Improvements in the Manufacture of Sodium Biborate or Borax, Sodium Crystal Carbonate or Soda, and other Compounds containing Sodium or Boron, or both.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 24th June, 1891-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Sodium Biborate or Borax,
Sodium Crystal Carbonate or Soda, and other Compounds
containing Sodium or Boron, or both.
I JESSE ASCOUGH of Handsworth near Birmingham Agent do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The improvements here described are the outcome of working upon the lines of
my Patent No. 1430 A.D. 1889 in which I state that my "improved method con-
sists in manufacturing certain compounds by friction, heat, fusing, or fluxing the
equivalent or component parts of such compounds together."
By this my present improved method, while mixing the equivalent or component
parts of these compounds together, I add water in the shape of steam or otherwise
in sufficient quantities to dissolve these equivalent or component parts and thus
facilitate the development of their natural affinities for amalgamation and com-
bination.
As an example of my process:
To manufacture sodium biborate or borax, I take boracic acid and sodium
crystal carbonate in proper proportions mix them in any suitable place or vessel,
and add to them water in the shape of steam or otherwise, in sufficient quantity to
wholly or partially dissolve them and thus hasten the natural affinities they possess
to amalgamate with each other. I drive off the superfluous moisture I then apply
heat until the liquid mass is reduced by evaporation to such consistency that it
will readily form into small crystals, crystalline masses, or granular sodium biborate
or borax.
To hasten the cooling process I transfer the liquid mass (by preference) into
shallow vessels, placed in any cool position, or where atmospheric air can pass
under over and around, or where currents or draughts of air can by blowing, by use
of turbine machinery or where by any other means I can produce condensation or
bring about that state most favourable to crystal or granular formation. Or I can
make use of heat and with or without friction applied to the mass I can drive off
the superfluous moisture and reduce the mass to pulverulent or granular state.
In manufacturing sodium biborate or borax, by admixture of boracic acid and
dry sodium carbonate I make use of a larger quantity of water and proceed in the
same manner as already described.
In manufacturing other boron compounds of less purity from crude boric acid,
calcium borate, tincal, boracite, or other compounds containing boron, I proceed as
before described, but I can use in such cases an extra quantity of water to wash
away impurities, and then finish by any of the processes already set forth.
For production of sodium crystal carbonate or soda, I take its approximate
equivalent parts and I proceed to bring about mixing, combination & crystallization
or granular state as already described for sodium biborate.
can also commence in the ordinary way the manufacture of any of the com-
pounds here referred to and continue the well known processes until the stage is
reached at which the slow production of the crystals of commerce in the ordinary
way would commence. At this stage I remove the impurities and employ heat
with or without friction to evaporate the solution as quickly as possible to such
deusity that small crystals will readily form, or granular mass or pulverulent
products would on cooling quickly result.
HENRY F. TALBOT,
7, Cherry Street, Birmingham, Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Sodium Biborate or Borax,
Sodium Crystal Carbonate or Soda, and other Compounds
containing Sodium or Boron, or both.
I JESSE ASCOUGHI of Handsworth in the County of Stafford, Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
The improvements here described are the outcome of my Patent, No. 1430
A.D. 1889 for manufacturing certain compounds by friction, heat, fusing or fluxing
the equivalent or component parts of such compounds together. By this my present
improved method, while mixing the equivalent or component parts of these
compounds together, I add water in the shape of steam or otherwise, in sufficient
quantities to assist the solution of these equivalent or component parts, and thus
facilitate the development of their natural affinities for amalgamation and com-
bination, but I distinctly avoid the addition of such amount of water as would lead
to loss of time by the necessity for removal of mother liquors consequent on the
production of ordinary borax in large crystals, my object being the manufacture of
sodium biborate, or borax, sodium crystal carbonate, or soda, and other compounds
containing sodium or boron or both, such as sodium borate, and potassium borate
in small crystals crystalline or granular masses or in pulverulent state.
As an example of my process,
To manufacture granular sodium biborate, or borax, I take boracic or boric acid
and sodium crystal carbonate in proper proportions, as, for instance, boracic or
boric acid, 62 lbs., crystal sodium carbonate, 71 lbs., which may be termed
formula No. 1. Or I take boracic or boric acid, 62 lbs., dry sodium carbonate, 27 lbs.,
with water, 44 lbs., or sodium carbonate solution containing these proportions which
may be termed formula No. 2. then mix the ingredients of either of these formula
or I can combine the two formula, as in practice may prove most satisfactory. In
either case place the ingredients in a suitable place or vessel, and add to them
water, in the shape of steam or otherwise in sufficient quantity to wholly or
partially dissolve them, and thus hasten the natural affinities they possess to
chemically combine with each other. If needful to drive off any superfluous
moisture I then apply heat, until the liquid mass reduced by evaporation to such
consistency that on cooling it will readily form into small crystals, crystalline or
granular masses, or become pulverulent sodium biborate, or borax.
To hasten the cooling process I transfer the liquid mass (by preference) into
shallow vessels, placed in any cool position, or where atmospheric air can pass
under, over, and around, or where currents or draughts of air can, by blowing, by
use of turbine machinery, by the use of ice, by the use of the well-known chemicals
used for reducing atmospheric temperature, or where by any means I can produce
condensation, or bring about that state most favourable for small crystals,
crystalline or granular mass, or pulverulent formation. Or I can make use of heat
by any method, and with or without friction applied to the mass, I can drive off
the superfluous moisture, and reduce the mass to granular or pulverulent state.
In manufacturing other boron compounds of less purity from crude boric acid,
calcium borate, tincal, boracite, and other compounds containing boron, I proceed as
described, but I can use in such cases an extra quantity of water for removing
impurities by filtration, subsidence, or otherwise, and then finish by any of the
processes already set forth.
For production of granular sodium crystal carbonate, or soda, I take its
approximate equivalent parts-as for instance, dry sodium carbonate, or refined
alkali, 100 lbs., water, 250 lbs., or sodium carbonate solution containing these
proportions and I proceed to bring about combination, and crystallization, as
already described for sodium biborate.

page_text: I. can also commence in the ordinary way the manufacture of any of the
compounds herein referred to, and continue the well known processes until the stage
is reached at which the slow production of large crystals of commerce in the
ordinary way would commence. At this stage or earlier, I remove the impurities
and at once employ heat, with or without friction, to evaporate the solution as
quickly as possible to such density that small crystals will readily form or
granular masses or pulverulent products will on cooling quickly result.
I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not bind myself to the exact details
here given but I distinctly state that I avoid the production of mother liquors and the
consequent waste and loss of time inseparable from the manufacture of large
crystals.
-
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:-
1st. The manufacture of sodium biborate, or borax, in small crystals, in crystalline
or granular masses, or pulverulent or semi-pulverulent state.
2nd. The manufacture of sodium crystal carbonate, or soda, or other compound
containing sodium, or boron, or both, in small crystals, crystalline or granular
masses, or in pulverulent state, substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of June 1891.
HENRY F. TALBOT,
7, Cherry Street, Birmingham, Agent for the Applicant.