An Improved Process for Purifying Acetylene, and Apparatus for same.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left. 2nd Mar., 1899-Accepted, 21st Oct., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process for Purifying Acetylene, and Apparatus
for same.
I, Dr. GEORG DÖLLNER, of 2, Mühlen Strasse, of Rixdorf, near Berlin, Kingdom
of Prussia, German Empire, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:
This invention relates to an improved process for purifying acetylene, and
apparatus for same, and has for its object to remove all impurities or detrimental
products of the acetylene, said products arising principally from the impurities
in the calcium-carbide.
The process is based upon the fact, that the acid solution of the metal salts,
as also their acid-oxides, as far as the same are soluble in water or in acids,
have proved suitable for employment to remove all impurities in the acetylene
simultaneously in one operation.
Hitherto it has been proposed to employ means to remove from the acetylene
the impurities (one or more) separately, this system however has not resulted
in a practicable serviceable process which would thoroughly and entirely purify
the acetylene.
Furthermore it has also been tried to remove these impurities by employing
strong oxydation means. Also this system has not proved serviceable; more-
over, by the oxydation of the acetylene, also considerable losses of this valuable
gas take place.
My improved acetylene purifying substance, consists in its chemical com-
position of acid solutions of metallic salts, more especially of such metallic salts,
which in an alkaline condition possess a special affinity for acetylene, as well
as such salts, which form several series of compounds.
The following mixture has for instance been found especially suitable for
the said purpose of purifying acetylene; this mixture is produced in the manner
hereinafter given and is intended simply as an example of my process.
Chloride of iron is dissolved in diluted muriatic acid and a further quantity of
water then added as necessary. The so-obtained solution is then employed for
the production of a mass or substance for dry" purifying, by mixing the solu-
tion with porous substances, such as kieselguhr (infusorial-earth), saw-dust,
asbestos, peat, and other similar substances, the whole being mixed together in
such manner, that the liquid becomes fully absorbed, whereby the purifying
mixture assumes the form of a slightly moist plastic powder.
The so obtained purifying substance or mass can also be produced either in
a solid form, by melting the principal or effective components of the substance,
such as the metallic salts, with acid salts or with such substances, which melt in
their crystal water, or lastly with readily melting acids.
I give the following mixtures as examples:
1. A mixture of anhydrous sodium sulphate (sulphate of sodium), chloride of
conner, and so much diluted muriatic or sulphuric acid than when the mixture

page_text: (produced in a warm state) has cooled, nearly the whole of the water of the
added acid becomes bound by the sulphate of sodium, as crystal water.
2. A solution of bichloride or sulphate of quick-silver in melted acid sulphate
of sodium.
3. A solution of chloride of chromium in melted chromic acid, oxalic acid, or
the like.
I however, distinctly state, that I do not limit myself entirely to those above
mentioned mixtures, but regard as my invention all or any combinations of the
above mentioned mixtures in general, as herein before indicated.
Only small quantities of the mixture are necessary in order to thoroughly
purify large quantities of acetylene without any especial loss or detriment to the
acetylene, worth mentioning.
To give an instance:
About 50 gr. of a metallic salt suitably distributed or mixed in the above
described manner suffice, to entirely purify about "20 cbm." of acetylene of
average condition. The effect upon the acetylene itself is so slight, that only
0.3% of the same becomes transformed into other organic compounds, whilst
when strong oxydation means are employed, ten per cent. and even more of the
acetylene is lost by oxydation.
Furthermore the gas need only be conducted through layers which have but
a very slight height, in order to become thoroughly purified.
The following apparatus is described as suitable for use when employing the
herein before specified mass or substance for the purpose of purifying acetylene.
This apparatus consists in general of an outer metal vessel, for instance of
cylindrical form, in which said outer vessel another vessel of acid-proof material,
for instance, clay, enamelled iron or the like, is arranged. This acid-proof vessel
has the purpose to receive the purifying substance or mass.
In cases where the dropping out of the purifying liquid may be feared, which
practically is improbable, a shell or pan of acid-proof material can be arranged
in the outer metal-vessel. This shell or pan may, if desired, be connected to the
said inner vessel, and may also be arranged to receive a quantity of liquid for
the purpose of effecting a preliminary cleansing or washing of the gas by con-
ducting the same into this liquid.
The said inner vessel which may be suspended from the edge of the outer
vessel contains, as herein before mentioned, the purifying substance or mass and
is provided with a cover which is made tight by any suitable packing. Further-
more, the said outer vessel is provided with two gas-pipes located on the upper
and lower sides of the said vessel. The gas passes thus through the apertures
provided in the vessel containing the purifying substance in a direction from
bottom to top, or inversely.
I also arrange in front or behind the gas exit a layer of wool for the purpose
of holding back or retaining traces of acids or other substances which might
be in the gas.
Qu
1
1000
CONI LEIE DIMITIVATION.
An Improved Process for Purifying Acetylene, and Apparatus
for same.
I, Dr. GEORG DÖLLNER, of 2, Mühlen Strasse, of Rixdorf, near Berlin, Kingdom 50
of Prussia, German Empire, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-

