Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Crude Acetone.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1892-Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1802
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Crude Acetone.
I, CHARLES LOWE, of Summerfield House, Reddish, near Stockport, in the
County of Lancaster, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in and relating to the manufacture of
crude acetone and the objects of my improvements are
First. To effect novel and economical improvements in the manufacture of crude
acetone from acetic acid, and this is accomplished by submitting to destructive
distillation in any ordinary or convenient apparatus the acetates of strontia or
magnesia instead of the acetates of potash, soda, lime, or baryta hitherto employed.
The resulting crude distillate is larger in quantity and of higher quality as regards
the percentage of pure acetone present, and is also more free from empyreumatic
or other bye-products of decomposition than when the acetates of potash, soda,
lime, or baryta are employed.
Second. To separate from the vapour of crude acetone any carbonic acid
simultaneously evolved during the said process of distillation of the acetates of
strontia or magnesia, and this is effected by drawing or forcing the mixture
of acetone vapour and carbonic acid over or through water solutions of potash,
soda, lime, baryta and strontia or of the hydrates of potash, soda, lime, baryta, or
magnesia either in a pulverulent or semi-fluid condition contained in covered vessels
or chambers, whereby the carbonic acid is absorbed, afterwards condensing in an
ordinary worm or surface condenser cooled by water or artificial refrigeration the
vapour of crude acetone from which the carbonic acid has been by such solutions
or mixtures absorbed or separated; any crude acetone mechanically retained
dissolved or absorbed by such solutions or mixtures is subsequently expelled
therefrom by a current of steam or direct heat applied in or to the vessels etc.,
containing the said solutions or mixtures and in which the operation of separation
or absorption of the carbonic acid has been carried out and is finally recovered by
being condensed in an ordinary worm or surface condenser cooled by water or
artificial refrigeration.
Third. To utilize the bye-products of the said destructive distillation of the
acetates of strontia aud magnesia either after separation by fractional distillation
from or while still mixed with the acetone of the crude acetone obtained by the
said destructive distillation by employing them for the solution of copal or other
suitable gums or resins for the preparation of varnishes, paints, enamels, cements
and the like.
For example, in preparing a varnish suitable for pictures etc., I find that the
following are convenient proportions to employ
:-
20 ounces of crude acetone or the liquid bye-products separated therefrom by
fractional distillation.
4 ounces copal or other gum resin of a similar character, (the mixture to be gently
heated in a closed vessel until dissolved).
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what mannen the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The manufacture of crude acetone by the destructive distillation of acetates
of strontia or magnesia in substitution for the acetates of potash, soda, lime, or
baryta hitherto employed for this purpose.
2. The use and application of solutions in water or hydrated mixtures of potash,

page_text: soda, lime, baryta, strontia, or magnesia for the purpose of separating from the
crude acetone any carbonic acid simultaneously evolved during the destructive
distillation of the acetates of strontia or magnesia substantially as herein
described.
3. The use and application of the bye-products-obtained together with acetone
by the destructive distillation of the acetates of strontia or magnesia the said bye-
products being employed either mixed with acetone or separated from the crude
acetone by fractional distillation-for the purpose of dissolving copal or other
suitable gums or resins for the preparation of paints, varnishes, enamels, cements
and the like.
Dated this 8th day of July 1892
H. B. BARLOW,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agent for Applicant.