Improvements in the Production of Oxide of Iron.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Production of Oxide of Iron.
I, WALTER SMITII ROCK, of Craig Tarra, Saumarez, St. Clements, Jersey, one
of the Channel Islands, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the production of oxide of iron.
According to the invention I expose metallic iron to the action of sea water, or
other water containing mineral salts, in suitable vessels through which I cause the
water to flow, or allow it to circulate, whereby the iron is oxidized; to increase
and accelerate the action of the oxygen in the sea water upon the iron I may
provide pieces of carbon, or of a suitable metal, such as copper, said pieces
being arranged so as to be in electrical connection with the iron.
By these means a large amount of oxide of iron, together with some sulphur
compounds and other compounds of iron, is produced.
The oxide of iron and other compounds of iron are, when required, removed by
suitable means such as by washing, and to further increase the amount of oxide
of iron obtained I can reduce the other compounds of iron to the state of oxide
by heating them in the presence of air.
LL
1011
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Production of Oxide of Iron.
I, WALTER SMITII ROCк, late of Craig Tarra, Saumarez, but now of 1, Beau
Rivage, St. Clements, Jersey, one of the Channel Islands, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement;
This invention relates to improvements in the production of oxide of iron.
According to the invention I expose metallic iron to the action of sea water, or
other water containing mineral salts, in suitable vessels through which I cause the
water to flow, or allow it to circulate, whereby the iron is oxidized; to increase
and accelerate the action of the oxygen in the sea water upon the iron I advan-
tageously provide pieces of carbon, or of a suitable metal, such as copper, the said
pieces being arranged so as to be in electrical connection with the iron.
LD 077

page_text: By these means a large amount of oxide of iron, together with some sulphur
compounds and other compounds of iron, is produced.
The oxide of iron and other compounds of iron are, when required, removed by
suitable means such as by washing, and to further increase the amount of oxide
of iron obtained I can reduce the other compounds of iron to the state of oxide
by heating them in the presence of air.
The accompanying drawing shews various arrangements of apparatus for expos-
ing iron to the action of sea water or other water containing mineral salts.
Figure 1 shews a reservoir a containing sea water and an external closed con-
tainer or chamber 6 having a false bottom 6' and nearly filled with pieces c of iron
or iron and carbon. The container bis fed with sea water through the inlet
pipe which supplies the water to the bottom of the said chamber b, the said
water then flowing up through the iron or iron and carbon and oxidizing the
iron as hereinbefore described, finally escaping through the outlet pipe e.
Figure 2 is an arrangement similar to Figure 1 with the exception that the
inlet pipe d enters the chamber b at the upper end thereof and the outlet pipe e
conveys away the exhausted water from the lower end of the said chamber.
Figure 3 illustrates a plant wherein the chamber is placed inside the reservoir a
and is formed with a perforated top to allow the water to pass into the chamber,
the said water then percolating through the contents of the chamber and issuing
through the outlet pipe e which is fitted to the bottom of the chamber:
Figure 4 is an arrangement similar to that illustrated in Figure 3 with the
exception that the water flows through the chamber b from the bottom which is
perforated to allow of its entrance and escapes through the outlet pipe e, in this
case fitted to the upper part of the chamber;"
Figure 5 illustrates the case where the chamber is placed in the sea; a current
of water ascends through the chamber owing to the chemical action and the result-
ing heat and passes out through the perforations in the upper end of the chamber.
In all the figures arrows indicate the direction of flow of the sea water.
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:-
1. The described process for the production of oxide of iron, such process con-
sisting in exposing iron to the action of sea water or other water containing mineral
salts so as to oxidize it and in separating the oxide formed by washing or in any
other suitable manner, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In a process of the kind described in Claim 1 the employment with the iron
of pieces of carbon or of a suitable metal such as copper, the said pieces being
arranged in electrical connection with the iron, substantially as, and for the
purpose, herein before described.
3. In a process of the kind described in the preceding claiming clauses the
reduction to oxide of the compounds of iron (such for example as sulphur com-
pounds) formed by the sea or other water, by heating in the presence of air,
substantially as herein before described.
Dated the 27th day of March 1899
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.