (termed also colloidal silver)
is of especial importance and has already found employment. My foreign corre-
spondents have discovered that metallic mercury is also capable of production
in a modification which is soluble in water.
According to this invention mercury salts are. reduced preferably with pro-
toxide salts of tin. The colloidal mercury becomes precipitated from the aqueous
solution by ammonia salts, citrate of ammonia being well adapted for the
purpose.
The following example will serve to illustrate the invention.
One molecule nitrate of protoxide of mercury is brought into solution of about
10 per cent. with addition of some nitric acid and this solution is allowed to run
slowly into a solution of 1 to 1½ molecules protoxide of tin in nitric acid. To
the dark solution which results there is added a concentrated solution of citrate
of ammonia until the dissolved colloidal mercury has been precipitated as a black
mass. After neutralising with ammonia, the mass is allowed to settle, the liquid
decanted off and the muddy residue dried. The colloidal mercury is thus obtained
as firm black fragments or pieces with a metallic lustre, and gives a dark solution
with water. The new form of mercury possesses advantages over the ordinary
insoluble form in many applications.
Dated this 21st day of June 1898
Improvements in the Manufacture of Mercury.
A communication from abroad by CHEMISCHE FABRIK VON HEYDEN, GESELL-
SCHAFT MIT BESCHRÄNKTER HAFTUNG, of Radebeul, near Dresden, Saxony,
German Empire, Manufacturers.
I, JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of the Firm of J. C. Mewburn & Ellis, of 55
and 56, Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agents, do

page_text: hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
Various modifications of silver have been brought to public knowledge by Carey
Lea (Am. Journal of Science, III series vol. XXXVII, page 476 et seq.) of
which modifications that which is soluble in water (termed also colloidal silver)
is of especial importance and has already found employment. My foreign corre-
spondents have discovered that metallic mercury is also capable of production
in a modification which is soluble in water.
According to this invention mercury salts are reduced preferably with pro-
toxide salts of tin. The colloidal mercury becomes precipitated from the aqueous
solution by ammonia salts, citrate of ammonia being well adapted for the
purpose.
'
The following example will serve to illustrate the invention.
One molecule nitrate of protoxide of mercury is brought into solution of about
10 per cent. with addition of some nitric acid and this solution is allowed to run
slowly into a solution of 1 to 1 molecule protoxide of tin in nitric acid. To
the dark solution which results there is added a concentrated solution of citrate
of ammonia until the dissolved colloidal mercury has been precipitated as a black
mass. After neutralizing with ammonia, the mass is allowed to settle, the liquid
decanted off and the muddy residue dried. The colloidal mercury is thus obtained
as firm black fragments or pieces with a metallic lustre, and gives a dark solution
with water. The new form of mercury possesses advantages over the ordinary
insoluble form in many applications.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention as communicated to me and in what manner the same is to be performed,
I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The reduction of mercury salts with protoxide salts of tin, whereby mercury
is obtained which is soluble in water..
2. The process of obtaining mercury soluble in water, which consists in adding
an aqueous solution of nitrate of protoxide of mercury with some nitric acid to
a solution of protoxide of tin in nitric acid, and then adding to the resulting
dark solution a concentrated solution of citrate of ammonia or other ammonia
salt, whereby the colloidal mercury is precipitated.
3. As a new article of manufacture, mercury which is soluble in water.
Dated this 27th day of Fohmmary 1800
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.