IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING CERTAIN METALS PROM SOME COMPOUNDS CONTAINING SUCH METALS, AND IN OBTAINING OTHER PRODUCTS BY THE USE OF CERTAIN COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS
Year: 1850

page_text: DEECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HERBERT GOSSAGE, of Stoke Prior, in the County of Worcester, Chemist, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Seventeenth day of July, in the fourteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Herbert Gossage, Her especial license, full power, solc
privilego and authority, that I, the said William Herbert Gossage, my exors,
adiiors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said William Herbert Gossage,
my exors, adiñors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein men-
tioned, should lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies
and Plantations abroad, and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney,
Sark, and Man, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING CERTAIN
METALS PROM SOME COMPOUNDS CONTAINING SUCH METALS, AND IN OBTAINING
OTHER PRODUCTS BY THE USE OF CERTAIN COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS;" in which
said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, obliging me, the said William
Herbert Gossage, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal..
particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and

page_text: in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be
inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Herbert Gossage do hereby declare that the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof :-
My Invention of "Improvements in Obtaining certain Metals from Com-
pounds containing such Metals, and in Obtaining other Products by the Use of
certain Compounds containing Metals," relates to obtaining metals from certain
metallic compounds which are extensively produced when such native sul-
phuret of iron (commonly called "pyrites") as contains other metals than iron
is used for the production of sulphurous acid gas by the combustion of sulphur
contained in such "pyrites," such gas being applied to the manufacture of
sulphuric acid or of sulphate of soda. (The residuum of such combustion is
commonly thrown away as being a worthless product; it usually contains
compounds of iron, copper, and silver, and I select this kind to uso for this
part of my Invention, and for the purpose of more readily explaing my Inven-
tion, I will use the term "burnt pyrites" to designate this product).
My Invention also relates to obtaining by the use of such "burnt pyrites" a
metallic compound suitable to be used for the production of sulphate of soda
and hydrochloric acid. In adopting one method of effecting this part of my
Invention, I reduce the "burnt pyrites" (which I use) to a coarse powder,
and I add to this an equal weight of impure sulphuret of calcium (which is
a valueless product obtained in the manufacture of alkali, and is commonly
known as "alkali waste"), also one-third part of its weight of sand; I mix
these materials and I introduce a portion of the mixture into an ordinary
smelting furnace (such as is used for the smelting of copper ores), and by the
application of beat I cause the mixture to become smelted or fluxed (in the
same manner as copper ores are smelted or fluxed), thus producing slag and
regulus. I skim off the slag in the ordinary manner, and I tap out the
regulus which I cause to be received in beds of sand. This regulus contains
sulphuret of iron, also copper and silver when the pyrites employed has
contained these last-named metals; I reduce this regulus to powder, and
having ascertained the proportionate quantity of sulphur which it contains, I
add thereto four parts of common salt, and one part of small coal for each one
part of sulphur contained therein; I mix these materials, and add to the

page_text: mixture such a quantity of moistened clay as will give it sufficient cohesiveness
to admit of its being formed into balls, preferring to make these about the
size of a man's fist; I introduce the balls so formed (after being partially
dried) into kilns constructed similarly to those commonly used for burning-
pyrites in the manufacture of sulphuric acid. By the application of heat with
access of air (the heat in the first instance being derived from burning fuel
introduced into the kilns, and upon which the balls are placed, but subse-
quently derived from the heat developed by the combustion of the balls),
these balls undergo combustion, occasioning decomposition of common salt
contained therein, and producing sulphate of soda and hydrochloric acid gas,
also producing chlorides or oxides of metals contained in the regulus employed.
I withdraw from the kilns (at intervals of about six hours) portions of the
solid product of this operation (taking care not to take out such as have not
been sufficiently burnt), and I lixiviate these with hot water, so as to extract
soluble matters therefrom, and I thus obtain a solution containing sulphate
of soda, salt of copper, and chloride of silver. I precipitate silver and copper.
from this solution by means of metallic iron, or by other well known means,
and I concentrate this solution by heat to such a strength, that, when it is
cooled, I obtain therefrom crystallized sulphate of soda; I use the mother
liquors remaining from this crystallization to mix with a further quantity of
regulus and common salt, making due allowance for any common salt such
liquors may be found to contain. The undissolved residuum, remaining
from the lixiviation herein-before mentioned, consists chiefly of peroxide of
iron; but if it should be found by analysis to contain a valuable quantity of
silver or copper, I mix such residuum with an equal weight of "alkali waste'
and one-half its weight of sand, and I cause this mixture to be smelted or
fluxed, and I thus obtain a further portion of regulus which I use for the
production of sulphate of soda and hydrochloric acid, and the extraction of
copper and silver (or one of these metals) therefrom, in the same manner as I
have herein-before described.
"
When the "burnt pyrites" employed contains a considerable proportion of
silver, it will sometimes occur that the proportion of this metal found in the
undissolved residuum of the lixiviation goes on accumulating. In this case
I treat such residuum for the separation of silver therefrom by some of the
processes, herein-after described, as being suitable for such purpose.
I will now describe another method by which I affect this part of my Inven-
tion, namely, the obtaining of metals, sulphate of soda, and hydrochloric acid,
by the use of the product which I have designated as "burnt pyrites." I reduco
the "burnt pyrites" (which I use) to powder, and I add to this an equal

