IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF ALUM FROM NATURAL PHOSPHATES OF ALUMINA
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Edward Reina Newlands, of Charlton,
in the County of Kent, Analytical Chemist, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF ALUM FROM NATURAL PHOSPHATES OF
ALUMINA."
Sealed the 21st November 1871, and dated the 26th May 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Edward
Reina Newlands at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 26th May 1871.
I, BENJAMIN EDWARD REINA NEWLANDS, of Charlton, in the County
of Kent, Analytical Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of my said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF ALUM FROM NATURAL
PHOSPHATES OF ALUMINA," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the treatment of natural phosphates of
alumina, such, for example, as the rodonda or other natural phosphate
of alumina, in order to obtain therefrom ammónia alum, and consists
in firstly effecting the solution in sulphuric acid of such before-men-
tioned natural phosphates of alumina (by preference when in a divided

page_text: state) as may be soluble therein. The solution of phosphate of alumina
in sulphuric acid thus obtained is separated either by filtration or
decantation from any insoluble impurities which the native phosphate
of alumina may have contained, and to the solution thus resulting
sulphate of ammonia is added in about equivalent proportion to the
alumina contained in the solution in order that ammonia alum may be
obtained therefrom. The mixed solution, if necessary, may be con-
centrated in order that crystals of ammonia alum may be obtained, and
after the separation of the mother liquor from the crystals the same
may be further evaporated in order that other crystals may be obtained
therefrom.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Benjamin Edward Reina Newlands in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 25th November 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
EDWARD REINA NEWLANDS, of Charlton, in the County of Kent, Ana-
lytical Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
34th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Benjamin Edward Reina Newlands,
Her special license that I, the said Benjamin Edward Reina Newlands,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Benjamin Edward Reina Newlands, my executors, administrators,
or 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 “IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF
ALUM FROM NATURAL PHOSPHATES OF ALUMINA," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Benjamin Edward Reina Newlands, my exe,
cutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,

page_text: 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 Benjamin Edward Reina Newlands,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, that is to say :—
My said Invention relates to the treatment of natural phosphates of
alumina, such, for example, as the rodonda or other natural phosphate
of alumina, in order to obtain therefrom ammonia alum, and consists in
firstly effecting the solution in sulphuric acid of such before-mentioned
natural phosphates of alumina (by preference when in a divided state)
as may be soluble therein. The solution of phosphate of alumina in
sulphuric acid thus obtained is separated either by filtration or decan-
tation from any insoluble impurities which the native phosphate of
alumina may have contained, and to the solution thus resulting sulphate
of ammonia is added in about equivalent proportion to the alumina
contained in the solution in order that ammonia alum may be obtained
therefrom. The mixed solution, if necessary, may be concentrated in
order that crystals of ammonia alum may be obtained, and after the
separation of the mother liquor from the crystals the same may be
further evaporated in order that other crystals may be obtained therefrom.
In carrying out my Invention I act firstly upon phosphate of alumina
with sulphuric acid, such phosphate of alumina having, by preference,
been previously reduced to a finely divided condition. The relative
proportion of the sulphuric acid to be added to the phosphate will vary
with the composition of the phosphate of alumina. The amount of
sulphuric acid to be employed may, however, be determined by first
ascertaining the per-centage of phosphoric acid contained in the phos-
phate of alumina. The sulphuric acid employed is to be added in
quantity equivalent to the phosphoric acid present, or, preferably, in
slight excess. I have found that with a phosphate of alumina containing,
say, about thirty-four per cent. of phosphoric acid, the addition of about
its own weight of seventy per cent. acid yields satisfactory results. I
prefer to effect the mixture of sulphuric acid and the phosphate of
alumina in a mixing apparatus such as is commonly employed in
the manufacture of superphosphate of lime. After the phosphate of
alumina has undergone the above-described treatment with sulphuric

page_text: acid I place the result in leaden tanks or cisterns, and add thereto
about a corresponding weight of either hot or cold water, agitating the
mixture for some time. I then allow any insoluble matter to settle, and
the solution is run into one or more leaden tanks provided with a leaden
steam worm or worms such as are now commonly employed in the
manufacture of sulphate of ammonia and for other purposes, in which
tanks I then evaporate the solution, if necessary, until it reaches a
specific gravity of between 1300 and 1400. I then add to this solution
a quantity of sulphate of ammonia equivalent to the alumina present
in solution, well stirring the mixture, which is then allowed to cool and
to remain in a quiescent condition until the crystals of ammonia alum
have been deposited. The crystals of ammonia alum may then be
removed from the mother liquor by means of a ladle, or by any of the
well known processes employed for similar purposes. The crude
ammonia alum thus obtained may, if necessary, be purified by sub-
sequent solution and re-crystallization. The mother liquor may then be
further concentrated by evaporation, and a further crop of ammonia
alum crystals obtained therefrom, as is well understood.
the
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, pro-
duction of ammonia alum from natural phosphates of alumina by firstly
acting upon such natural phosphates of alumina by means of sulphuric
acid, and then adding to such solution sulphate of ammonia in order
that ammonia alum may be obtained therefrom, substantially as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Edward Reina Newlands
have to this my Specification set my hand and seal, this Twenty-
cocond day of November One thousand eight hundred and