IMPROVEMENTS for the Invention of OBTAINING BROMINE AND BROMIDES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis. Leisler, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
North Britain, Merchant, for the Invention of
OBTAINING BROMINE AND BROMIDES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Scaled the 19th May 1865, and dated the 25th November 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Leisler at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th
November 1864.
I, LOUIS LEISLER, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN OBTAINING BROMINE AND BROMIDES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR," to
be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to improved means applicable for obtaining bromine
and bromides from all substances containing that element, whether in large or
small proportion, but peculiarly suitable for the treatment of what is known
as "German chloride of magnesium," of the residuary liquors from sea water,
and of kelp liquors; and the Invention consists mainly in liberating the
bromine from the magnesian or other liquor or substance by the action of
bichromate of potash, and an acid aided by heat, the bromine thus separated
being passed through a condenser containing metallic iron, whereby bromide
of iron is formed, from which pure bromine or another bromide, such as the
bromide of potassium may be obtained by easy processes.

page_text: In practising the Invention, according to one modification, it is preferred to
use apparatus comprising a still, the bottom of which may be of cast iron,
whilst the head is made of lead, is large and dome-shaped, and has attached
to it a curved leaden exit pipe. The exit pipe communicates with a stone-
ware receiver, somewhat in the form of a "Woulfe's bottle," but with provision
for drawing off liquid from the bottom. The receiver communicates through
a leaden connection with a condenser, which consists of a long stoneware pipe.
The still is filled with the liquor up to about the top of the cast-iron bottom,
and heat is applied by means of an ordinary furnace arranged beneath the
still. Whilst the liquor is heating, a saturated cold solution of bichromate of
potash is added until there are about two pounds of the bichromate of potash
to every hundred gallons of the liquor, and the same is thoroughly mixed with
the liquor. Before the liquor reaches a temperature of 150 degrees Fahren-
heit, there is added to it one gallon of hydrochloric acid (previously diluted
with three or four times its bulk of water) for every hundred gallons of liquor
operated upon, and the mixture is immediately stirred to thoroughly inter-
mingle all the ingredients. The head is now put on and the exit pipe,
receiver, and condenser are all connected, and the joints "luted," the con-
denser having been previously filled with wrought-iron turnings, which are by
preference large, light, and of a spiral form. The fire is so regulated as to
keep the liquor steadily and gently boiling, and steam blowing steadily through
the condenser until bromine can be no longer detected. The bromine evolved
with the steam unites with the iron in the condenser forming bromide of iron,
which dissolved by a little water condensed from the steam drops from the
end of the condenser into a vessel placed to receive it. When all the bromine
is evolved the still is opened, the remaining liquor is siphoned off and a fresh
supply poured in, the bichromate of potash and acid added as before, and the
distilling operation repeated. The iron has not to be renewed until after
many operations, as very little of it is consumed during each one.
The bromide of iron obtained in the manner herein-before described may
be converted in the usual manner into bromide of potassium or into other
bromides.
To obtain bromine, the bromide of iron is heated with bichromate of potash
and acid in suitable retorts, and the bromine which distils off is condensed
and collected.
To facilitate the primary evolution of the bromine, fragments of flint or the
like may be placed in the still, or air or steam may be blown through the
liquor to carry the vapours more rapidly to the condenser. Granulated zinc
may be substituted for the iron turnings. Sulphuric or nitric acid may be

page_text: substituted for the hydrochloric acid herein-before mentioned; and hypo- .
chlorite of lime, hypochlorite of soda, red lead, or other substance which will
give chlorine with the acids, and liquors may be substituted for the bichromate
of potash, as may also other chromates or combinations of chromic acid.
Finally, the manner of conducting the process herein-before described may
be slightly varied without materially affecting the results.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Louis Leisler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
May 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LOUIS
LEISLER, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Merchant,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year
or Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Louis Leisler, Her special licence that I, the said Louis Leisler,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Louis
Leisler, my executors, administrators, and assigns should at any time agree
with and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
OBTAINING BROMINE AND BROMIDES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR,"
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Louis Leisler, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
upon the
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Louis Leisler, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to improved means applicable for obtaining

page_text: bromine and bromides from all substances containing that element, whether in
large or small proportion, but peculiarly suitable for the treatment of what is
known as German chloride of magnesium," of the residuary liquors from
sea water, and of kelp liquors; and my Invention consists mainly in liberating
the bromine from the magnesian or other liquor or substance by the action of
bichromate of potash and an acid aided by heat, the bromine thus separated
being passed through a condenser containing metallic iron, whereby bromide
of iron is formed, from which pure bromine or another bromide, such as the
bromide of potassium may be obtained by. easy processes.
In practising my said Invention according to one modification, I prefer to
use apparatus comprising a still, the bottom of which may be of cast iron,
whilst the head is made of lead or stoneware, is large and dome-shaped, and
has attached to it a curved leaden or stoneware exit pipe. The exit pipe
communicates with a stoneware receiver, somewhat in the form of a Woulfe's
bottle, but with provision for drawing off liquid from the bottom. The
receiver communicates with a condenser, which consists of a long stoneware
pipe. The still is filled with the liquor up to about the top of the cast-iron
bottom, and heat is applied by means of an ordinary furnace arranged beneath
the still. Whilst the liquor is heating, a saturated cold solution of bichromate
of potash is added until there are about two pounds of the bichromate of
potash to every hundred gallons of the liquor, and the same is thoroughly
mixed with the liquor. Before the liquor reaches a temperature of 150
degrees Fahrenheit, there is added to it one gallon of hydrochloric acid (pre-
viously diluted with three or four times its bulk of water) for every hundred
gallons of liquor operated upon, and the mixture is immediately stirred to
thoroughly intermingle all the ingredients. The head is now put on, and the
exit pipe, receiver, and condenser are all connected and the joints luted, the
condenser having been previously filled with wrought-iron turnings, which are
by preference large, light, and of a spiral form. The fire is so regulated as
to keep the liquor steadily and gently boiling, and steam blowing uniformly
through the condenser until bromine can be no longer detected. The bromine
evolved with the steam unites with the iron in the condenser, forming bromide
of iron, which, dissolved by a little water condensed from the steam, drops
from the end of the condenser into a vessel placed to receive it. When all
the bromine is evolved the still is opened, the remaining liquor is siphoned off,
and a fresh supply poured in, the bichromate of potash and acid added as
before, and the distilling operation repeated. The iron has not to be renewed
until after many operations, as very little of it is consumed during each one.
The bromide of iron obtained in the manner herein-before described may

page_text: be converted in the usual manner into bromide of potassium or into other
bromides.
To obtain bromine, the bromide of iron is heated with bichromate of potash
and acid in suitable retorts, and the bromine which distils off is condensed
and collected.
To facilitate the primary evolution of the bromine, fragments of flint or the
like may be placed in the still; or air or steam may be blown through the
liquor to carry the vapours more rapidly to the condenser. Granulated zinc
may be substituted for the iron turnings. Sulphuric or nitric acid may be
substituted for the hydrochloric acid herein-before mentioned, and hypo-
chlorite of lime, hypochloride of soda, red lead, chlorate of potash, or other
substance, which will give chlorine with the acids, and liquors may be
substituted for the bichromate of potash, as may also other chromates or
combinations of chromic acid.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be performed, I have to state that I do not restrict
myself to the precise details herein-before described, as the manner of con-
ducting the process may be slightly varied without materially affecting the
results; but that what I believe to be novel and original, and claim as the
Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,
the obtaining of bromine and bromides by improved processes and apparatus,
substantially such as are herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Louis Leisler, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
LOUIS LEISLER. (L.S.)