page_text: weight of common salt, and one half of its weight of small coal; I mix these
materials, and I add to the mixture such a quantity of moistened clay as will
give it sufficient cohesiveness to admit of its being formed into balls (preferring
to make these about the size of a man's fist). I introduce the balls so formed
(after being partially dried) into kilns, constructed similarly to those commonly
used for burning pyrites in the manufacture of sulphuric acid, except that I
make these kilns of at least three times the height of those used for burning
pyrites, and I provide channels of communication at the lower part of the kilns
for the introduction of sulphurous acid gas and atmospheric air, and I provide
flues at the upper part of these kilns communicating with a condensing
apparatus, and from thence with a chimney, so as to obtain a draft through
the same. By means of this chimney draft I cause hot sulphurous acid gas
(produced by the combustion of pyrites or of sulphur), together with atmo-
spheric air and steam, to percolate through the kilns containing the balls
lastly herein mentioned, which occasions the coal contained in such balls to
undergo combustion, and thus to communicate sufficient heat to induce such a
reaction of the sulphurous acid gas upon the mixture of "burnt pyrites" and
common salt as to produce sulphate of soda, hydrochloric acid, and chlorides or
oxides of metals. I withdraw from the kilns (at intervals of about six hours)
portions of the solid product of this operation, and I lixiviate this product with
hot water, so as to extract soluble matters therefrom, and I thus obtain a solu-
tion containing sulphate of soda, salt of copper, and chloride of silver (when
the burnt pyrites" employed has contained these two last named metals). I
precipitate silver and copper from this solution by means of metallic iron or
by other well known means, and I concentrate this solution by heat to such
a strength that when it is cooled I obtain therefrom crystallized sulphate of
soda. I use the mother liquors remaining from this crystallization to mix
with a further quantity of "burnt pyrites" and common salt, making duo
allowance for any common salt such liquors may be found to contain.
My Invention relates also to an improved method of obtaining sulphate of
soda and hydrochloric acid by the use of native pyrites, "burnt pyrites," and
common salt, in mixture together. In effecting this part of my Invention I
prefer to use such pyrites as contains copper and silver, or one of these metals,
although pyrites devoid of these metals can also be used advantageously for
this purpose. I reduce the pyrites which I employ to powder, and having
ascertained the proportionate quantity of sulphur which the native pyrites
contains, I add thereto four parts of common salt for each one part of
sulphur contained therein. I also add four parts of burnt pyrites in powder
and one part of small coal for each eight parts of native pyrites employed.

page_text: I mix these materials, and I add thereto such a proportion of moistened clay
as to give to the mixture sufficient cohesiveness to admit of its being formed
into balls about the size of a man's fist. I introduce the balls so formed into
kilns constructed similarly to those commonly used for burning pyrites in the
manufacture of sulphuric acid. By the application of heat, with access of air
(the heat in the first instance being derived from burning fuel introduced
into the kilns, and upon which the balls are placed, but subsequently derived
from the heat developed by the combustion of the balls), these balls undergo
combustion, occasioning decomposition of common salt contained therein, and
producing sulphate of soda and hydrochloric acid, also chlorides or oxides of
metals contained in the pyrites employed. I withdraw from the kilns (at inter-
vals of about six hours) portions of the solid product of this operation (taking
care not to take out such as has not been sufficiently burnt), and I lixiviato
this product with hot water so as to extract soluble matters therefrom, and
I thus obtain a solution containing sulphate of soda, salt of copper, and chloride
of silver. I precipitate silver and copper from this solution by means of
metallic iron or by other well known means, and I concentrate this solution by
heat to such a strength that when it is cooled I obtain therefrom crystallized
sulphate of soda. I use the mother liquors remaining from this crystallization
to mix with a further quantity of pyrites and common salt, making duc
allowance for any common salt such liquors may be found to contain. I have
herein mentioned that hydrochloric acid is one of the products of the decom-
position of common salt when effected by the processes herein-before described.
This acid passes from the apparatus in which the decomposition of common
salt is effected in a gaseous state, and I condense and collect it in a liquid
form by the use of water applied by means of the well known apparatus in
ordinary use for the condensation of hydrochloric acid gas.
My invention also relates to the extraction of silver from such copper and
iron regulus as is rich in this metal, by the use of galena (native sulphuret of
lead), or by the use of hydrochloric acid. In effecting this part of my Invention
I reduce the regulus to powder, and having ascertained the proportionate
quantity of sulphur which it contains, I add thereto four parts of common salt
and one part of small coal for each one part of sulphur contained therein.
I mix these materials and add to the mixture such a quantity of moistene.l
clay as will give sufficient cohesiveness to admit of its being formed into balls.
I burn these balls in kilns in the manner herein-before mentioned for burning
similar balls in kilns, and I thereby obtain a product from which I extract by
ixiviation a solution containing sulphate of soda, salt of copper, and chloride
of silver, and I separate copper and silver, also crystals of sulphate of soda,

