Improvements in the Manufacture of the Oxides of the Alkaline Metals.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left 17th Aug. 1892-Accepted. 17th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of the Oxides of the Alkaline
Metals.
I, HAMILTON YOUNG CASTNER of 115 Cannon Street in the City of London
Managing Director of The Aluminium Company Limited do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The per-oxides of sodium and potassium have been produced in the laboratory
in minute quantities by oxidizing the alkaline metals by the slow action of the
atmosphere with a final treatment by oxygen gas. So far as I am aware these
experiments have always been carried on in glass vessels or flasks in which the
oxidation has been carried on very slowly so as to prevent the generation of intense
heat, as otherwise, the alkaline oxide, or metal would combine with and destroy
the glass. After a series of experiments I have discovered a means whereby the
per-oxides or the higher oxides of the alkaline metals may be manufactured in a
rapid and continuous manner, so as to produce the material in a commercial manner,
producing at the same time a uniform quality of product.
Briefly stated the method of manufacture consists of treating the alkaline metals
while contained in aluminium vessels at a temperature of 300 degrees centigrade
to the gradual oxidizing action of a gradually increasing mixture of oxygen and
nitrogen; the pure metal commencing to be oxidized by air almost deprived of
oxygen, while the oxide almost completely oxidized is treated with air containing
the full amount of oxygen; such process may be carried out by means of the.
apparatus hereinafter described reference being made to the accompanying drawings,
in which
Figure is an elevation partly in section, of the apparatus I now propose to.
employ.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation and
Figure 3 an end view.
Within the furnace A, is placed an iron or other pipe B, provided with tightly
fitting end plates C. Opening into pipe B, is the air supply pipe D, provided with
a suitable valve E, the pipe B being also supplied with a suitable escape pipe F.
The furnace may be heated by one or more fireplaces G, or by gas or liquid fuel.
The alkaline metal to be oxidized is placed in aluminium vessels or receptacles H
which may be carried on a species of tram-way carriages I. I deem that it will
be preferable to first heat the furnace to a temperature of about 300 degrees
centigrade after which the receptacles H. having been previously charged with a
small quantity of the alkaline metal are introduced into the pipe B and moved along
'so as to occupy the full length thereof.
Air previously freed from. all moisture and carbon dioxide is then forced or
'drawn through the pipe B until a sufficient amount is passed through the apparatus
to effect a preliminary oxidization after which the amount of air admitted is regu-
lated by valve E, so as to allow a steady and continuous flow of a definite quantity
for any given time. It will be found that the metal will be most rapidly oxidized
at the end of the tube at which the air enters, and it will be possible therefore to
first remove the dishes at that end of the tube replacing them by fresh material in
fresh vessels from the other end of the tube gradually feeding the tram-way
carriages forward to allow of this introduction.
It follows from this method of procedure that the oxide just before being
removed is being subjected to the action of practically pure air, while the metal
at the other extremity of the tube B is being slowly oxidized by air almost deprived
.

page_text: of oxygen, and the intermediate dishes are being proportionately more or less
rapidly oxidized, depending upon their positions.
From the foregoing description it will be evident that the tube B may be made
of aluminium and the alkaline metal placed directly therein; but I do not consider
this such an advantageous method of manufacture.
Dated the 11th day of November 1891..
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of the Oxides of the Alkaline
Metals.
1, HAMILTON YOUNG CASTNER of 115 Cannon Street in the City of London,
Managing Director of The Aluminium Company Limited, 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:-
The per-oxides of sodium and potassium have been produced in the laboratory
in minute quantities by oxidizing the alkaline metals by the slow action of the
atmosphere with a final treatment by oxygen gas.
