A Process for the Production of Soluble Potassium Salts from Felspar (Orthoclase).
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 2nd May, 1900-Accepted, 2nd June, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Process for the Production of Soluble Potassium Salts from Felspar
(Orthoclase).
I, JOHN GUSTAF ADOLF RHODEN, of 47, Victoria Buildings, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineer and Analytical Chemist, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:
My invention consists of a process for the production of readily soluble
potassium salts from felspar (orthoclase) which contains potash in an insoluble
form and as such cannot be utilized for manurial and manufacturing purposes.
In carrying my invention into effect I mix powdered felspar (orthoclase) with
lime and common salt in any suitable proportions and then heat the mixture in
a closed vessel of iron or other suitable material to a bright yellow heat and
maintain it at that heat for a considerable time. After cooling the mixture it
will be found that the potassium in the felspar is in such a state that it will
combine readily with hydrochloric, sulphuric and other acids to form soluble
salts suitable for manurial and manufacturing purposes.
When preferred the treated mixture may be applied directly as manure
without first subjecting it to the acid treatment.
111
1000
H. B. BARLOW & GILLETT,
Agents for Applicant.
A Process for the Production of Soluble Potassium Salts from Felspar
(Orthoclase).
I, JOHN GUSTAF ADOLF RHODIN, of 47, Victoria Buildings, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineer and Analytical Chemist, 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 relates to a process for the production of readily soluble potas-
sium salts from felspar (orthoclase) which contains potash in an insoluble form
and as such cannot be utilized for manurial and manufacturing purposes.
In carrying my invention into effect I mix in any suitable proportions, felspar
(orthoclase) with lime and common salt, all in a finely powdered condition.
I find that the following proportions give good results in practice, namely:
1 (one) part felspar (orthoclase).
.4 (decimal four) part lime or equivalent weight of lime stone (carbonate of
limel

page_text: '4 (decimal four) part of salt or its chemical equivalent.
These proportions may be varied or modified and are merely given as an
example.
I then heat the mixture either in a closed vessel of iron or other suitable
material or else in an open hearth or blast furnace to a bright yellow heat and
maintain it at that heat for a considerable time, say two to four hours, care
being taken not to melt or fuse the mixture.
The result of the re-action is that the lime attacking the felspar forms with
the latter an easily decomposable silicate of a zeolite nature, the salt, to begin
with, merely acting as a semi-volatilized flux or conveyor to obviate fusion and
to reduce the temperature at which the re-action takes place. After this re-
action has taken place a double decomposition takes place between the zeolite
and the salt causing potassium chloride and another zeolite containing sodium
to be formed. The sodium afterwards partly evaporates from the zeolite but as
a main result of the re-action, the bulk of the potash remains in the mass as
potassium chloride.
After cooling the mixture, which still remains in a powder, it will be found
that the potassium in the felspar is in such a state that it can be dissolved in
water and will combine readily with sulphuric and other acids to form soluble
salts suitable for manurial and manufacturing purposes.
When necessary any ordinary method of separation and purification may be
employed in order to obtain pure potash salts.
When preferred, the treated mixture, which as previously stated will be still
in a powdered condition, may be applied directly as manure without first sub-
jecting it to the water or acid treatment.
The residue, after treatment with water, which, in the case cited, consists of
approximately sixty per cent. of silica, thirty per cent. of lime, and ten per cent.
of alumina can be utilized with advantage in mixtures for making glass and
pottery.
For agricultural purposes an excess of lime is always advantageous as the
Time itself has valuable manurial properties.
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:
The herein described process for the production of soluble potassium salts
from felspar (orthoclase) said process consisting in heating a finely powdered
mixture, in suitable proportions, of felspar, (orthoclase), lime, and common
salt to a sufficient heat to cause re-action without melting or fusion, the chemical
.action depending upon the utilization of a semi-volatilized flux or conveyor,
substantially as herein set forth, for the purposes specified.
Dated this 1st day of May 1900.
H. B. BARLOW & GILLETT,
Agents for Applicant, 17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.