page_text: from such solution, by the means I have herein-before described for separating
these materials from similar solutions. The residuum of this lixiviation consists
chiefly of peroxide of iron, but also contains silver and copper. When I use
galena for extracting silver and copper from this residuum, I mix this residuum
with one half its weight of small coal, and such a proportion of clay as will
give sufficient cohesiveness to the mixture to admit of its being formed into
balls. I introduce these balls into a kiln constructed similarly to those used
for burning pyrites in the manufacture of sulphuric acid, except that I connect
a flue from the bottom part of such kiln to a chimney, and thereby obtain a
downward draft of air through such kiln, and I adapt a closely fitting door to
the aperture at the bottom of the kiln, through which the solid products of
this operation are withdrawn. The kiln having been about half filled with
halls, I set fire to these with burning fuel; I continue to introduce balls at
intervals until the kiln is nearly filled. I regulate the admission of air to the
kiln (either by means of a damper in the flue communicating with the
chimney, or by restricting the aperture at the top of the kiln communicating
with the atmosphere), so that the gases passing away shall possess a deoxi-
dizing capability. By these means I reduce oxide of iron contained in the
balls to the metallic state, and I obtain a product from this operation containing
metallic iron. I withdraw portions of this product from the kiln at intervals
of about four hours, taking care to close the channel communicating with the
chimney during the act of withdrawal, also taking care to transfer the hot
product as it is withdrawn into water to prevent oxydation of the iron by the
air.
I ascertain the proportionate quantity of metallic iron contained in this
product, and having also ascertained the proportionate quantity of lead
'contained in the galena which I am about to use, I mix these together in
such proportions that cach four parts of metallic iron contained in this
product shall be mixed with fifteen parts of lead contained in the galena used
(both substances being in powder). I introduce portions of this mixture into
such a smelting furnace as is commonly used for smelting lead ores, and add
thereto suitable fluxes. I cause the mixture to become smelted, thereby
producing lead containing silver, which metal I extract therefrom by some
of the well known means. I also obtain a regulus containing iron, copper,
and some silver; I grind this regulus, and having mixed it with common salt
I treat it in the same manner for the production of sulphate of soda and
extraction of copper and silver therefrom, as I have herein-before described
for the production of sulphate of soda and extraction of copper and silver from
other regulus.

page_text: When I use hydrochloric acid for effecting this part of my Invention, I
take the residuum resulting from the lixiviation of the burnt balls, formed of
regulus and salt, and which I have stated consists chiefly of peroxide of iron,
and having dried this I digest it in a vessel of stone with at least twice its
bulk of liquid hydrochloric acid (heating the mixture by the injection of steam),
using this acid of such strength that it will yield a solution of perchloride
of iron of a specific gravity not less than 1150. I thereby obtain a solution
containing copper and silver, and I separate such metals therefrom either by
means of metallic iron or by other well known means.
I have herein-before mentioned certain apparatus which I have found to
be suitable for effecting the objects of my Invention, but I do not confine
myself to the use of such apparatus, as these may be modified to a great
extent and yet be suitable for such purpose.
I have also mentioned certain proportions in which I use certain materials
in effecting the objects of my Invention, and I have herein stated certain
details of the manner in which I prefer to use such materials for such purpose,
but I do not restrict myself to use these materials in the exact proportions
or according to the precise details herein-before mentioned, as these may be
varied to a considerable extent without deviating from the nature of my
Invention.
I claim as my Invention the obtaining of copper and silver or one of
these metals, also sulphate of soda and hydrochloric acid by the use of the
material I have designated as "burnt pyrites;" firstly, by fluxing this material
with "alkali waste" and thus obtaining metals in the state of regulus, which
I use for decomposing common salt and thereby producing sulphate of soda
and hydrochloric acid, at the same time that copper and silver (when contained
in such regulus) are brought into a state capable of solution by water, from
which solution these metals, or one of them, can be precipitated in the metallic
state or in the state of oxide or chloride, which can be easily reduced to the
metallic state by well known means; or, secondly, by mixing this material
("burnt pyrites") with common salt and small coal, and exposing this mixture
to the action of sulphurous acid gas, so as to produce sulphate of soda and
hydrochloric acid, at the same time that copper and silver (when contained in
such "burnt pyrites") are brought into a state capable of solution by water,
from which solution these metals, or one of them, can be precipitated in the
metallic state or in the state of oxide or chloride, which can be easily reduced
to the metallic state by well known means.
I also claim as my Invention the obtaining of sulphate of soda and hydro-
chloric acid by the use of a mixture of native pyrites, burnt pyrites, and small

