IMPROVED METHODS OF OBTAINING OXYGEN AND CHLORINE GASES
Year: 1862

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Christopher Binks at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th
May 1862.
I, CHRISTOPHER BINKS, of Parliament Street, Westminster, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED METHODS OF OBTAINING
OXYGEN AND CHLORINE GASES," to be as follows:
My improvements consist, firstly, in causing by any convenient means or
kinds of apparatus or appliances a mixture of hydrochloric acid gas and
oxygen gas, or a mixture of hydrochloric acid gas and atmospheric air, or
atmospheric air mixed with a larger proportion of oxygen gas than the pro-
portion contained in atmospheric air in its natural condition, to be brought in
contact with concentrated or strong sulphuric acid either under ordinary tem-
peratures or under temperatures higher than ordinary ones, in order to effect
the decomposition of the hydrochloric acid with the liberation of its chlorine in
the form of gas..
In conducting this operation I prefer to use the hydrochloric acid gas, the
oxygen gas, and the atmospheric air in their dry state, that is (as regards the
hydrochloric acid gas) free from the vapour of water usually accompanying
that acid when produced from the materials and by the methods commonly
resorted to, and (as regards the oxygen and the atmospheric air) free from
bygrometric or other moisture. And in order to give to the air and the gases
this dryness I resort to any of the well-known methods used for abstracting
Hygrometric water or water derived from any other source, from air or gases.

page_text: But it will be understood that although advantageous to operate with these
elements in their dry state a condition of perfect freedom from moisture is not
essential to my process, for the presence of a small proportion of water only
detracts to a greater or less extent according to its relative proportion from
the relative proportion of chlorine obtained ultimately.
In applying heat to aid or facilitate the reactions that follow on contact of
the said materials with each other, I proceed by heating the sulphuric acid and
throwing into or upon it the gas or air, or gaseous mixture thereof as aforesaid,
using such gas or gaseous mixture at ordinary temperatures; or the same object
can be obtained by previously heating the gas or the gaseous mixture and
applying this to the acid whilst the latter is in the first instance of ordinary
temperatures, or I apply heat to both the gaseous materials and the acid
previously to bringing them into contact. My object in thus applying con-
centrated sulphuric acid as the reagent for effecting the decomposition of hydro-
chloric acid through the conjoint agency of gaseous oxygen is twofold, firstly,
in order to bring into play the power of sulphuric acid to induce (in certain
cases and under certain conditions) the formation of water from its elements
previously existing in some substances in some other form of combination; and,
secondly, to make use of the strong affinity of sulphuric acid for water, whereby
in this case, the water after its formation is retained by the acid, the latter
being always kept so strong that the possibility of any reformation of hydro-
chloric acid through after or secondary reactions is obviated. When in the
above operations. the sulphuric acid (through the gradual accumulation: in it
of the water formed) becomes too. weak efficiently to accomplish the decompo
sition of the hydrochloric acid, it is then reconcentrated by ordinary methods
and reapplied in these operations.
The above process I at pleasure vary as to the kind and order of opera
tions in manner as follows, keeping in view the same or similar kinds of
reactions and results as above for the liquid sulphuric acid used in the
operations just described; I substitute the vapour of sulphuric acid, and cause
this vapour, when mixed with oxygen gas or with atmospheric air or both, to
be brought in contact with dry hydrochloric acid.gas; and I conduct the
operation by bringing these elements into contact under ordinary atmospheric
temperatures, relying for fulfilment of the decomposing actions. upon the
beat naturally evolved on contact, or on the normal action of the sulphuric
acid vapour in eliminating water and retaining it as above described, or
I at pleasure aid the reactions by the application to the materials of
artificial heat..
Secondly, my Invention consists in projecting into or otherwise bringing in

