Metallic Mixtures and Alloys for Effecting Electro-chemical Decompositions.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left. 4th Nov., 1895--Accepted, 11th Jan., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by Dr. L. DIEHL, of Hamburg, Germany.]
Metallic Mixtures and Alloys for Effecting Electro-chemical
Decompositions.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :—
My invention relates to the preparation and application of metallic mixtures and
alloys which, when immersed in a liquid, effect decomposition thereof, as, for
example, when immersed in water, they decompose it causing evolution of hydrogen,
or when immersed in a cyanide solution containing gold, they cause precipitation of
the gold. It is known that generally, two different metals, when in contact in a
liquid, cause voltaic action. According to my invention, in order to obtain more
energetic action, I employ at least three metals, sometimes four, one being a metal
which has an earthy or alkaline earthy oxide such for instance as aluminium or
magnesium. Either of these metals may be mixed in various proportions with two
or three other metals such as lead, tin and zinc. The metals employed may be
comminuted and mixed in various proportions; I prefer however to fuse them
together so as to form a more or less imperfect alloy of a crystalline character, and
then use this alloy in small fragments, shavings, filings or other fragmentary or
granular forms, presenting an extended surface, which may be immersed and
agitated in the liquid to be decomposed, or may be arranged so that the liquid
percolates through them.
Dated this 8th day of February 1895.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Metallic Mixtures and Alloys for Effecting Electro-chemical
Decompositions.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, 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 the preparation and application of metallic mixtures and
alloys which, when immersed in a liquid, effect decomposition thereof, as, for
example, when immersed in water, they decompose it causing evolution of hydrogen,
or when immersed in a cyanide solution containing gold, they cause precipitation
of the gold. It is known that generally, two different metals, when in contact in a
liquid, cause voltaic action. According to my invention, in order to obtain more
energetic action, I employ at least three metals, sometimes four, one being a metal
which has an earthy or alkaline earthy oxide such for instance as aluminium or
magnesium. Either of these metals may be mixed in various proportions with
two or three other metals such as lead, tin and zinc.

page_text: The metals employed may be comminuted and mixed in various proportions;
I prefer however to fuse them together so as to form a more or less imperfect alloy
of a crystalline character, and then use this alloy in small fragments, shavings,
filings, or other fragmentary or granular forms, presenting an extended surface,
which may be immersed and agitated in the liquid to be decomposed, or may be
arranged so that the liquid percolates through them.
For the evolution of hydrogen in neutral solutions I prefer to use an alloy
prepared of 10 parts of lead, 30 parts of aluminium, 20 parts of tin and 50 parts of
zinc. This alloy in any fragmentary or granular form is put in contact with water
in a closed vessel provided, if desired, with a pipe to conduct the hydrogen to a
gasometer or other recipient; or, if the hydrogen is to be used in the nascent state
for chemical reactions the alloy is simply immersed in the liquid containing the
compound which is to be treated.
For the precipitation of gold and silver from their cyanide solutions, I prefer an
alloy containing 5 per cent. of aluminium, 5 per cent. of lead and 90 per cent. of zinc if the
cyanide solution contains about 0.1 per cent. or more of cyanide, and an alloy of
10 per cent. of aluminium, 5 to 7 per cent. of lead and 82 to 85 per cent. of zinc if
the solution contains less than 0.1 per cent. of cyanide. For the weakest solutions
I find it useful to add to the alloy a small quantity of tin, say about I per cent.
The alloys will give the best effect if they are used in the form of turnings or
shavings in intimate contact with gold yielding solutions. This may be best effected
by causing the solution to percolate through a series of boxes filled with the
fragmentary alloy and arranged in such a manner that the liquid passes through
them in an upward direction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A metallic mixture or alloy, consisting of a metal such as aluminium or
magnesium having an earthy or alkaline earthy oxide or several such metals
compounded with one or more of the metals lead, tin, zinc or analogous metals,
the compound being such as to disengage hydrogen from hot or cold water brought
in contact with it.
2. The use of a compound such as is above referred to for decomposition of
water and precipitation of gold and silver from cyanide solutions, substantially as
described.
Dated this 28th day of October 1895
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.