A Process for the Preparation of Metallic Oxides.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Process for the Preparation of Metallic Oxides.
I, OTTOMAR ELSTNER, of Gelnhausen, in the Kingdom of Prussia and Empire
of Germany, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
The object of this improved process is to materially simplify and reduce the
cost of the present methods of manufacturing oxide of tin and other metallic
oxides. To this end the metal is either reduced by suitable means to the condition
of a very fine powder, such powder being then exposed to the action of an open
flame; or it is introduced by means of convenient apparatus into a sufficiently
highly heated muffle, an adequate supply of oxygen being admitted at the same
time. The metal in this state of fine division burns away, as a result of the high
temperature and the admission of the oxygen, and becomes converted into oxide.
The tin or other metallic oxide may be collected in suitable chambers or receivers.
The process may further be considerably simplified by finely dividing the tin
or other metal in a fluid state,-using any suitable means for the purpose,--such
fluid metal being in this finely divided state (i.e. in the condition of minute drops
or spray) placed either in an open flame or in a muffle. This will accelerate the
process of oxidation owing to the fact that the tin or other metal has been
brought to the melting temperature before hand.
Datad this 97th day of September 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
1, OTTOMAR ELSTNER, of Gelnhausen, in the Kingdom of Prussia and Empire
of Germany, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to a method of producing oxides of metals, for instance
oxide of tin, and consists in general in bringing the tin or other metal in a
finely pulverised state in intimate contact with air or oxygen, and exposing
the whole to a temperature of sufficient height, so that the desired reaction
occurs.
In carrying my improved method into practice I first pulverise the metal as
finely as possible by any suitable means, for instance by first melting the metal
and then dispersing it by steam, air, or other gas or mixture of these; thereafter

page_text: the finely pulverised metal is distributed into and through a space containing air
or oxygen, and being heated to such a degree of temperature as is made necessary
by the kind of metal treated, or the behaviour or properties of the same. The
aforementioned space may, for instance, be formed by the interior of a muffle,
preferably such as is employed in the production of tin from its ores, but there
may well be constructed apparatus, in which the whole process can be carried out
in a continued course.
The metal may, if desired, be dispersed by oxygen, so that, at a suitable tem-
perature, the reaction occurs as soon as the two substances come in contact with
each other, but nevertheless the space receiving the dispersed or pulverised metal,
or the pulverent oxide of metal respectively, may also be filled with oxygen, so
that the conversion of the metal into an oxide is effected with perfect certainty.
I wish it to be understood that the pulverization of the metal need not in-
dispensably be affected by melting and dispersing it by steam or air or the like
(although this means is, in fact, preferred), but other means may be employed as
well, provided, they deliver the metal in a suitably divided state. The pulverulent
metal may also be blown into a flame, which, being a source of heat and surrounded
by, as well as containing oxygen, thus effects the conversion of the metal into an
oxide.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The method of producing oxides of metals, consisting in finely pulverising
the metal and subjecting it simultaneously to the action of heat and air or
oxygen, substantially as described.
2. The method of producing oxides of metals, consisting in finely pulverizing
the metal and distributing it through a heated space containing air or oxygen,
substantially as described.
3. The method of producing oxides of metals, consisting in finely pulverizing
the metal and introducing it into a heated space by means of air or oxygen,
substantially as described.
4. The method of producing oxides of metals, consisting in melting the metal,
pulverizing it finely by dispersing it by a jet of air or oxygen, and subjecting the
product simultaneously to the action of heat and air or oxygen, substantially as
described.
5. The method of producing oxides of metals, consisting melting the metal,
pulverizing it finely by dispersing it by a jet of air or oxygen and distributing
the product through a heated space containing air or oxygen, substantially as
described.
6. The method of producing oxides of metals, consisting in melting the metal
and dispersing the molten metal by a jet of air or oxygen into and through a
heated space, substantially as described.
Dated this 24th day of June 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.