AN IMPROVEMENT IN SEPARATING COPPER AND OTHER METALS FROM ORES CONTAINING THEM
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Cornelius Ferguson Clements, of Liverpool, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN SEPARATING COPPER AND OTHER METALS
FROM ORES CONTAINING THEM."
"
Sealed the 13th March 1857, and dated the 15th September 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Cornelius Ferguson
Clements, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 15th September 1856.
I, CORNELIUS FERGUSON CLEMENTS, of Liverpool, do hereby declare the
nature of the Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN SEPARATING COPPER AND
OTHER METALS FROM ORES CONTAINING THEM," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object an improvement in separating copper and
other metals from ores containing them; and the Invention consists of applying
muriatic acid vapours to act on ores containing copper and other metals. The
ores for this purpose are to be in the state of oxides, and the muriatic acid
vapours, from furnaces used in the manufacture of sulphate of soda, are to be
conducted into a suitable apparatus, together with water or steam, so as to act

page_text: on the ores contained in the apparatus. The liquids thus obtained are to be
treated by ordinary well-known means for separating the copper and other
metals therefrom.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Cornelius Ferguson Clements in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 13th March 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CORNELIUS
FERGUSON CLEMENTS, of Liverpool, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Cornelius Ferguson Clements, Her special licence that I, the said Cornelius
Ferguson Clements, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Cornelius Ferguson Clements, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"AN IMPROVEMENT IN SEPARATING COPPER AND OTHER METALS FROM ORES CON-
TAINING THEM," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Cornelius
Ferguson Clements, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particu-
larly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Cornelius Ferguson Clements, do 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 thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object an improvement in separating copper and
other metals from ores containing them; and the Invention consists of applying
muriatic acid vapours to act on ores containing copper and other metals. The

page_text: ores for this purpose are to be in the state of oxides, and the muriatic acid
vapours, from furnaces used in the manufacture of sulphate of soda, are to be
conducted into a suitable apparatus, together with water or steam, so as to act
on the ores contained in the apparatus. The liquids thus obtained are to
be treated by ordinary well-known means for separating the copper and other
metals therefrom.
This Invention is peculiarly applicable where the manufacturing of alkali
is carried on, and where the vapours of muriatic acid may be obtained at the
cheapest rate, and also where pyrites are used in manufacturing sulphuric
acid, as although my Invention is applicable in treating other ores containing
copper in a state of oxide, it is more peculiarly applicable to pyrites which
have been burned in making sulphuric acid.
In carrying out this Invention, the burned pyrites, or, it may be, other ores
having copper in the state of oxide, are packed or filled into a chamber of any
suitable dimensions, according to the extent of the works. The chamber is to
be provided with an inlet for the vapours of muriatic acid, and also for steam,
also an outlet for the passage away of vapours from the chamber, and such
passages are to have slides or valves to regulate the flow. The muriatic acid
vapours are to be caused to pervade the chamber, so as to act on the burned
pyrites or other ores contained therein. By thus applying muriatic acid
vapours the copper will be converted into a chloride of copper, the steam
serving only so as to open the pores of the burned pyrites, and keeping up the
temperature, but not actually dissolving the chloride. The vapours of muriatic
acid are to be allowed to flow through the chamber until all the oxide of
copper is completely converted into chloride, which process may be completed
in a few hours; but to be quite safe, and in order to carry on the operation
regularly, the burnt pyrites are left exposed to the influence of the muriatic
acid vapours for 24 hours, when the muriatic acid vapours are shut off, and
conducted into another similar chamber containing burnt pyrites. The pyrites
from the first chamber is removed from it (after it has sufficiently cooled
down) into large wooden vats, provided with filterers in the bottom, hot water
is turned on, and the chloride of copper is thus washed or dissolved out, leaving
the oxide of iron behind as a residuum. The solution of copper thus obtained
are to be treated in the ordinary well-known manner to separate the copper
therefrom.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the details herein explained; but what I claim is, the mode herein

page_text: described of separating copper and other metals from the ores containing them
by the application of the vapours of muriatic acid.
In witness whereof, I, the said Cornelius Ferguson Clements, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of March, in the year of
ear Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
CORNELIUS FERGUSON CLEMENTS. (L.S.)
ABRAHAM WALTON,
of Liverpool.