Improvements in Obtaining Ammonia, Chlorine, and Hydrochloric Acid from Ammonium Chloride.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 7th Dec., 1886
Complete Accepted, 8th Feb., 1887
Improvements in Obtaining Ammonia, Chlorine, and Hydrochloric
Acid from Ammonium Chloride.
LUDWIG MOND of Winnington Hall, Northwich, in the County of Chester,
Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In my previous applications for patents, Nos. 65 and 66 of the 2nd January 1886
and Nos. 1048 and 1049 of the 23rd January 1886, I have described improvements in
obtaining ammonia, chlorine, and hydrochloric acid from ammonium chloride by the
aid of certain oxides and salts, made into lumps of convenient size and placed into
retorts, cylinders or other apparatus through which I pass at an elevated temperature
the vapour of ammonium chloride and subsequently a current of air or steam.
In order to obtain the ammonia which remains in the apparatus after the first of
these two operations, and which would be destroyed by coming into contact with air
or chlorine at an elevated temperature, I have proposed to pass an inert gas (such as
the gas which leaves the absorbing apparatus of the ammonia-soda-process) through
the apparatus before admitting air or steam into it. I now find that some of the
materials employed in my process retain ammonia in their pores which it is difficult to
remove in this way.
I therefore propose to obtain the ammonia remaining in the apparatus by the aid
of a vacuum produced by an air pump or other suitable means, and if necessary to fill
up the apparatus several times with an inert gas and exhaust it repeatedly by means
of a vacuum before admitting steam or air into it.
I have also proposed to use iron retorts or cylinders as a convenient apparatus for
my process, but I find that iron is acted upon to a certain extent by the vapours and
gases produced in the process, so that it would have to be renewed from time to time,

page_text: I therefore now propose to use iron apparatus enamelled on the inside, or lined or
coated with suitable materials which will withstand the action of the vapours and
gases at the temperature employed, such as gannister, fireclay, carbon, graphite,
plaster of Paris, sulphate of baryta etc. A convenient way of lining an iron retort or
cylinder is to put inside of it a thin earthenware retort or cylinder, a little smaller
than the iron one, and to fill up the space between the two with iron borings or
another suitable material.
I also propose to make the apparatus for my process of nickel or cobalt, or of an
alloy of these metals with others in which they predominate to such an extent as to
make it resist the temperatures and the action of the vapours and gases produced in
my process, but I prefer to use cast or wrought iron or steel plated, covered or lined
with nickel, cobalt or an alloy of these metals such as described.

page_text: Improvements in Obtaining Ammonia, Chlorine, and Hydrochloric
Acid from Ammonium Chloride.
I, LUDWIG MOND of Winnington Hall near Northwich, Cheshire, Manufacturing
chemist, 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:-
In my previous applications for Patents Nos. 65 and 66 of the 2nd January 1886
and Nos. 1048 and 10-49 of the 23rd January 1886, I have described "Improvements
in obtaining ammonia, chlorine and hydro-chloric acid from ammonium chloride" by
the aid of certain oxides and salts made into lumps of convenient size and placed into
retorts, cylinders, or other apparatus through which I pass at an elevated temperature
the vapour of ammonium chloride, and subsequently a current of air or steam. In
order to obtain the ammonia which remains in the apparatus after the first of these
two operations, and which would be destroyed by coming into contact with air or
chlorine at an elevated temperature, I have proposed to pass an inert gas (such as the
gas which leaves the absorbing apparatus of the ammonia soda process) through
the apparatus before admitting air or steam into it. I now find that some of the
materials employed in my process retain, ammonia in their pores, which it is difficult
to remove in this way. I therefore propose to obtain the ammonia remaining in the
apparatus by the aid of a vacuum produced by an air pump or other suitable means,
and if necessary to fill up the apparatus several times with an inert gas and exhaust
it repeatedly by means of a vacuum before admitting steam or air into it.
I have also proposed to use iron retorts or cylinders as a convenient apparatus for
my process, but I find that iron is acted upon to a certain extent by the vapours and
gases produced in the process, and more particularly by the vapour of ammonium
chloride, so that it would have to be renewed from time to time. I therefore now
propose to use iron apparatus enamelled on the inside or lined or coated with suitable
materials which will withstand the action of the vapours and gases at the temperature
employed, such as gannister, fire clay, carbon, graphite, plaster of paris, sulphate of
baryta. A convenient way of lining an iron retort or cylinder is to put inside of it,
a thin earthenware retort or cylinder a little smaller than the iron one, and to fill up
the space between the two with iron borings or another suitable material.
I also propose to make the apparatus for my process of nickel or cobalt, or of an
alloy of these metals with others in which they predominate to such an extent as to
make it resist the temperatures and the action of the vapours and gases produced in
my process, but I prefer to use cast or wrought iron or steel plated, covered or lined
with nickel, cobalt or an alloy of these metals such as described.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is ;
1st. In the process of obtaining ammonia and chlorine or hydrochloric acid from
ammonium chloride, the application of an air pump or other exhaustor to remove the
ammonia from the residuum left after the ammonia extraction process before admitting
air or steam..
2nd. In the process of obtaining ammonia and chlorine or hydrochloric acid from
ammonium chloride, the removal of the residual ammonia left in the reaction chamber
or retort after the first stage, by means of a current of neutral gas alternated with the
formation of a partial vacuum, substantially as described.
3rd. In the process of obtaining ammonia and chlorine or hydrochloric acid from
ammonium chloride, the employment of chambers or retorts of iron plated, coated
inside or lined with a refractory substance such as described, or with nickel or cobalt
or alloy of either or both of these metals such as described, or made of solid nickel or
cobalt or alloy of either or both of these metals, such as described.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant,