IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BENZOL, " NITRO-BENZOL, NITRO-TOLUOL, AND THEIR HOMOLOGUES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Mellor, of Patricroft, in the County of Lancaster,
for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BENZOL,
"
NITRO-BENZOL, NITRO-TOLUOL, AND THEIR HOMOLOGUES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Mellor at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th November 1882.
SAMUEL MELLOR of Patricroft in the County of Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BENZOL, NITRO-BENZOL, NITRO-TOLUOL AND THEIR
HOMOLOGUES"
This invention relates to the production of benzol nitro-benzol, nitro-toluol and
their homologues, and consists
Firstly of new and improved methods of combining the materials of which they
are composed, and of the apparatus in which the re-action takes place and
Secondly of certain novel methods of obtaining benzol, toluol, and their
homologues.
My first method of nitrifying benzol is as follows. I take the ordinary benzol
of commerce and place it in a suitable vessel provided with a stirring apparatus
and allow nitric acid to pass into it direct from the still or cylinder in which it is
made, interposing a condensing apparatus to cool the nitric acid sufficiently before
it drops into the benzol.
My second method for obtaining nitro-benzol, nitro-toluol, and their homologues
direct at one operation is as follows: I pass ordinary coal gas or any other gas
containing benzol, toluol, or their homologues either through or over strong nitric
acid, or a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids, or a mixture of nitric acid and any
other acid capable of assisting the re-action.
The coal or other gas may be forced through any of the above named acids by
means of a pump or a fan, or drawn through a column packed or charged with
some suitable porous material over which the nitric acid (or mixed acids) may be
allowed to trickle, and the gas after passing through this column or cylinder or
+ Drine 11

page_text: other vessel may be washed with water or weak alkaline solution in a scrubber, or
by any other suitable gas-washing apparatus.
By this means I extract the benzol, toluol, or their homologues, and nitrify them
at one operation, sufficiently pure for commercial purposes, and leave a gas with
small illuminating power but very useful for other purposes such for instance as
heating and cooking or for gas engines.
According to my third method the coal or other gas containing benzol, toluol,
or their homologues is subjected to a pressure of four or more atmospheres in a
suitable vessel. By this means a large portion of the benzol is separated and
deposited in a liquid state, whilst the remaining gas will be very efficient for
heating and other purposes above referred to.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Samuel Mellor in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th May
1883.
SAMUEL MELLOR of Patricroft in the County of Lancaster
IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BENZOL, NITRO-BENZOL, NITRO-TOLUOL AND THEIR
HOMOLOGUES
This invention relates to the manufacture of Benzol, nitro-benzol, nitro-toluol
and their homologues and consists firstly of new and improved methods of
combining the materials of which they are composed and of the apparatus in which
the reaction takes place, and secondly of certain novel methods of obtaining benzol,
toluol and their homologues.
According to my first method of obtaining benzol, toluol or their homologues the
coal or other gas containing the benzol toluol etcetera, is subjected to a pressure of
four or more atmospheres in a suitable vessel. By this means a large portion of
the benzol is mechanically separated and deposited in a liquid form, whilst the
remaining gas will be very efficient for heating and other purposes hereinafter
referred to
My first method of nitrifying benzol is as follows. I take the ordinary benzol of
commerce and place it in a suitable vessel provided with a stirring apparatus, and
allow nitric acid to pass into it direct from the still or cylinder in which it is made,
interposing a condensing apparatus to cool the nitric acid sufficiently before it
drops into the benzol: when all or the greater part of the Benzol is nitrified. I
separate the nitro-benzol from the small quantity of aqueous acid which has distilled
over and proceed to wash it in the usual manner.
My second method of obtaining crude nitro-benzol, nitro-toluol and their
homologues direct at one operation is as follows-I pass ordinary coal gas or any
other gas containing benzol, toluol, or their homologues either through or over
strong nitric acid, or a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids, or a mixture of nitric
acid and any other acid capable of assisting the reaction. The coal or other gas
may be forced through any of the above named acids by means of a pump or a fan,
or drawn through a column packed or charged with some suitable porous material
over or through which the nitric acid (or mixed acids) may be allowed to trickle,
and the gas after passing through this column or cylinder or other vessel may be
washed with water or an alkaline solution in a scrubber, or by any other suitable
gas washing apparatus, and all these washings may be neutralized with lime or
alkali and used as a source for obtaining nitric acid for future operations. Instead
of the above the nitric acid may be turned direct from the cylinder in which it is
produced into a suitable vessel through which a current of coal gas or other gas
containing what is technically known as benzol, (that is benzol mixed with toluol
and its homologues) is passing; nitro benzol with nitro-toluol is thus formed and
after passing the gas through a cooling apparatus to facilitate its condensation the
gas may be washed in a scrubber or other suitable apparatus as in the former case.
I also obtain good results by heating a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids and
allowing the fuming nitric acid thus formed to meet in a suitable vessel or tower
(filled or packed with broken glass, fragments of fire bricks or other suitable
substance) a current of coal gas or other gas containing benzol, when chemical
combination immediately takes place and the technical nitro benzol falls to the
bottom of the vessel employed. In those instances where the escaping gas contains
or carries with it traces of nitric acid I arrange for it to pass through or over milk
of lime or other alkaline solution with which the nitric acid combines to form

page_text: 1
nitrate of lime or of the other alkaline base. I employ these washings as a source
from which to obtain nitric acid for use in any of the nitrifying processes already
described. By this means I extract the benzol toluol or their homologues, and
nitrify them at one operation sufficiently pure for commercial purposes, and leave a
gas with small illuminating power, but very useful for other purposes such for
example as heating and cooking or for gas engines.
Having now described the nature and object of my said invention together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect I wish it to be understood that I claim as my invention.
First subjecting the coal or other gas containing benzol, toluol, or their
homologues to a pressure of four or more atmospheres for the purpose of
mechanically separating the benzol toluol etcetera, therefrom as above described.
Secondly. The nitrifying of benzol, toluol, and their homologues by passing into
them or either of them nitric acid direct from the still or cylinder in which it is
formed.
4 1.
Thirdly. The extraction of benzol and toluol, as nitró-benzol and nitro-toluol
from ordinary coal gas, or any other gas containing these compounds by meeting it
in a column, tower, or other suitable vessel (which may or may not be packed or
charged with some suitable porous material) with strong nitric acid, or a mixture of
nitric and sulphuric acids, or a mixture of nitric acid, and any other acid capable of
assisting the reaction..
Fourthly: The formation of nitro-benzol and nitro toluol by passing nitric acid
direct from the cylinder in which it is made into a column tower or other suitable
vessel through which a current of the coal gas or other gas containing benzol or
toluol is passing.
'
Fifthly. The formation of nitro-benzol and nitro-toluol by heating a mixture
of nitric and sulphuric acids and allowing the fuming acid thus liberated to meet
in a suitable vessel a current of coal or other gas as explained above.
Sixthly. The passing of the gas deprived of its benzol etcetera and containing
traces of nitric acid through milk of lime or other alkaline solution which removes
the nitric acid from the gas, and the use of the washings so produced as a source
from which nitric acid may be obtained for future operations.
In witness whereof I the said Samuel Mellor have hereunto set my hand and
seal this tenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty three
-t