IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF CYANIDES OF THE METALS OF THE ALKALIES AND ALKALINE EARTHS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE PRODUCTION OF CYANIDES OF THE METALS OF THE ALKALIES AND
ALKALINE EARTHS." A communication from abroad by Victor Alder, of
Vienna, in the Empire of Austria, Manufacturing Chemist.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th March 1880.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF CYANIDES OF THE METALS
OF THE ALKALIES AND ALKALINE EARTHS." A communication from abroad by
Victor Alder, of Vienna, in the Empire of Austria, Manufacturing Chemist.
This Invention relates to the production of cyanides of the metals of the alkalies
and alkaline earths, and consists in the employment of nitrogen gas in closed
vessels, as hereinafter described.
According to one modification of this Invention such oxides, hydrates, and
carbonates of the metals of the alkalies and alkaline earths as yield fire resisting
hydrates are heated with charcoal in nitrogen gas in a close vessel, and thereby
converted into cyanide. The addition of finely divided iron greatly promotes the
conversion into cyanide, but is not absolutely essential to the success of the
operation.
It is indispensable to completely exclude the oxidising action of the gaseous
products of combustion at the high temperature required, for which reason the
nitrogen gas is employed in closed apparatus.
According to another modification of this Invention the sulphates and sulphides
of the metals of the alkalies are mixed with carbonate of lime and charcoal, and
heated in nitrogen gas, as hereinbefore described, whereby a carbonic acid salt is
obtained in the first place, which is then converted into the required cyanide. In
this case also the employment of finely divided iron greatly assists the operation,
but is not absolutely necessary.
According to another modification of this Invention the sulphates and sulphides
of the metals of the alkalies are heated in nitrogen gas in a closed vessel with

page_text: charcoal, and a metal capable of combining readily with sulphur, such, for example,
as iron, zinc, or copper, or with caustic lime, or with a mixture of the latter with
any of the before mentioned metals, whereby the corresponding cyanide is readily
obtained.
According to a further modification of this Invention the sulphides of the metals
of the alkaline earths are heated with carburetted hydrogen gas and other products
obtained by the dry distillation of wood or common coal, or brown coal, or lignite,
whereby an oxide or carbonate of the metal under treatment is obtained in the
first place, which products are then converted into cyanide by the process first
herein before described.
The requisite large quantity of nitrogen gas is obtained from atmospheric air by
abstracting the oxygen from the latter by the employment of a suitable sulphide
of the metal of the alkalies or alkaline earths, preferably sulphide of barium, for
which purpose the air is caused to pass through a mixture of moistened sulphide
of barium, for example, and saw dust, lumps of, charcoal, chaff, and the like, either
by exhaustion or pressure; or a solution of sulphide of barium may be caused to
flow over porous substances, such, for example, as wood charcoal, pumice stone, and
the like in suitable vessels, whilst a stream of air is caused to pass in the opposite
direction, by which means the air is deprived of its oxygen, as required.
The nitrogen gas is dried and heated before being used.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
September 1880.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF CYANIDES OF THE METALS
OF THE ALKALIES AND ALKALINE EARTHS." A communication from abroad by
Victor Alder, of Vienna, in the Empire of Austria, Manufacturing Chemist..
The said Invention relates to the production in the manner hereinafter described
of cyanides of the metals of the alkalies and alkaline earths by the employment
of nitrogen gas in closed vessels.
According to one modification of the said Invention such oxides, hydrates, and
carbonates of the metals of the alkalies and alkaline earths as yield fire resisting
hydrates are heated with charcoal in nitrogen gas in a close vessel, and thereby
converted into cyanide. The addition of finely divided iron greatly promotes the
conversion into cyanide, but is not absolutely essential to the success of the
operation.
It is indispensable to completely exclude the oxidising action of the gaseous products
of combustion at the high temperature required, for which reason the nitrogen gas
is employed in closed apparatus.
According to another modification of the said Invention the sulphates and
sulphides of the metals of the alkalies are mixed with carbonate of lime and
charcoal, and heated in nitrogen gas, as hereinbefore described, whereby a carbonate
is obtained in the first place, which is then converted into the required cyanide.
In this case also the employment of finely divided iron greatly assists the operation,
but is not absolutely necessary.
According to another modification of the said Invention the sulphates and
sulphides of the metals of the alkalies are heated in nitrogen gas in a closed vessel
with charcoal, and a metal capable of combining readily with sulphur under the
action of heat, such, for example, as iron, zinc, or copper; or in lieu of the metal
caustic lime may be employed; or a mixture of caustic lime with any of the
before mentioned metals may be used, whereby the corresponding cyanide is readily
obtained.
According to a further modification of the said Invention the sulphides of the
metals of the alkaline earths are heated with liquid or semi liquid tar, or the like,
carburretted hydrogen, and other products obtained by the dry distillation of
wood or common coal, or brown coal, or lignite, whereby an oxide or carbonate of
the metal under treatment or a mixture of the two is obtained in the first place,
which products are then converted into cyanide by the process first hereinbefore
described.
The requisite large quantity of nitrogen gas is obtained from atmospheric air by
abstracting the oxygen from the latter by the employment of a suitable sulphide
of the metal of the alkalies or alkaline earths, preferably sulphide of barium, for
which purpose the air is caused to pass through a mixture of moistened sulphide
of barium (for example) and saw dust, lumps of charcoal, chaff, and the like, either
-by-exhaustion or pressure; or a solution of sulphide-of-barium may be caused to
flow over porous substances, such, for example, as wood charcoal, pumice stone,
and the like in suitable vessels, whilst a stream of air is caused to pass in the
opposite direction, by which means the air is deprived of its oxygen, as required.
The nitrogen gas is dried and heated before being used.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original

page_text: and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The conversion of the oxydes, hydrates, carbonates, sulphates, or sulphides
of the metals of the alkalies and alkaline earths into cyanide by the employment
of nitrogen gas in closed vessels, the conversion being effected substantially in the
manner herein before described.
Secondly. The production of nitrogen gas from atmospheric air, substantially in
the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Specifi-
cation set any hand and seal, this Seventh day of September, One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.