IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF MINERAL HYDROCARBURETS OR BITUMENS FOR THE OBTAINMENT OF A NEW AND USEFUL PRODUCT THEREFROM, APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edwin Powley Alexander at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th April 1880. A communication
from abroad by Léon Jules Lancelot, of Paris, in the Republic of France,
Doctor of Medicine.
EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and British, Foreign, and Colonial Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF MINERAL HYDROCARBURETS OR BITUMENS
FOR THE OBTAINMENT OF A NEW AND USEFUL PRODUCT THEREFROM, APPLICABLE
TO VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Léon Jules
Lancelot, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Doctor of Medicine.
The entire series of carbonides or combustible minerals from asphalte to naphtha
are capable of rendering under a peculiar mode of treatment new & useful product,
consisting of a solid and unctuous material or substance, which is principally
obtained from the naturally or artificially viscous bitumens known as "asphaltes."
This new product or material possesses, in addition to its proper elements, a part
only of the other elements of the bitumen, from which it is obtained notably petrolène.
It is of different colours, according to the nature and purity of the compound from
which it is prepared, but by the peculiar process hereinafter described, which
admits of its production in a state of great purity, its colour varies only from pearl
white to green.
In producing the said new product I proceed in the following manner:-
I mix with the mineral hydrocarburet employed caustic potash in different
proportions, the potash acting immediately upon the liquid imparts thereto a green
tint, and at the same time solidifies it.
Should a small proportion of potash be used the liquid thickens without
completely solidifying, but if, on the other hand, the potash be in excess the liquid
solidifies or congeals.
The said mixture is introduced into any suitable receptacle, and heated to about
150° (302° Fahr.) in order to drive off the naphtha, whilst the petrolène (the
boiling point of which is at a much higher temperature) remains in the liquid.
During the separation of the naphtha brilliant little globules resembling mercury
will be seen to rise to the surface of the liquid, which globules are merely particles
of potassium resulting from the partial decomposition of the caustic potash, the
said particles, by reason of their being surrounded with naphtha, evaporate without
becoming ignited. When the disengaged vapours no longer possess any odour,
and have lost the caustic property imparted to them by the potash, the operation
is finished.

page_text: The contents of the receptacle are then turned into another vessel and left to
cool, whereupon the potash, if it has been used in excess, sinks to the bottom in
the form of a residuum of hydrated potasb, which is removed when the said new
product is still sufficiently warm to remain liquid, or at a temperature of about
50° (122° Fahr.); after it has completely cooled down the said new product will be
found in a solid form.
I may bere remark that the decoloration of the said new product is more
complete when a larger quantity of potash is employed, hence by introducing into
the hydrocarburet an excess of potash subsequent filtration and decolouration may be
entirely dispensed with.
The mixture of hydrocarburet and caustic potash may be heated in an open
vessel, but I prefer for the sake of economy to heat it in a closed vessel, which
permits of the collection of the oil of naphtha, as well as the potassium that it
carried off therewith, and which can afterwards be separated by filtration.
The potash removed in the form of a residuum is transformed into caustic potash,
and may be re-employed in a fresh operation, hence, by this process everything is
utilized, and no useful material is lost.
When sufficiently pure mineral hydrocarburets are used the new product
obtained therefrom is white; with impure materials its colour, owing to the use
of the potash, is never darker than green, and consequently there is no necessity
for decolouring or purifying it; if, however, it be desired to obtain it in its greatest
state of purity it is sufficient to filter it through animal charcoal, and in this case
I may remark that the quantity of charcoal to be employed is relatively small by
reason of the faint colour of the product.
The advantages of the said process are as follows:-
1. The operation is rapid, and only lasts from 5 to 6 hours.
2. All the useful products of distillation are re-collected, and notably the
naphtha.
3. One of the accessory products, namely, the potassium is of considerable value,
thereby reducing the cost of manufacture.
4. The temperature employed need not exceed 150° (302° Fahr.), since the
solidification of the new product does not necessitate the removal of the petrolène.
5. In the case of decolouration by the use of animal charcoal the quantity of
charcoal required is greatly reduced, since the said new product is never highly
charged with colour.
6. All the mineral hydrocarburets can be treated by this process, and amongst
them the least costly, such as asphalte.
The new product thus obtained is an unctuous, inodorous, and tasteless
substance; its colour (when it has not been filtered through charcoal) varies from
pearl white to green; it possesses antiseptic properties which render it valuable
in numerous applications, as, for example, in the preparation of cerates; it absorbs
and retains to a high degree all perfumes, hence it is specially adapted for use in
the manufacture of pomades. The said new product may also be employed as a
substitute for glycerine in all its uses.
In its relatively impure state the said new product may be used for the
preservation of harness and leather work of all kinds; also for the manufacture of
printing ink and blacking, and for lubricating machinery, to which purpose it is
especially applicable by reason of its non-liability to 'become oxydised.
In short
its applications are as general as are those of ordinary greases and oils, which it
replaces with advantage.