Improvements in the Treatment of Tar, and in Obtaining Useful Products therefrom.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 12th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 17th Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Tar, and in Obtaining Useful
Products therefrom.
I JOHN HENRY WILLIAMS STRINGFELLOW of Broad Street House in the
City of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention consists in a method of treating tar without the use of stills, to
obtain useful products and compounds therefrom.
In carrying out my invention, I proceed as follows:—
The tar to be treated is put into a suitable vessel, and a small quantity of
alkaline or other matter, suitable for predisposing the tar to mix with water, is
then added, and the compound is well mixed with water. After this mixing has
taken place, and before the water has time to separate from the tar, a quantity of
oil or spirit is added, and briskly mixed with the tarry compound, when it will be
found that a change has taken place, resulting in the temporary combination of all
the ingredients, but succeeded almost immediately by separation into three parts,
namely (1) a colored oily extract, of light gravity, not miscible in water; (2) a
body of soft, unctuous pitch, containing a percentage of water, and approximating
to the so-called Stockholm pitch in feel and general characteristics; and (3) a body
of discolored free water.
When the separating action has ceased, the oil can be drawn from the top, the
water from the bottom, and the pitch (which is without tack) can be removed. After
a certain point of separation has been attained, the exudation of oil from the pitch
proceeds very slowly, and, moreover, the last oily extract appears to be of a heavier
character, somewhat corresponding to the stages of fractional distillation; therefore,
it is desirable, after the first stage of rapid separation has terminated, to draw off the
fluid, and then, again, after the slow stage is finished, to draw off the remaining
liquid, and remove the pitch to a press, to express as much free oil or water
remaining in mechanical suspension as may be desired. Or the pitch may be
removed to a press directly the slow stage of separation has been reached. If the
compound of tar, water, and oil, is taken directly after mixing, and before separation
has begun, it may be mixed with an earthy matter, or an absorbent material, for
producing the respective results of-(1) an asphalt corresponding approximately to
the natural asphalt used for paving and other purposes; (2) to produce a fuel for
gas-making, firing, and other purposes.
If desired, a given quantity of naphtha may be driven off from the asphalt before
removal.
It will be evident that my invention, whilst still being adhered to in its main
essentials, may be varied and adapted in many ways, according to the several
requirements desired, or most suitable under different circumstances.
The use of heat is not ordinarily necessary to my invention, but it may be
sometimes usefully applied to increase or facilitate the efficiency of the process;
for example, during frosty weather and variations of temperature to maintain the
fluidity of the water the tar or of the compound.
Dated this 12th day of January 1894.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Tar, and in Obtaining Useful
Products therefrom.
I JOHN HENRY WILLIAMS STRINGFELLOW of Broad Street House in the
City of London, Engineer, 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 :-
My invention consists in a method of treating tar without the use of stills, to
obtain useful products and compounds therefrom.
In carrying out my invention, I proceed as follows:-The tar, say, one ton
weight, to be treated, is put into a suitable vessel, and a small quantity, say, about
one per cent. of the weight of the tar; of an alkali, say, anhydrous soda, or other
matter, suitable for predisposing the tar to mix with water, for instance, quillaia
saponaria, to the extent of about 022 per cent., is then added, and the compound is
well mixed with one ton of water, which may be added gradually. After this
mixing has taken place, and before the water has time to separate from the tar,
about one fifth of a ton of petroleum oil, of a specific gravity of about 820° is
added, and slowly stirred into the tarry compound, until the free oil becomes of a
reddish colour. It will then be found that a change has taken place, resulting in
the temporary combination of all the ingredients, but succeeded almost immediately
by separation into three parts, namely (1.) a red coloured oily extract of light
gravity, not miscible in water; (2.) a body of soft unctuous pitch, containing a
percentage of water, and approximating to the so-called Stockholm pitch in feel
and general characteristics; and (3) a body of discoloured free water.
.
While the separating action is progressing, the red oily extract and the water
can be drawn from the vessel, so as to promote the exudation from the pitch, which
remains in the vessel. After a certain point of separation has been attained, the
exudation of oil from the pitch proceeds very slowly, and, moreover, the last vily
extract appears to be of a heavier character, somewhat corresponding to the stages
of fractional distillation; therefore it is desirable, after the stage of rapid
separation has terminated, to draw off the fluid, and then again, after the slow
stage is finished, to draw off the remaining liquid, and remove the pitch to a press,
to express as much free oil or water remaining in mechanical suspension as may be
desired. Or the pitch may be removed to a press directly the slow stage of
separation has been reached. If the compound of tar, water, and oil, is taken
directly after mixing, and before separation has begun, it may be thoroughly
mixed with an earthy matter consisting of one ton of dried powdered clay and four
hundredweight of dry powdered lime, to form an asphalt corresponding approxi-
mately to the natural asphalt used for paving and other purposes. The solid
residuum may also be pressed into blocks and used as fuel, for gas making, or for
firing, and other purposes.
As these solid compounds contain all the benzol and naphtha of the tar, if desired,
a proportion of the volatile matters may be driven off by heat in a suitable vessel or
apparatus, before the compound is used as an asphalt.
It will be evident that my invention, whilst still being adhered to in its main
essentials, may be varied and adapted in many ways, according to the several
requirements desired, or most suitable under different circumstances.
For example, though I have mentioned soda, I may use any other suitable
chemical base possessing alkaline properties to mix with the tar in the first stage.
Again, I have mentioned petroleum as the reagent, but I may use any other hydro-
carbon oil or spirit for the purposes of my invention.
The red liquor before referred to may be treated in stills in the usual way to
obtain the various constituents.

page_text: By the word "tar," I mean gas tar, tarry bitumens, or other solid or semi-solid
bydrocarbon substances having a like nature, and capable of being reduced to a
liquid state.
Where a solid hydrocarbon is employed, it is first melted or otherwise treated, to
bring it down to the consistency suitable for treatment by my process.
The use of heat is not ordinarily necessary to my invention, but it may be
sometimes usefully applied to increase or facilitate the efficiency of the process;
for example, during frosty weather and variations of temperature, to maintain the
fluidity of the water, of the tar, or of the compound.
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. Treating tar in the manner herein described for the purpose of separating the
lighter and heavier constituents as set forth.
2. The process for treating tar herein described, and consisting of subjecting the
tar to the action of an alkaline base or saponifying agent and water; subsequently
introducing thereinto a liquid hydrocarbon reagent, both with suitable agitation,
and finally allowing the compound to stand while separation into three several
parts takes place, which parts are drawn off or removed separately as set forth.
3. In the treatment of tar, subjecting the tar to the action of an alkaline base or
saponifying agent, water, and a liquid hydrocarbon reagent, with suitable agitation,
and mixing the compound thus formed with an earthy matter, to produce an
asphaltous material as set forth.
Dated this 12th day of October 1894.
•
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.