IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHLORATE OF POTASH AND IN THE TREATMENT OF THE MOTHER LIQUOR RESULTING THEREFROM" PRO
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Knowles Muspratt of Seaforth Hall pear
Liverpool in the County of Lancaster and George Eschellmann Ph: D of
Widnes also in the County of Lancaster for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHLORATE OF POTASH AND IN THE TREATMENT
OF THE MOTHER LIQUOR RESULTING THEREFROM"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Knowles Muspratt
and George Eschellmann at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 31st October 1883.
EDMUND KNOWLES MUSPRATT of Seaforth Hall near Liverpool in the County
of Lancaster and GEORGE ESCHELLMANN Ph: D of Widnes also in the County of
Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHLORATE OF POTASH
AND IN THE TREATMENT OF THE MOTHER LIQUOR RESULTING THEREFROM
"
Our present Invention has reference to the Invention for which we applied for
Letters Patent N° 3960 on the 15th August 1883 and has for its object to effect
improvements in the process constituting the said Invention wherein Magnesia is
substituted for lime for the absorption of the Chlorine Gas.
The Magnesia is mixed with water and kept in suspension therein by agitation
and treated with Chlorine Gas as is the case with our aforesaid process. The
produce is liquor containing Magnesium Chlorate and Magnesium Chloride in the
proportions of 5 to 5 equivalents of the latter to one of the former.
According to the present Invention this liquor is boiled down to 75° to 80°
Twaddell and Magnesium Chloride is crystallized out by cooling leaving behind
a liquor containing one equivalent of Magnesium Chlorate to four equivalents of
Magnesium Chloride.
This improved Magnesium liquor is decomposed by heating with Potassium
Chloride into Potassium Chlorate and Magnesium Chloride after which
Potassium Chlorate is separated from the Magnesium Chloride by Crystallization
leaving behind a mother liquor still containing Potassium Chlorate but in such
small proportions (about 5% to 10% of the total Chlorate) as to render its
recovery as Chlorate unprofitable.
2

page_text: This Mother liquor is now treated with Hydrochloric Acid and steam by which
the Potassium Chlorate is decomposed into Chlorine and Potassium Chloride-
This Chlorine may be utilized by absorption by Magnesia or lime as may be
found convenient
The remaining liquor containing an excess of Hydrochloric Acid is then 5
neutralized with Magnesium Carbonate and then consists with the exception of a
very small quantity of Potassium Chloride of Magnesium Chloride which is boiled
down to 85° to 90° Twaddell and allowed to cool and solidify and thus is made
available for sale or for further use (as Magnesin) by reheating it in any known
way converting it into Magnesia contaminated with a small quantity of Magnesium 10
Chloride which contamination will not prevent our using the magnesia over again
in our process.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edmund Knowles Muspratt and George Eschellmann in the
Patent Office on the 28th March 1884.
EDMUND KNOWLES MUSPRATT of Seaforth Hall near Liverpool in the County
of Lancaster and GEORGE ESCHELLMANN Ph: D. of Widnes also in the County of
Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHLORATE OF POTASH
AND IN THE TREATMENT OF THE MOTHER LIQUOR RESULTING THERE FROM "
Our present Invention has reference to our prior Invention for which we obtained
Letters Patent N° 3960 dated the fifteenth day August One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three and our said present Invention has for its object to
effect improvements in the process constituting our said prior Invention wherein
Magnesia is substituted for lime for the absorption of Chlorine Gas.
The magnesia is mixed with water and kept in suspension therein by agitation
and treated with Chlorine Gas as is the case with the process constituting our
aforesaid Invention. The produce is liquor containing magnesium chlorate and
magnesium chloride in the proportion of from about 5 to 5%, equivalents of the
latter to one of the former
According to the present Invention this liquor is boiled down to about from
75 degrees to 80 degrees Twaddell and Magnesium Chloride is crystallized out by
cooling leaving behind a liquor containing one equivalent of Magnesium Chlorate
to about four equivalents of Magnesium Chloride.
This improved magnesian liquor is then heated with Potassium Chloride and
decomposed into Potassium Chlorate and Magnesium Chloride after which
Potassium Chlorate is separated from the Magnesium Chloride by crystallization
leaving behind a mother liquor still containing Potassium Chlorate but in such
small proportions (about 5% to 10% of the total chlorate) as to render its
recovery as chlorate unprofitable.
This mother liquor is now treated with Hydrochloric acid and steam by which
the Potassium Chlorate is decomposed into Chlorine and Potassium Chloride. The
Chlorine may be utilized by absorption by Magnesia or Lime as may be found
convenient.
The remaining liquor containing an excess of Hydrochloric acid is then
neutralized with Magnesium Carbonate and then consists (with the exception of a
very small quantity of Potassium Chloride) of Magnesium Chloride which is
boiled down to from about 85 degrees to about 90 degrees Twaddell and allowed
to cool and solidify and thus is made available for sale or for further use (as
Magnesia) by reheating it in any known way so as to convert it into Magnesin
contaminated with a small quantity of Magnesium Chloride which contamination
will not prevent our using the Magnesia over again in our process.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect we would observe in conclusion that we do not confine ourselves to the exact
proportions and densities above set forth as they may be varied according to
circumstances and conditions but what we consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is :-
First-The manufacture of Chlorate of Potash by the employment of Magnesia
mixed with water in conjunction with chlorine the resulting Magnesian liquor
being boiled down to crystallize out Magnesium Chloride and then decomposed by.
heating it with Potassium Chloride substantially as hereinbefore described.

page_text: Second-The treatment of the mother liquor resulting from the manufacture of
Chlorate of Potash in the manner herein before described with Hydrochloric acid
and with steam so as to obtain Chlorine and chlorido of Magnesium therefrom
substantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof I the said Edmund Knowles Muspratt on behalf of myself 5
and the said George Eschellmann have to this our Specification set my band and
seal this Seventh day of March One thousand eight hundred and eighty four
EDMUND KNOWLES MUSPRATT (L.S.)