CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF CHLORIDE OF LIME AND CERTAIN OTHER CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES
Year: 1836

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
MAUGHAM, of Newport Street, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, Chemist,
send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-second day of March, in the sixth year of His reign,
did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Maugham, His especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said William Maugham, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Maugham, my exors, adiñiors, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF
CHLORIDE OF LIME AND CERTAIN OTHER CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES;" in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said William Maugham, shall
cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His said Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference
being thereunto bad, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Maugham, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,

page_text: and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon
(that is to say):-
In the ordinary manufacture of the chloride of lime or soda from muriate of
soda (common salt) the soda is in a great measure sacrificed in obtaining the
muriatic acid which is to supply the chlorine in that manufacture, while in
the ordinary manufacture of carbonate of soda, which is also obtained
from muriate of soda, the muriatic acid is lost by being permitted to escape
into the atmosphere. Now, my Invention relates to the application in the
manufacture of chloride of lime or soda of the muriatic acid gas evolved by
the decomposition of common salt by means of sulphuric acid in the first
process of the ordinary preparation of carbonate of soda, whereby sulphate of
soda is produced; and my Invention also relates to converting sulphuretted
bydrogen gas, which is copcously evolved in certain chemical processes, into
culphuric acid
Figure 1 represents a section of the apparatus. A is a pipe communicating
with the retorts or vessels in which muriatic acid in a state of gas is evolved from
the mixture of common salt or muriate of soda with sulphuric acid; in the first
process in manufacturing carbonate of soda in the ordinary way, the pipe A
is inserted into a cylinder of iron or other suitable material B, C, which, after
being filled with black oxyde of manganese broken into tolerably sized
fragments, is closely luted down at its upper extremity B. The manganese is
prevented from falling below the point C by a perforated metallic diaphragm I,
at which point I the cylinder D is attached to the cylinder B, C. The end of
the cylinder D is inserted air-tight into the close vessel E, F, in which water
is placed to about the depth of an inch, which height is regulated by the bent
tube S, the opening at S being so regulated that any greater depth of fluid
in the vessel E, F, shall be discharged at S; the surface of the fluid being
designated by the letters B, B. L, L, is a pipe inserted in the top of the vessel
E, F, which at its extremity communicates with the chamber M, M. This
chamber M, M, is traversed in its length by two or three diaphragms of
platinum wire gause, represented by the dotted lines. Out of the chamber M, M,
proceed tubes N, N, N, of platinum or other suitable material (not pre-
judicially acted on by the operation), traversing any convenient furnace R, R,
whereby they are kept constantly at a red heat. The tubes N, N, N, at their
other extremity, all communicate with the pipe O. O, whose open end is

page_text: immersed about one inch in water contained in a close vessel P.
From the top
of the vessel P a pipe Q issues out, which communicates to the ordinary
apparatus used for saturating lime or soda with chlorine. K is a pipe with
stop-cock inserted in the cylinder B, C, at its upper end, communicating
with, any convenient reservoir of water. G, G, is a jacket of metal incasing
the cylinder B, C, for nearly its whole length, through which, by means of the
tubes H, H, hot water may be made to circulate by being introduced at the
tube H at the upper end of the jacket G, G, and suffered to flow out at the
tube H at the lower end of the jacket, and thus maintain the cylinder B, C,
and its contents at any desired temperature below that of boiling water. The
apparatus thus arranged, a small stream of water is made to flow constantly
over the manganese by opening sufficiently the cock on the pipe K, the
manganese being kept, by means of the circulation of hot water through the
jacket G, G, always at a temperature of not less than a hundred and thirty
degrees of Fahrenheit, the object of this temperature being to prevent the
formation of cuchlorine gas, which is produced during the process at a tempera-
ture much below a hundred and thirty degrees of Fahrenheit. This being pre-
mised, muriatic acid gas is suffered to enter into the cylinder B, C, through the
tube A, which muriatic acid gas traverses the moistened and heated manganese in
the cylinder B, C, by which the greatest portion will be converted into chlorine.
The gas, following the direction of the arrows, passes through the perforated
bottom or diaphragm I into the cylinder B, and bubbles up through the liquid
into the upper part of the vessel E, F, being conducted through the pipe L, L,
through the perforated diaphragms in M, M, and the tubes N, N, N, where, if
any free hydrogen gas has been generated, combustion of that gas ensues, but
which combustion will be prevented from operating backwards by the wire
gauze diaphragins in M, M, which are placed there for safety. After passing
through the tubes N, N, N, the gas continues its course through the pipe
0, 0, where the water in the vessel P will condense any muriatic acid which
may have been formed by any combustion just mentioned in the tubes N, N, N,
and also any which passes over without being decomposed, and thus free.
The chlorine is conducted by the pipe Q to the apparatus in ordinary use
for saturating lime or soda with chlorine. Provision will, of course, be
made to collect any fluid which in the course of the process may flow out of
the pipe S, the object of which pipe is to prevent any stoppage in the process
by an accumulation of water flowing into the cylinder B, C, from the pipe
K, and which water will be. impregnated with a portion of muriate of
manganese formed by the solution of the manganese by that portion of the

