IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRO- DUCTION OF SULPHURIC ACID
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Neale, of 9, Tavistock Terrace, Upper Holloway, 'in'
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRO-
DUCTION OF SULPHURIC ACID." A communication from abroad by Charles
Eugène Armengaud, Senior, of Paris, France, Engineer.
Sealed the 9th September 1876, and dated the 14th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Neale at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th March 1876.
sex.
JOHN NEALE, of 9, Tavistock Terrace, Upper Holloway, in the County of Middle-
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF SULPHURIC ACID." A communi-
cation from abroad by Charles Eugène Armengaud, Senior, of Paris, France, Engineer.
I take either certain anhydrous sulphates (such for example as those of iron,
zinc, and alumina), which at a high temperature split up into the residual base,
and a mixture of sulphurous acid and oxygen, or I take certain anhydrous
bisulphates (such for example as those of potash and soda), which at a high
temperature split up into neutral sulphates, and a mixture of sulphurous and
oxygen. Either of the sulphates or bisulphates I strongly beat in a retort or
muffle furnace, constructed of brickwork or other resisting material, so as to effect
their decomposition; I then pass the resulting gases over substances (such for
example spongy platinum or the oxides of chromium or of iron or of copper) which
at a moderate teinperature, viz., a dull red heat or somewhat below that tempera-
ture, possess the property of causing the sulphurous acid and oxygen to combine
so as to form anhydrous sulphuric acid. This I condense either alone in a suitable
apparatus, or I cause it to be absorbed by ordinary sulphuric acid so as to form
nordhausen or fuming oil of vitriol. Of the anhydrous sulphates which may be
employed for this purpose, I prefer to use the anhydrous sulphate of peroxide of
iron, and of the anhydrous bisulphates I prefer to use anhydrous bisulphate of
soda, because these compounds when heated evolve a portion of their sulphuric
acid as anhydrous sulphuric acid in addition to the sulphurous neid and oxygen
produced by their decomposition, and require on that account less of the katalytic
or recombining substance or agents.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
Bex.
said John Neale in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th September 1876.
JOHN NEALE, of 9, Tavistock Terrace, Upper Holloway, in the County of Middle-
A communi-
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF SULPHURIC ACID.
cation from abroad by Charles Eugene Armengaud, Senior, of Paris, France, Engineer.
I take either certain anhydrous sulphates (such for example as those of iron,
zinc, and alumina), which at a high temperature split up into the residual base,
and a mixture of sulphurous acid and oxygen, or I take certain anhydrous
bisulphates (such for example as those of potash and soda), which at a high
temperature split up into neutral sulphates, and a mixture of sulphurous acid and
oxygen. Either of the before-mentioned sulphates or bisulphates I strongly heat
in a retort or in a muffle furnace constructed of brickwork or other fire resisting
material, so as to effect their decomposition. I then pass the resulting volatile
products and gases over substances (such for example as spongy platinum or the
oxides of chromium or of iron or of copper) which at a inoderato temperature, videlicit,
at about a dull red heat or somewhat below that temperature, possess the property
of causing the sulphurous acid and oxygen to combine, so as to form anhydrous
sulphuric acid. This I condense either alone in a suitable apparatus, or I cause
it to be absorbed by ordinary sulphuric acid, so as to form nordhausen or fuming
oil of vitriol. Of the anhydrous sulphates which may be employed for this purposo
I prefer to use the anhydrous sulphate of peroxide of iron, and of the anhydrous
bisulphates I prefer to use anhydrous bisulphate of soda, because these compounds
when heated evolve a portion of their sulphuric acid as anhydrous sulphuric acid
in addition to the sulphurous acid and oxygen produced by their decomposition,
and require on that account less of the katalylic or recombining substances or agents.
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,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hercin-before in part
recited Letters Patent is―
First. The production of anhydrous sulphuric acid by firstly effecting by means
of an elevated temperature the decomposition of such anhydrous sulphates as are
capable of being split up into the residual base, and a mixture of sulphurous acid
and oxygen, such for example as the sulphates of iron, zinc, and alumina, and then
recombining the gases thus obtained by passing the same over substances or
compounds, capable at an elevated temperature of reuniting the same, such for
example as spongy or divided platina or oxide of chromium in the manner substan-
tially as herein-before described.
Second. The production of anhydrous sulphuric acid by firstly effecting by means
of an elevated temperature the decomposition of the anhydrous bisulphates of
either potash or soda, such being capable by the application of heat of being split
up into a residual sulphate and into a mixture of anhydrous sulphuric acid,
sulphurous acid and oxygen, and then recombining the sulphurous acid and oxygen
thus resulting, by passing the same over-substances or compounds capable at an
elevated temperature of reuniting the same, such for example as spongy or divided
platina or oxide of chromium in the manner substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Neale, have, to this my Specification, set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy six