IMPROVEMENTS IN THE IN THE PURIFICATION OF SHALE OILS
Year: 1882

page_text: MANUFACTURE OF AMMONIA AND
LETTERS PATENT to David Urquhart of No 4 The Sanctuary Westininster
in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
IN THE PURIFICATION OF SHALE OILS"
The result partly of a communication made to him from abroad by Dr. Lyon
Playfair at present at New York in the United States of America and partly
of an invention made by himself
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Urquhart at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th August 1882.
"
IN THE
DAVID URQUHART of N° 4 The Sanctuary Westminster in the County of
Middlesex IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF AMMONIA AND
PURIFICATION OF SHALE OILS" [The result partly of a communication made to
him from abroad by Dr. Lyon Playfair at present at New York in the United
States of America and partly of an invention inade by himself]
In order to increase the proportion of Nitrogen which is given off as Ammonia
during the destructive distillation of Shales for the manufacture of Oils, I mix with
the shale, before introducing it into retorts, an Alkali or Alkaline earth, and thus
facilitate the combination of the Hydrogen with the Nitrogen.
The Alkali which I find best suited for this purpose is Lime made either from
Chalk or from Limestone, and I prefer to use this Line slaked and in a damp
condition.
The proportion of Lime or other Alkali to be added to the Shale will vary with
the Nitrogen contained in it, but I usually use from two or three per cent of the
Shale. The Alkali or Alkaline earth keeps back a considerable portion of the
Sulphur in the Sbale, and thus renders the oily products more pure.
I also apply this process to other carbonaceous substances containing Nitrogen,
such as Peat, Coal &c, but in this case I prefer to employ a smaller proportion of
a mixture of Soda and Lime prepared by slaking caustic Lime with a solution
of Soda.

page_text: A much smaller proportion, of this Alkali is sufficient for the purpose, and the
Coke or Charcoal remaining after distillation is less damaged, than if a larger per
centage of Lime only were used.
I also obtain Ammonia from carbonaceous substances distilled by heated air or
gases from their imperfect combustion. In this case I use Lime, slaked with water
only, as it is more economical.
One application of this part of this invention is the obtaining of Ammonia from
Slack and waste coal.
The Slack is mixed with Lime and burnt in a furnace constructed on the well
known Gas Producer principle and the Ammonia is extracted from the gases that
are given off by any known process.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said David Urquhart in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th February 1883.
OF AMMONIA AND IN THE
DAVID URQUHART of No 4 The Sanctuary, Westminster, in the county of
Middlesex IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
6
PURIFICATION OF SHALE OILS" The result partly of a communication made to me
from abroad by D' Lyon Playfair at Present at New York in the United States
of America
In order to increase the proportion of nitrogen which is given off as ammonia
during the destructive distillation of Shales for the manufacture of oils, I mix with
the Shale, before introducing it into retorts, an alkali or alkaline earth, and thus
facilitate the combination of the hydrogen with the nitrogen The Alkali which I
find best suited for this purpose is lime made either from chalk or from Limestone,
and I prefer to use this lime slaked and in a damp condition.
The proportion of Line or other alkali to be added to the Shale will vary with the
Nitrogen contained in it, but I usually use from two or three per cent of the Shale.
The Alkali or Alkaline earth keeps back a considerable portion of the Sulphur in the
Shale, and thus renders the oily products more pure. I also apply this process to
other carbonaceous substances containing Nitrogen, such as Peat, Coal, etc, but in
this case, I prefer to employ a smaller proportion of a mixture of Soda and Lime
prepared by slaking caustic lime with a solution of caustic soda. A much smaller pro-
portion of this alkali is sufficient for the purpose, and the coke or charcoal remaining
after distillation is less damaged than if a larger per centage of lime only were used.
I also obtain ammonia from carbonaceous substances distilled by heated air or
gases from their imperfect combustion. In this case, I use lime, slaked with water
only, as it is more economical. One application of this part of this invention is the
obtaining of ammonia from slack and waste coal. The slack is mixed with lime

page_text: and burnt in a furnace constructed on the well known gas producer principle,
and the ammonia is extracted from the gases that are given off, by any known
process
Having thus described the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I hereby declare that I make no general claim to admixture of
lime with coal distilled in retorts, for the production of gas, this having been done,
but I claim :—
First The manufacture of ammonia from Shales having lime or soda-lime
mixed therewith for the purpose of increasing the amount of ammonia given off on
distillation.
Second-The use of lime or soda-lime in the distillation of shales for the
production of shale oils, freed more or less from sulphur.
Third The use of caustic lime, slaked with a solution of caustic soda, in
admixture with peat, coal or similar carbonaceous substances for the purpose of
increasing the amount of ammonia given off during destructive distillation, and of
improving the oily products of distillation
Fourth-The use of slaked lime or of lime slaked with soda solution in
admixture with carbonaceous substances, for the purpose of increasing the amount
of ammonia given off during their imperfect combustion
In Witness whereof, I the said David Urquhart have hereunto set my hand
and seal this seventeenth day of February, in the year of our Lord, one
thousand, eight hundred and eighty-three.
DAVID URQUHART. (L.S.)