page_text: contact with liquid hydrochloric acid (by means of any convenient apparatus or
appliances) strongly heated oxygen gas or atmospheric air, or a mixture
thereof, in order to effect the decomposition of the acid and liberation from it
of gaseous chlorine. The steam and proportion of vapourized undecomposed
acid that in the operation does or may accompany the evolved chlorine I
separate therefrom in the usual manner by well-known apparatus or con-
trivances.
Thirdly, my Invention consists in the following improved methods of effecting
the well-known reactions between gaseous bydrochloric acid and oxygen gas
when these reactions are applied in the production of chlorine, namely, I cause
the oxygen or the atmospheric air or mixtures thereof to be strongly heated
previously to being mixed or brought in contact with the hydrochloric acid,
using the latter at ordinary temperatures in the first instance, that is,
previously to intermixture, I cause a jet or stream of the heated oxygen to be
projected into the hydrochloric acid; the latter being kept in excess of the
oxygen. I prefer to cause a jet of the hot oxygen to be thrown into the
centre of a flowing stream or current of hydrochloric acid gas held in pipes or
tubes for conveying the products into water for condensation of the water
formed and absorption of the excess of hydrochloric acid with consequent
liberation of the chlorine in the form of gas. This method I use instead of the
ordinary one of diffusing the oxygen through the hydrochloric acid gas, and
then applying heat externally to the vessels or apparatus containing tlie
mixture. I sometimes-find it desirable so får to vary this operation as to add
to the water used for condensation, and separating the products, materials for.
absorbing or combining with the excess or undecomposed portion of the hydro-
chloric acid gas, but which "materials do not absorb or retain the liberated.
chlorine.
; For heating the oxygen previously to intermixture with the hydrochloric
acid, the usual-plan of applying heat externally to tubes through which it flows
may be employed. But in some cases I prefer to procure the requisite heat
for it by one or other of the following methods; namely, first, I mix 'a small
proportion of hydrogen gas with an excess of the oxygen previously 'to the
heating of the tubes used to carry the oxygen, and then, apply heat externally,
to the tubes; second, I cause an ignited jet of, mixed hydrogen and oxygen,
gases to be placed in the centre of a flowing current of the oxygen contained
in pipes or tubes, whereby the requisite. high temperature is given, to the
oxygen before contact with the hydrochloric acid.
Fourthly, the object of my Invention is to facilitate and economise the pro-
duction of oxygen gas, and it consists, first, in projecting into or, otherwise

page_text: bringing into contact with water (by means of any suitable apparatus or con-
trivances) chlorine gas so strongly heated as to effect on such contact the
decomposition of the water; the result of a combination between its hydrogen
and the chlorine forming hydrochloric acid (which is retained by the excess of
water present) and thus liberating its oxygen in the form of gas.
I vary this operation when desirable, by adding to the water so acted upon
any or certain materials capable of combining with the hydrochloric acid formed
or capable of aiding the decomposing action of the chlorine, and of such
materials I prefer to employ magnesia or one or other of the oxides of man-
ganese. The bydrochlorates so formed and retained in the water can be
applied to useful purposes or be used for the reproduction of the chlorine for
its reapplication to these purposes.
Second, this part of my Invention consists in projecting into steam strongly
heated chlorine, using the steam in excess of the chlorine and bringing the
products of the resulting decompositions along with the excess of steam in
contact with cold water for condensation of the steam in excess and absorp-
tion of the hydrochloric acid formed with concurrent separation of the oxygen
in the form of gas, I prefer for this purpose to use a stream or current of water
in order to avoid too great an accumulation of the acid in it and consequent
reaction with the acid and the liberated oxygen, or I obviate this secondary
action by adding to the water substances capable of absorbing or combining
with the hydrochloric acid formed.
The mode of heating the chlorine previously to its contact with the steam
may be one or other of those above described with reference to the heating of
oxygen when that gas is used for the production of chlorine, or I heat
chlorine to be used for the decomposition of steam for the production of oxygen
by igniting, heating, or burning a mixture of chlorine and hydrogen gases
when in contact with or surrounded by an excess of chlorine, and for this
purpose I prefer to cause a jet of mixed hydrogen and chlorine heated up to
combination point, to be placed concentrically within a pipe or tube through
which the decomposing chlorine is made to flow, and then be brought in con-
tact with the steam to be decomposed. The small proportion of hydro-
chloric acid resulting from the combination of the chlorine and the hydrogen
passes along with the heated chlorine in excess, and is finally separated by
passing the whole products of the operation through water or by otherwise
oringing them in contact with water, these products being steam in excess,
undecomposed hydrochloric acid, and gaseous oxygen.
I vary this operation when desirable by using superheated steam of the
temperatures requisite to effect its decomposition on contact with the chlorine,

page_text: using the latter at ordinary temperatures on contact with the superheated
steam, or I prefer in some cases to heat the chlorine as well as to superheat
the steam before bringing them into contact, or to project a stream of heated
chlorine into boiling water.
Fifthly, it is well known that when the higher oxides of manganese, such as
the anhydrous sesqui, and the peroxides are under certain conditions brought
in contact with dry chlorine there result the formation of a chloride of the
metal and the liberation of the previously combined oxygen in the form of
gas; it is also well known that other oxides similarly treated yield like results.
Now my Invention as to this part consists in applying by any suitable means
or apparatus, beated chlorine (previously freed from all moisture) to the
manganese or other oxides, whilst the latter are used in the first instance at
ordinary temperatures, or I heat both the oxides and the chlorine instead of
heating the oxides, or the vessels or apparatus containing them, and then
causing the chlorine to be brought in contact with them under its ordinary
temperatures. The evolved oxygen gas is collected by any and well-known
means and the chloride of manganese is applied to useful purposes or treated
for its recovery in the form of oxides for their reapplication by methods
described by me in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me the
19th May 1860, No. 1240.