Improvements in the Production of Cyanide of Potassium, and in Furnaces for Producing Cyanide of Ammonium.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 14th Sept., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Production of Cyanide of Potassium, and in
Furnaces for Producing Cyanide of Ammonium.
We, WILLIBALD SCHULTE of Siegen, and FRÉDÉRIC ANTIONE SAPP of
Hillnhütten, both in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturers, 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:-
Our process for producing cyanide of potassium, consists in passing ammonia and
carbonised hydrogen gas, over white-bot bars in the apparatus of Cowper, Withwell
or others, made of refractory materials when these substances are decomposed into
cyanide of ammonium, and the gas of cyanide of ammonium which is thus formed,
is directed into a receptacle in which is some melted potash until the potash is
saturated, when it forms cyanide of potassium.
One mode of effecting the above process is to employ the heated gas of cyanide
of ammonium, as it leaves the apparatus of Cowper, Withwell or others, to fuse the
potash, instead of applying exterior heat to the receptacle. This process maintains
the potash in a thoroughly liquid condition. We will now describe our improved
furnace for the production of cyanide of ammonium from ammonia and carbonised
hydrogen gases with reference to the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1, shows a sectional elevation of our improved furnace or oven.
Fig. 2, shows a plan of the grating at the lower end of the partition.
Fig. 3, shows a horizontal section of the chamber central flue and partition.
A, is the outer skin.
B, is the packing forming the vertical walls.
C, is the dome top.
D, is the centre flue.
E, E, are vertical spaces on one side of central flue.
E', E', are similar spaces on the other side.
F, is a chamber below the grating J'.
G, is the inlet for the gases of combustion.
J, is the inlet for the ammonia and hydrogen gas.
Ji, is the grating at lower end of vertical spaces E, E'.
H, is the outlet.
K, is the top of the flue.
L, is an aperture from the chamber F, to the central flue D.
M, is the grating in the flue.
N, is the partition.
It will be seen that our furnace consists of a chamber A, divided by a central
vertical partition N, into two equal portions, and furnished with bars, a central
flue D, a grating M, and the necessary inlets or outlets, said partition extending
nearly to the bottom and top of the chamber.
The gases of combustion enter below on one side at G, ascend to the top of the
partition, and descend by the other side.
After the gases of combustion are stopped a mixture of ammonia and carbonised
hydrogen gas is conducted in the opposite direction over the heated surfaces, and
into a receptacle filled with carbon, where the cyanide of ammonium is formed.
ديم

page_text: If pure ammonia and carbonised hydrogen gas are placed in an apparatus, such
as those befare, referred to and described, furnished with pipes or gratings of
refractory materials, and conducted in a direction contrary to that of the gases of
combustion, across the highly heated surfaces of the said pipes or gratings, or over
heated partitions, they form cyanide of ammonium.
The gas of cyanide of ammonium leaves either of the above apparatus in a highly
beated condition, and causes, if used immediately, fusion of the potash for the
absorption of cyanide gas. Thus exterior heating is rendered superfluous, or only
a slight amount of it is required.
The ammoniacal gases not decomposed are passed through the furnace again.
The apparatus for carrying out the process is shown in the annexed drawing,
and consists of a furnace or oven B, constructed of refractory material, surrounded
by an envelope of sheet iron A.
The hearth is beneath the grating M, and the gases of combustion which arise
from it, are brought by the pipe G, into the chamber F, placed at the lower part
of the oven, and through the spaces E, arranged in body of the furnace. These
form two groups, right and left, separated by the partition N, and are also formed
of refractory material. They extend from the top of the space F nearly to the
dome C. The gases of combustion descend finally by the spaces E¹, and escape by
the pipe H.
In the centre of the furnace is formed a flue or chamber D, filled with coal or
charcoal.
The pure ammoniacal gases and carbonised hydrogen are introduced by the
opening J, and pass through the space E', in a direction opposite to that of the
gases of combustion, and descend by the spaces E, to penetrate the passage L, in
the flue D, and to be gathered at the exit K. The partitions of the air spaces are
heated to a white heat, with the effect of transforming the pure gases of ammonia
and carbonised hydrogen into cyanide of ammonium, after their passage through
the spaces E, E¹, and the flue Ď.
The cyanide of ammonium leaving the furnace at a very high temperature, passes
into a reservoir of potash, which it fuses, and which absorbs the cyanogen to form
cyanide of potassium.
The free ammonia is collected to serve a new production of cyanide of
ammonium.
The high temperature of this last, enables the heating of the potash to be greatly
reduced, or suppressed altogether.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is ⚫
1. The process of producing cyanide of potassium, by passing ammonia and
carbonised hydrogen gas, through highly heated spaces, made of refractory material,
in a suitable apparatus, whereby these substances are decomposed into cyanide of
ammonium, which being combined with melted potash forms cyanide of potassium,
as herein described and set forth.
2. The process of producing cyanide of potassium by employing the heated gas
of cyanide of ammonium, as it leaves the apparatus of Cowper, Withwell or others,
to fuse, the potash simultaneously with the absorption of cyanide, instead of applying
exterior heat to the receptacle, as herein described and set forth..
3. An improved furnace for the production of cyanide of ammonium from
ammonia, and the carbonised hydrogen gases, consisting of an outer metal skin A,
a chamber in refractory material B, having a central Hue or fire chamber D, and
inside which is a horizontal grating M. The exterior of said chamber is by
preference cylindrical, with a dome shaped top C. The interior of said chamber is
furnished with vertical spaces E, and E, and is divided into two equal parts, by a
vertical partition N, which extends nearly to the top and bottom of said chamber,

page_text: which is also furnished with inlet and outlet pipes, and openings G, H, J, L, as
herein described and set forth.
Dated this 9th day of Awoust 1805
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97 Newgate Street, London, Patent Agent.