page_text: coal, made into balls so as to provide for these being burned in kilns so as to
produce sulphate of soda and hydrochloric acid, at the same time that copper
and silver (when contained in the pyrites employed) are brought into a state
capable of solution by water, from which solution these metals, or one of them,
can be precipitated in the metallic state or in the state of oxide or chloride,
which can be easily reduced to the metallic state by well known means.
I also claim as my Invention the obtaining of silver and sulphate of soda
by the use of regulus of copper and of iron containing silver by mixing such
regulus with common salt and small coal, and forming the mixture into balls
capable of being burned in kilns, so as to produce sulphate of soda, oxide of
iron, and a portion of the silver in a soluble state, also extracting the remaining
portion of the silver by subjecting the residuum (after lixiviation) to heat in
mixture with coal, so as to reduce oxide of iron to the metallic state, and
subsequently causing such metallic iron so obtained to decompose galena, or
effecting the extraction of the remaining portion of the silver by subjecting
the residuum (after lixiviation) to the action of hydrochloric acid so as to
obtain silver in solution, from which it can be precipitated in the metallic
state or in the state of oxide or chloride, which can be easily reduced to the
metallic state by well known means.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Herbert Gossage, have to these
Presents set and affixed my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of
January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and

page_text: En the Matter of Letters Patent granted to WILLIAM HERBERT
GOSSAGE, of Stoke Prior, in the County of Worcester, Chemist,
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING CERTAIN METALS FROM SOME COM-
POUNDS CONTAINING SUCH METALS, AND IN OBTAINING OTHER PRODUCTS
BY THE USE OF CERTAIN COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS," bearing date
at Westminster, the Seventeenth day of July, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty.
MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION entered by the said William Herbert
Gossage with the Clerk of the Patents of England, pursuant to an Act
passed in the fifth and sixth years of His late Majesty's reign, intituled,
"An Act to amend the Law touching Letters Patent for Inventions."
I, the said WILLIAM HERBERT GOSSAGE, do hereby declare that, since the
enrolment of the Specification of my said Invention, I have discovered that
in one of the claiming clauses the words "common salt" have been inad-
vertently omitted in the ingrossment, and that the said claim has thereby
been rendered useless. In order to remedy such omission, I have applied to
Her Majesty's Attorney-General, and obtained his leave to enter a Memo-
randum of Alteration of such part of my said Specification in which the said
omission occurs.
.
And further, I, the said William Herbert Gossage, do hereby declare that,
agreeably to such permission of the Attorney-General, I have inserted in the
said defective claim of my Specification the words "common salt" after the
words "I claim as my Invention the obtaining of sulphate of soda and hydro-
chloric acid by the use of a mixture of native pyrites, burnt pyrites," and
before the words "and small coal," and that the said claim by such alteration
or addition now reads as follows," I also claim as my Invention the obtaining
"of sulphate of soda and hydrochloric acid by the use of a mixture of native
pyrites, burnt pyrites, common salt and small coal, made into balls so as
to provide for these being burned in kilns so as to produce sulphate of soda
"and hydrochloric acid,. at the same time that copper and silver (when
"contained in the pyrites employed) are brought into a state capable of
"solution by water, from which solution these metals, or one of them, can be
65

page_text: precipitated in the metallic state or in the state of oxide or chloride, which
can be easily reduced to the metallic state by well known means.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Herbert Gossage, have hereunto
set my hand, this Tenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
To the Clerk of the Patents.
WILLIAM HERBERT GOSSAGE.
This is to certify, that William Herbert Gossage has applied to me for
leave to enter the above written Memorandum of Alteration of part of the
Specification of his Invention, for which Letters Patent were duly granted
under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at Westminister, the
Seventeenth day of July, One thousand eight hundred and fifty; and on
considering of the said application, and no objection having been made
thereto, I have accordingly granted leave to the said William Herbert
Gossage to file his said Memorandum of Alteration pursuant to the Statute
passed in the sixth year of the reign of His late Majesty, intituled "An Act
to amend the Law touching Letters Patent for Inventions," dated this.
Eleventh day of March, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
MOLYOAKE, Extra.
for England, this Eleventh day of March 1851.
Great Seal
Patent Office.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Tenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord 1851, the aforesaid William Herbert Gossage came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Memorandum
of Alteration aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Memorandum of Alteration aforesaid
was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.