page_text: muriatic acid gas which in its passage through the moistened manganese is
not converted into chlorine.
The second part of my improvements consists in the conversion of sulphur-
etted bydrogen gas, which is copiously evolved in certain chemical processes,
into sulphuric acid, and for this purpose I employ the following apparatus,
reference being again had to the Drawing hereunto annexed. Figures 2 and 3
upon the plan represent this apparatus; Figure 2 being a front or cross section,
and Figure 3 a longitudinal section thereof, and the same letters are used in
Figures 2 and 3 to designate the same parts of the apparatus. A, B, C,
is a closed chamber of any suitablo material, in form like a muffle, and
closed at both ends. This chamber is traversed by three cylinders, I, K, L,
similar to each other, which are all scen in Figure 2, but only one, L, L, is
shewn in Figure 3; I, being hid, and K, being supposed to be removed. These
cylinders are each divided internally by a series of partitions into several
chambers, M, M, M, &c., and in the plan are divided into eight chambers;
out of each chamber M issues a jet b, and thus in the plan cach cylinder
I, K, L, having eight chambers, there will be in all twenty-four chambers and
twenty-four jets. The number of el ambers and jets is not material, but should
be increased or diminished according to the quantity of gas to be consumed,
as herein-after described. Into each of the chambers M, M, &c., of the three
cylinders J, K, L, are inserted two tubes d and g. The tubes d issue out
of one of the pipes N, N, and the tubes g out of one of the pipes 0, 0, which
are placed below the vessel A, B, C. These pires N, N, which are closed
at the end V, communicate at the other end with a gasometer, containing
atmospheric air or oxygen gas produced from black oxide of manganese, and
consequently are intended to convey into cach chamber M, by each tube d, a
stream of atmospheric air or oxygen gas (as the case may be), and the pipes
O, O, which are also closed at the end W, are connected with any vessel from
which sulphuretted hydrogen gas is passing during any process in which that
gas is generated. Above the jets b, b, &c., a tube of platinum or other
suitable material D, D, traverses the vessel A, B, C, and all the jets b, b, &c.,
are directed towards the tube D, so that any flame issuing from the jets
b, b, &c, may play upon D, so as to envolope it by these flames and keep it
red hot. One end of the tube D, D, is to be connected with the aperture E.
in the vessel A, B, C, by means of the curved piece D, E; the other end of
D), D, is to be connected with the pipe F, the end of which is inserted in a
leader vessel with water G, and the cock H serves to draw the fluid out of the
vessel G. In the curved piece D, E, is inserted the tube R, S, having a stop-

page_text: cock X, and the other end of R, S, is inserted in one of the pipes N. The
apparatus being thus adjusted, the sulphuretted hydrogen gas passes through
the pipes O, O, and into the several chambers M, by means of the tubes g, at
the same time that atmospheric air or oxygen gas (as the case may be) passes
through the pipes N, N, also into the several chambers M, by means of the
tube d, thus forming an inflammable mixture of gases, which issue thus mixed
together out of the several jets b, b, &c., to which a light is to be applied,
which is effected by removing the covering T from the opening in the vessel
A, B, C, and which is to be closed air-tight as soon as the mixture is inflamed,
and the quantities of sulphuretted hydrogen gas and of atmospheric air or
oxygen gas are to be adjusted according to the mode described for the combus-
tion of oxygen and hydrogen gases in my paper on a blowpipe contained in the
Trasactions of the Society of Arts for 1835. In the covering T may be inserted
a bit of mica or glass, to shew the state of the flames. The chief product of
the combustion thus effected is sulphurous acid gas, which cannot escape out
of the vessel A, B, C, except by the pipe at E, through which it is conveyed
into D, where it meets with a stream of atmospheric air or oxygen gas (as the
case may be), let into D through the pipe R, S, and regulated by the stop-
cock X, and thus mixed the gas passes through the pipe D, where it is kept
red hot by the flames from the jets b, b, &c., and thereby is converted into
sulphuric acid vapour, and passing through the pipe F, is condensed by the
water contained in the vessel G, and thus sulphuric acid is obtained.
considerable pressure is necessary to force the sulphuretted hydrogen gas
through the jets to be burned with atmospheric air or oxygen gas, it will be
better to collect the sulphuretted hydrogen gas, from whatever source produced,
and also the atmospheric air or oxygen gas, into gasometers or gasholders, after
the manner in which coal gas is collected for use, and then to convey those
products from such reservoirs to the apparatus above described, by connecting
the pipes O, O, with the outlet pipes of such gasholders or reservoirs.
As
In these my improvements I do not claim any part of the process for
obtaining carbonate of soda, nor the saturation of lime or soda with chlorine,
nor the method of converting muriatic acid gas into chlorine by passing
it over moistened black oxyde of manganese. But I claim as. my Inven-
tion the exclusive use of these three operations continuously united
together, namely, the production of sulphate of soda from common salt,
the conversion of the resulting muriatic acid gas into chlorine by passing it
over moistened manganese, and the subsequent production of chloride of
lime when effected in an apparatus combining such an arrangement as
shall permit the liquid muriate of manganese to flow away as fast as it is

