Improvements in Obtaining Silver from Ores, Mattes, or Compounds Containing it.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 5th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 8th Nov., 1887
Improvements in Obtaining Silver from Ores, Mattes, or Compounds
Containing it.
A communication from GEORGE THOMSON, of The New Jersey Extraction Works,
Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States of America, Metallurgist.
1, EDMUND HUNT, of 87 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object the treatment of ores, mattes, or compounds
containing silver in an improved manner for the purpose of obtaining the silver
economically and comparatively free from impurities.
"
In carrying out the Invention the ores, mattes or compounds are first pulverised and
then roasted in any suitable apparatus until nearly all the sulphur present has been
driven off. Sulphuric acid or any compound such as "nitre cake' or sulphate of
iron which will yield sulphuric acid is then added in quantity equal to from 5 to 10
per centum by weight of the ores, mattes, or compounds and heat is again applied,
the silver present being thereby converted into sulphate of silver.
The compound is next put into vats and a solution of chloride of sodium or other
chloride is added in sufficient quantity to convert the sulphate of silver into chloride
of silver; and thereafter the soluble inetallic salts are washed out with water.
The chloride of silver is separated from other remaining constituents of the original
materials by using any known solvent of it, preference being given to a concentrated
solution of chloride of sodium. The solution of chloride of sodium containing the
chloride of silver also in solution after being decanted or filtered from insoluble matters
is diluted in order to precipitate the chloride of silver, which after separation from the
solution is treated in any known way to obtain metallic silver.

page_text: Improvements in Obtaining Silver from Ores, Mattes, or Compounds
Containing it.
A communication from GEORGE THOMSON, of The New Jersey Extraction Works,
Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States of America, Metallurgist.
I, EDMUND HUNT, of 87 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Patent Agent, 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, that is to say:―
This Invention has for its object the treatment of ores, mattes, or compounds
containing silver in an improved manner for the purpose of obtaining the silver
economically and comparatively free from impurities.
In carrying out the Invention the ores, mattes, or compounds are first pulverised and
then roasted in any suitable apparatus until nearly all the sulphur present has been
driven off. Sulphuric acid, or any compound, such as "nitre cake," or sulphate of iron,
which will yield sulphuric acid is then added in quantity equal to from 5 to 10 per
centum by weight of the ores, mattes, or compounds, and heat is again applied, the
silver present being thereby converted into sulphate of silver.
The compound is next put into vats, and a solution of chloride of sodium or other
chloride is added in sufficient quantity to convert the sulphate of silver into chloride
of silver and thereafter the soluble metallic salts are washed out with water.
;
The chloride of silver is separated from other remaining constituents of the original
materials by using any known solvent of it, preference being given to a concentrated
solution of chloride of sodium. The solution of chloride of sodium containing the
chloride of silver also in solution, after being decanted or filtered from insoluble
matters, is diluted in order to precipitate the chloride of silver, which after separation
from the solution is treated in any known way to obtain metallic silver.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :—
The improved process for obtaining silver consisting in treating ores, mattes, or
compounds with sulphuric acid, converting the sulphate of silver thereby formed into
chloride of silver, and after separating soluble salts, dissolving the chloride of silver
and separating it from remaining insoluble matters substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Data 111
CO 1007