page_text: tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an improved process for purifying acetylene, and
apparatus for same, and has for its object to remove all impurities or detrimental
products of the acetylene, said products arising principally from the impurities
in the calcium-carbide.
The process is based upon the fact, that the acid solution of the metal salts,
as also their acid-oxides, as far as the same are soluble in water or in acids,
have proved suitable for employment to remove all impurities in the acetylene
simultaneously in one operation.
Hitherto it has been proposed to employ means to remove from the acetylene
the impurities (one or more) separately, this system however has not resulted
in a practicable process which would thoroughly and entirely purify the acetylene.
Furthermore it has also been tried to remove these impurities by employing
strong oxydation means. Also this system has not proved serviceable; more-
over, by the oxydation of the acetylene, also considerable losses of this valuable
gas take place.
My improved acetylene purifying substance, consists in its chemical com-
position of acid solutions of metallic salts, more especially of such metallic salts,
which in an alkaline condition possess a special affinity for acetylene, as well
as such salts, which form several series of compounds. This solution is absorbed
by porous substances or distributed in other suitable manner over a large sur-
face, so that no considerable losses of pressure can be produced but the longest
possible contact with the cleansing substance will be effected.
The following mixture has for instance been found especially suitable for
the said purpose of purifying acetylene; this mixture is produced in the manner
hereinafter given and is intended simply as an example of my process.
Chloride of iron is dissolved in diluted muriatic acid and a further quantity of
water then added as necessary. The so-obtained solution is then employed for
the production of the mass or substance for "dry" purifying, by mixing the solu-
tion with porous substances, such as kieselguhr (infusorial-earth), saw-dust,
asbestos, peat, and other similar substances, the whole being mixed together in
such manner, that the liquid becomes fully absorbed, whereby the purifying
mixture assumes the form of a slightly moist plastic powder.
The so obtained purifying substance or mass can also be produced either in
a solid form, by melting the principal or effective components of the substance,
such as the metallic salts, with acid salts or with such substances, which melt in
their crystal water, or lastly with readily melting acids.
I give the following mixtures as examples:
1. A mixture of anhydrous sodium sulphate (sulphate of sodium), chloride of
copper, and so much diluted muriatic or sulphuric acid that when the mixture
(produced in a warm state) has cooled, nearly the whole of the water of the
added acid becomes bound by the sulphate of sodium, as crystal water.
2. A solution of bichloride or sulphate of quicksilver in melted acid sulphate
of sodium.
3. A solution of chloride of chromium in melted chromic acid, oxalic acid, or
the like.
I however, distinctly state, that I do not limit myself entirely to these above
mentioned mixtures, but regard as my invention all or any combinations of the
above mentioned mixtures in general, as herein before indicated.
Only small quantities of the mixture are necessary in order to thoroughly
purify large quantities of acetylene without any especial loss or detriment to the
acetylene, worth mentioning.
To give an instance:
About 50 gr. of a metallic salt suitably distributed or mixed in the above
described manner suffice, to entirely purify about "20. cbm." of acetylene of

page_text: average condition. The effect upon the acetylene itself is so slight, that only
0.3% of the same becomes transformed into other organic compounds, whilst
when strong oxydation means are employed, 10% and even more of the acetylene
is lost by oxidation.
Furthermore the gas need only be conducted through layers which have but
a very slight height, in order to become thoroughly purified.
In order to make my invention more clear, I refer to the accompanying draw-
ing, which represents, in what manner my improved process is brought into
execution.
The following apparatus is described as suitable for use when employing the
herein before specified mass of substance for the purpose of purifying acetylene.
This apparatus consists in general of an outer metal vessel a for instance of
cylindrical form, in which said outer vessel another vessel b of acid-proof material,
for instance clay, enamelled iron or the like, is arranged. This acid-proof vessel
has the purpose to receive the purifying substance or mass c, and at its bottom
is provided with drainage holes i.
In cases where the dropping out of the purifying liquid may be feared; which
practically is improbable, a shell or pan d of acid-proof material can be arranged
in the outer metal-vessel. This shell or pan d may, if desired, be connected to
the said inner vessel, and may also be arranged to receive a quantity of liquid
for the purpose of effecting a preliminary cleansing or washing of the gas by
conducting the same into this liquid. e is a packing ring effecting the tightening
between the outer and inner vessels.
The said inner vessel which may be suspended from the edge of the outer vessel
contains, as herein before mentioned, the purifying substance or mass and the
outer vessel is provided with a cover f which is made tight by any suitable pack-
ing. Furthermore, the said outer vessel is provided with two gas pipes gh
located on the upper and lower sides of the said vessel. The gas passes thus
through the apertures provided in the vessel containing the purifying substance
in a direction from bottom to top, or inversely.
I also arrange in front or behind the gas exit a layer of wool, wad or the
like for the purpose of holding back all retaining traces or acids or other sub-
stances which might mechanically be added to the gas.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: —
.
1. An improved process for purifying acetylene, consisting in treating the
acetylene with a solution of an acid salt, more especially of such a metal, which
forms several degrees of oxidation or possesses in alkaline condition a special
affinity for acetylene, said solution being absorbed in a porous substance, or
otherwise distributed over a large surface, as set forth.
2. An improved process for purifying acetylene, consisting in conducting
the acetylene through a mass, composed of a solution of the acid-salts, and bodies
melting at a low temperature, which when cooling again become solid, as set
forth.
3. An improved process for purifying acetylene, consisting in conducting the
acetylene through a mass composed of a solution of the acid-salts, in a body
melted in its crystal water, said solution becoming solid upon cooling, as set
forth.
4. In an acetylene-cleansing apparatus for acid purifying, the combination
of an outer vessel, with an inner vessel of acid-proof material, said inner vessel
having at its lower end perforations, and with two tubes. to supply and conduct
away the gas as set forth.
5. In an acetylene-cleansing apparatus for acid purifying, the combination
of an outer vessel with an inner vessel of acid-proof material, said inner vessel

page_text: having at its lower end perforations, and with two tubes to supply and conduct
away the gas, and with a shell or pan of acid-proof material underneath the said
inner vessel, as set forth.
D
0 1 1
"
1000
GEO. H. RAYNER,
Agent for the Applicant.