page_text: formed as shall keep the moistened manganese at a degree of temperaturo.
greater than what is sufficient to explode euchlorine gas, and as shall permit
the chlorine to pass over a red-hot surface as fast as it is formed. To neither
of these operations singly do I lay claim, but to the whole when used in com-
bination, and that whether effected by the apparatus described or any modifi-
cation thereof; and furthermore, I claim such combination without reference
to the apparatus by which the common salt shall be converted into sulphato
of soda, or that by which the produced chlorine is to be converted into chloride
of lime; the principle of this part of my Invention being to, turn to profitable
account the muriatic acid gas now suffered in the manufactories of carbonate
of soda from common salt to escape into the atmosphere.
Secondly, I claim as my exclusive right the process of converting sulphuretted
hydrogen gas, which is evolved copiously during certain chemical processes,
into sulphurous acid, by mixing it previously with a sufficient dose of oxygen,
however procured, and burning it in a closed chamber from a series of jets, and
this I claim whether the sulphurous acid so produced be converted into
sulphuric acid in the ordinary way by means of nitrate of potash, or by being
passed with an additional dose of oxygen through a red hot tube.
Thirdly, I claim as my exclusive right the formation of sulphuric acid by
the combustion of sulphuretted bydrogen gas from jets set in closed vessels,
from whatever source that gas may be produced.
Fourthly, I claim as my exclusive property the formation of sulphuric acid,
by passing a mixture of sulphurous acid and oxygen gases through a red hot
tube or tubes heated. by the combustion of sulphuretted hydrogen, from what-
ever source procured.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Maugham, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Twenty-first day of September, in the year of
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-first day of September,
in the year of our Lord 1836, the aforesaid William Maugham came before
our said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and thirty-six,

page_text: En the Matter of a Patent granted to WILLIAM MAUGHAM, of
Newport Street, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, Chemist, for
his Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF
CHLORIDE OF LIME, AND CERTAIN OTHER CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES," bearing
date at Westminster, the Twenty-second day of March, One thousand
eight hundred and thirty-six, to which a Specification has been duly
inrolled.
DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATIONS proposed to be
entered by the said William Maugham with the Clerk of the Patents of
England, pursuant to an Act passed in the fifth and sixth year of His
late Majesty's reign, entituled "An Act to amend the Laws touching
Letters Patent for Inventions."
In the said Specification, inrolled in pursuance of the proviso in the said
Letters Patent, I did declare that the Invention related to a mode of employ-
ing the muriatic acid evolved in the decomposing of common salt, and also to
converting sulphuretted hydrogen gas, which is copiously evolved in certain
chemical processes, into sulphuric acid; and I did claim four points or par-
ticulars of Invention; and since the inrolment of the said Specification I havo
found that so much of the Invention as is explained to relate to the formation
of sulphuric acid by passing a mixture of sulphurous acid and oxygen gas
through a red hot tube or tubes, heated by the combustion of sulphuretted
hydrogen gas, is a difficult process, and cannot be carried on with advantage,
for which reason I do therefore wish to disclaim, and I do hereby disclaim,
the following words in the second claiming clause, viz:-" and this I claim
whether," and also the words, or by being passed with an additional dose of
oxygen through a red hot tube;" and in order to make sense of such second
claiming cause when those words or removed, I am desirous of altering the
word "be" into "being," when the second claiming clause will be in the
following words:" Secondly, I claim as my exclusive right the process of
converting sulphuretted hydrogen gas, which is evolved copiously during certain
chemical processes, into sulphurous acid by mixing it previously with a sufficient
dose of oxygen (however procured), and burning it in a closed chamber from a
series of jets, the sulphurous acid so produced being converted into sulphuric acid

page_text: in the ordinary way by means of nitrate of potash;" and for, the same reason I
wish to disclaim the fourth claiming clause, and so much of the Specification
as relates thereto.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Maugham, have hereunto set
my hand, this Fourteenth day of November, One thousand eight 5
hundred and thirty-nine.
To the Clerk of the Patents of England.
This is to certify, that the above-named William Maugham has applied to me
for leave to enter with you the above-written Disclaimer and Memorandum of
Alteration of part of the Specification of a certain Invention for which Letters
Patent were duly granted to him under the Great Seal, dated at Westminster,
the Twenty-second day of March, One thousand eight hundred and thirty-six,
and the Specification of which was duly inrolled, and on considering of the
said application, I directed him to advertize his said Disclaimer and Altera-
tion in the Literary Gazette and in the Times and Morning Chronicle news-
papers, and such advertizements have been duly made in the said Gazette,
and Times and Morning Chronicle, on the Fifteenth day of October One
thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine, and no objection having been made
to the said application, I have accordingly granted leave to the said William
Maugham to file his said Disclaimer and Alteration, pursuant to the Statute
passed in the sixth year of His late Majesty, entitled "An Act to amend the
Law touching Letters Patent for Inventions.