A Method of and Apparatus for Obtaining Phosphorus from Materials containing it.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Dec., 1898-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Method of and Apparatus for Obtaining Phosphorus from
Materials containing it.
We, ELECTRIC REDUCTION COMPANY LIMITED, of No. 22, Austin Friars, in the
City of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (as communicated
to us from abroad by William Taylor Gibbs, Electrician, of Electro Chemical
Works, Buckingham, Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada), to be as
follows:-
It has been proposed to distil phosphorus from phosphate of lime or other
phosphorus yielding material by subjecting the material mixed with suitable
reagents and carbonaceous matter to the heat of the electric arc formed between
carbon electrodes inserted into the mixture with their ends nearly meeting. Owing
to the violent ebullition and agitation caused by the intense heat in the material,
particles of carbon and other finely divided matter are carried over with the
phosphorus vapour, rendering the condensed phosphorus more or less impure. The
present invention has for its object to avoid this disadvantage, while retaining all
the advantages of heating the material in a closed chamber by internal heat.
this purpose the chamber, which is made of or lined with refractory material, is
roofed over, the roof having a feed opening and cover and having a passage to a
pipe to conduct the phosphorus vapour to a suitable condenser.
For
Across the chamber from wall to wall extends a rod of graphite at some distance
above the mixture of phosphorus yielding material with the reagents and
carbonaceous matter which occupies the lower part of the chamber.
The two ends of the graphite rod are connected by conductors to the terminals
of a dynamo machine or other source of electricity, supplying electric currents
sufficient to heat the rod to a very high temperature. The heat radiated from the
rod heats the walls and roof of the chamber and the material at the bottom which
also receives heat reflected from the walls and roof.
The material containing phosphorus is thus decomposed the phosphorus being
thus volatilised, and its vapour passes away to a condenser. Instead of one
graphite rod there may be several crossing the chamber at suitable intervals apart
these being connected parallel or in series.
Dated this 9th day of March 1898.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.
A Method of and Apparatus for Obtaining Phosphorus from
Materials containing it.
We, ELECTRIC REDUCTION COMPANY LIMITED, of 22, Austin Friars, in the City of
London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (as communicated to us
Price 811

page_text: rom abroad by William Taylor Gibbs, Electrician, of Electro Chemical Works,
Buckingham, Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada) and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
It has been proposed to distil phosphorous from phosphate of lime or other
phosphorus yielding material by subjecting the material mixed with suitable
reagents or carbonaceous matter to the heat of the electric arc formed between
carbon electrodes inserted into the mixture with their ends nearly meeting.
Owing to the violent ebullition and agitation caused by the intense heat in the
material, particles of carbon and other finely divided matter are carried over with the
phosphorus vapour, rendering the condensed phosphorus more or less impure.
The present invontion has for its object to avoid this disadvantage, while retaining
all the advantages of heating the material in a closed chamber by internal heat. For
this purpose the chamber A shewn in section in the accompanying drawing is made
of or lined with refractory material and is roofed over.
It has a feed opening with plug F a pipe H to conduct the phosphorus vapour
to a suitable condenser and an outlet with plug G for drawing off residue.
Across the chamber from wall to wall extends a rod D of graphite at some
distance above the mixture of phosphorus yielding material with the reagents and
carbonaceous matter which occupies the lower part of the chamber at E.
The two ends of the graphite rod D are held in blocks B of carbon which are
connected by conductors C to the terminals of a dynamo machine or other source
of electricity supplying electric currents sufficient to heat the rod to very high
temperature.
The heat radiated from the rod heats the walls and roof of the chamber and the
material E at the bottom, which also receives heat reflected from the walls and roof.
The material containing phosphorus is thus decomposed, the phosphorus being thus
volatilised, and its vapour passes away to a condenser.
Instead of one graphite rod there may be several crossing the chamber at
suitable intervals apart these being connected parallel or in series.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. The herein described method of obtaining phosphorus from materials
containing it by subjecting these materials mixed with suitable reagents and
carbonaceous matter to heat radiated from an electrically heated rod.
2. The apparatus for obtaining phosphorus, constructed
substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
...
1000
and operating
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.