So far as I am aware these
experiments have always been carried ou in glass vessels or flasks in which
the oxidization has been carried on very slowly so as to prevent the generation
of intense heat, as otherwise, the alkaline oxide, or metal would combine with and
destroy the glass. After a series of experiments have discovered a means
whereby the per-oxides or the higher oxides of the alkaline metals may be
manufactured in a rapid and continuous manner, so as to produce the material
in a commercial manner, producing at the same time a uniform quality of
product.
Briefly stated the method of manufacture consists of treating the alkaline
metals while contained in aluminium vessels at a temperature of 300 degrees
centigrade to the gradual oxidizing action of a gradually increasing mixture of
oxygen and nitrogen; the pure metal commencing to be oxidized by air almost
deprived of oxygen, while the oxide almost completely oxidized is treated with
air containing the full amount of oxygen; such process may be carried out by
means of the apparatus hereinafter described reference being made to the drawings,
filed with my Provisional Specification in which
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section, of the apparatus I now propose to
employ.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation and Figure 3 an end view.
Within the furnace A, is placed an iron or other pipe B, provided with tightly
fitting end. plates C. Opening into pipe B, is the air supply pipe D, provided
with a suitable valve E, the pipe B being also supplied with a suitable escape pipe F.
The furnace may be heated by one or more fireplaces G, or by gas or liquid fuel.
The alkaline metal to be oxidized is placed in aluminium vessels or receptacles H
which may be carried on a species of tram-way carriages I. I deem that it will
be preferable to first heat the furnace to a temperature of about 300 degrees
centigrade after which the receptacles H having been previously charged with a
small quantity of the alkaline metal are introduced into the pipe B and moved along
so as to occupy the full length thereof.
Air previously freed from all moisture and carbon dioxide is then forced or
drawn through the pipe B until a sufficient amount is passed through the apparatus
to effect a preliminary oxidization after which the amount of air admitted is
regulated by valve E, so as to allow a steady and continuous flow of a definite
quantity for any given time. It will be found that the metal will be most rapidly
oxidized at the end of the tube at which the air enters, and it will be possible

page_text: therefore to first remove the dishes at that end of the tube replacing them by fres
material in fresh vessels from the other end of the tube gradually feeding the
tram-way carriages forward to allow of this introduction.
It follows from this method of procedure that the oxide just before being
removed is being subjected to the action of practically pure air, while the metal at
the other extremity of the tube B is being slowly oxidized by air almost deprived of
oxygen, and the intermediate dishes are being proportionately more or less rapidly
oxidized, depending upon their positions.
From the foregoing description it will be evident that the tube B may be made
of aluminium and the alkaline metal placed directly therein; but I do not consider
this such an advantageous method of manufacture.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner it is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
1. The improvements in the manufacture of the higher oxides of the alkaline
metals, which consists in placing the said metals in aluminium or other suitable
vessels, and then submitting them to the oxidizing action of air while maintained
at a temperature of about 300 degrees centigrade, substantially as described.
2. In the manufacture of the higher oxides of sodium or potassium from the
alkaline metals, submitting the material under treatment while maintained at a
temperature of about 300 degrees centigrade, to the gradually increased oxidizing
action of air with a decreasing proportionate mixture of nitrogen as described.
3. In the manufacture of the higher oxides of sodium or potassium the use of
vessels composed of aluminium as described.
4. In apparatus for the manufacture of the higher oxides of sodium or potassium,
an arrangement of parts whereby the material under treatment is gradually submitted
to the increased oxidizing action of air with a decreasing proportionate mixture of
nitrogen substantially as set forth.
5. In apparatus for the manufacture of the higher oxides of sodium or potassium
the use of a metallic containing vessel as described, the apparatus being so
arranged that the contained metal and oxide gradually formed is gradually
submitted to the increased oxidizing action of air with a decreasing proportionate
mixture of nitrogen.
6. The improved furnace for the manufacture of the higher oxides of the alkaline
metals, substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the drawings.
Dated the 17th day of August 1892.
day
August
PHILIP M. JUSTICE, Fel. Chart. Inst. I.A.,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.