An Improved Process, and Means used therein, for the Production of Metallic Sodium and Potassium from Salts of the same.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 25th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 6th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL, SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process, and Means used therein, for the Production of
Metallic Sodium and Potassium from Salts of the same.
I, CLAUDE THEODORE JAMES VAUTIN, of 42 Old Broad Street, in the City of
London, Metallurgist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to the production of metallic sodium and potassium from
salts of the same, and consists in an electrolytical reduction of the fused salts
with a molten cathode of lead or tin to absorb the reduced metallic sodium or
potassium as an alloy with the said cathode and a further treatment of the said
alloy for the distillation of the sodium or potassium by heat and ultimate
collection of the same in a pure metallic condition by condensation, and means
used therein.
To carry my process into effect I charge a pot, vessel, of reverberatory
furnace, with a bath of molten lead or tin and connect this bath as the cathode
of the electrolytical circuit. The electrolyte is formed of fused salts, preferably
chlorides, of sodium or potassium, superposed over the said bath of lead or
tin. Volatilization of the fuzed electrolyte is prevented by a cover or shield.
The pot may conveniently be of-iron or other metal lined to a distance below
the electrolyte with a neutral lining such as magnesia, but exposing the bare metal
to the cathode, in which case the current to the cathode may be connected
anywhere to the metallic pot.
-
The pot, vessel, or furnace, may be heated by external grates and flues or by
injection of gas, but the electrolyte and cathode may be kept in a molten condition
by the internal heating of an excess of electric current.
When the current passes, the sodium or potassium is liberated at or upon the
surface of the molten bath and is absorbed thereby as an alloy.
The alloy may he removed at will by an open exit pipe, of which the inner end
is turned over as a syphon, so that the cathode is not entirely removed. The open
exit pipe is surrounded by a water circulating pipe, controlled by a cock. When
the water is circulating the alloy is cooled sufficiently to become solid and the flow
ceases. When the flow of water is stopped, the molten alloy discharges into a
mould, the mould being elongated in shape to afford the smallest area to oxidation.
divided into halves, and clamped together.
As a further precaution against oxidation of the alloy, I apply a reducing flame
of gas between the open exit pipe and the mouth of the mould.
The alloy, thus produced, is now further treated in a retort or vessel lined with
magnesia or carbon for distillation of the sodium or potassium by heat internally or
externally applied, and the lead and tin are thus freed for further employment as a
cathode.
The distilled sodium or potassium is collected by condensation, in a pure metallic
condition, from the said retorts, in the usual way.
Dated this 25th day of May 1894.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: An Improved Process, and Means used therein, for the Production of
Metallic Sodium and Potassium from Salts of the same.
I, CLAUDE THEODORE JAMES VAUTIN, of 42 Old Broad Street, in the City of
London, Metallurgist, 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 production of metallic sodium and potassium from
salts of the same, and consists in an electrolytical reduction of the fused salts with
a molten cathode of lead or tin, to absorb the reduced metallic sodium or potassium
as an alloy; and a further treatment of the said alloy for the distillation of the
sodium or potassium by heat, and ultimate collection of the same in a metallic
condition by condensation; and means used therein.
And in order that my invention may be the better understood, I now proceed to
describe the same, reference being had to the drawings annexed hereto, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 shows a vertical section of a heated pot or crucible for electrolytical
reduction of the salts of sodium and potassium.
Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section of a reverberatory furnace for the same
purpose, and
Figure 3 shows a convenient form of a distilling apparatus for treatment of the
alloyed metals.
To carry my process into effect I charge a pot A or a reverberatory furnace B
with a.bath of molten lead or tin C, and connect this bath as the cathode of an
electrolytical circuit. The electrolyte D is formed of salts, preferably chlorides,
of sodium or potassium, which are fuzed in the first place in situ by external heat
from the grates E, or by the injection of combustible gas; and anodes, preferably
of carbon G are inserted therein.
The volatilization of the said fuzed electrolyte is prevented by a cover or
shield F.
It is found that when the electrolytical decomposition is in progress, the
electrolyte and cathode may be kept in à molten condition by the internal heating
of an excess of electric current.
The pot A may conveniently be of iron or other metal, liued, to a distance
below the electrolyte, with a neutral lining, such as magnesia, but exposing the
bare metal to the cathode, in which case the current to the cathode may be
connected anywhere to the metallic pot.
When the electrolytical current passes, the sodium or potassium is liberated at
or upon the surface of the molten bath, and is absorbed thereby as an alloy.
The alloy may be removed at will by an open exit pipe K, of which the inner
end may be turned over as a syphon, so that the cathode is not entirely removed.
The said pipe K is surrounded by a water circulating pipe L, controlled by a cock.
When the water is circulating in the pipe L the cathode is cooled sufficiently in
the exit pipe K to become solid, and the flow ceases. When the flow of water in
the pipe L is stopped, the molten cathode discharges, either into a receptacle or
mould, which may be elongated in shape, and divided into halves held together by
clamps; or, the molten alloyed cathode may be delivered direct in a molten
condition into the distilling retort M.
Should the molten alloy be discharged through air into the mould on the retort,
I apply as a precaution against oxidation a lighted reducing flame of gas, between
the open exit and the receiving mouth.
I find it convenient to treat the molten alloy for distillation in the retort M,

page_text: which is lined with magnesia or carbon, by a rod or rods of carbon N, inserted into
a tube or tubes placed transversely through the retort, and rendered incandescent
by a current of electricity passing therethrough.
The non-volatile metal is thus freed from the sodium or potassium by distillation
of the latter, and the former is ready for further use in the electrolytical furnace B
or pot A.
A continued intermittent charge of molten lead or tin may be admitted as a
cathode to the furnace, to replace the cathode withdrawn for distillation, from an
auxiliary heated pot P and conduit Q controlled by a suitable sluice valve R.
The distilled sodium or potassium may be collected by condensation in a
metallic condition from the said retort M by a condensing coil or apparatus S of
usual construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
1st. A process for the production of metallic sodium and potassium by the
electrolytical reduction of their salts, upon an alloying cathode of non-volatile
metal, such as tin and lead, and by the after distillation of the volatile metals from
such alloyed cathode, substantially as described.
2nd. In combination, the apparatus, consisting of a metallurgical pot or furnace,
a molten cathode therein, an auxiliary molten cathode supply-pot thereto, anodes,
and other accessories, and a distilling retort and condensing apparatus, substantially
as described for carrying out my described process.
3rd. In combination with a metallurgical pot or furnace, an open exit pipe for
discharge of molten contents, controlled as to its discharge by a surrounding coil of
water piping, substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of February 1895.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.