Improvements in the Manufacture or Production of Zinc from Oxidized Ores of Zinc.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 28th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 4th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture or Production of Zinc from
Oxidized Ores of Zinc.
We THOMAS PARKER, Works Director and ALFRED EDWARD ROBINSON
Chemist both of Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of our invention is to improve the manufacture or production of zine
from compounds thereof in such a manner that wear and tear of the retorts is
diminished and economy of fuel effected.
According to our invention as applied for instance to the production of zinc from
zinc blende the zinc blende is roasted so as to convert it to oxide of zinc and then
the said oxide mixed with carbonaceous material is fed into an are electric furnace
wherein it is subjected to the heat of the electric arc and the zinc is obtained in the
metallic form.
The process is applicable to the obtainment of zinc from oxidised or partially
oxidised products of zinc generally and in some cases we may treat the zinc blende
itself as described prior to roasting.
This Qth day of August 1890
J. H. JOHNSON & Co..
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture or Production of Zino from
Oxidized Ores of Zinc.
We THOMAS PARKER Works Director and ALFRED EDWARD ROBINSON
Technical Chemist both of Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford 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:
The object of our invention is to provide a ready and efficient process for the
manufacture or production of zinc from oxidised ores of zinc in such a manner that
wear and tear of the retorts are diminished and economy of fuel is effected. In
cases where the ores are sulphides or carbonates and consequently contain matter
such as sulphur which would interfere with the process such for instance as in the
case of zinc blende" it is necessary to subject the ores to a roasting operation to
expel such matter but a s'licate of zinc requires no roasting. According to our
invention as applied for instance to the production of zinc from zine blende the zinc
blende is roasted and then the oxide of zinc produced is reduced to a fine powder
and is mixed with carbon or carbon yielding material in quantity sufficient to give
the proper proportion of carbon required for decomposition which is ascertained by
analysis of a sample of the ore to shew the quantity of zinc which it contains. The
quantity of carbon required is usually 15 parts by weight of carbon to every
100 parts by weight of the zinc oxide contained in the ore but the proportion may
be varied to suit the electrical requirements of the plant and to lessen or increase the
electrical resistance of the mixture as required. The carbon may be added in the
form of ground coke coal or charcoal or pitch or tar may be used. When pitch or
tar is used the mixture should be heated before the hereinafter described electrical
treatment is carried out.
The mixture is fed into an electrical furnace which may be like that described

page_text: and shewn in the Specification of Letters Patent 17060 wherein the said mixture
(which is made conductive by the carbon) is subjected to the heat generated by an
electric current passed therethrough and decomposition takes places the oxygen of
the ore combining with the carbon to form carbonic oxide (and probably also some
carbonic acid) and the metallic zinc volatilizing and being obtained in the metallic
form which may be effected by the vapours being passed off by a pipe at the top
side or bottom of the furnace as in "destillatio per descensum into suitable con-
denisers wherein it is condensed.
The fixed impurities which remain in the furnace can, after the operation, be
tapped therefrom as slag.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is-
The manufacture or production of zinc from oxidised ores of zinc in the manner
substantially as hereinbefore explained.
Dated this 28th day of April 1891
THOMAS PARKER.
ALFRED EDWARD ROBINSON.

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug.. 1890
Complete Specification Left, 28th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 4th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture or Production of Zinc from
Oxidized Ores of Zinc.
We THOMAS PARKER, Works Director and ALFRED EDWARD ROBINSON
Chemist both of Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of our invention is to improve the manufacture or production of zinc
from compounds thereof in such a manner that wear and tear of the retorts is
diminished and economy of fuel effected.
According to our invention as applied for instance to the production of zinc from
zine blende the zinc blende is roasted so as to convert it to oxide of zinc and then
the said oxide mixed with carbonaceous material is fed into an are electric furnace
wherein it is subjected to the heat of the electric arc and the zinc is obtained in the
metallic form.
The process is applicable to the obtainment of zine from oxidised or partially
oxidised products of zinc generally and in some cases we may treat the zinc blende
itself as described prior to roasting.
Dated this 8th day of August 1890:
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in the Manufacture or Production of Zinc from
Oxidized Ores of Zinc.
We THOMAS PARKER Works Director and ALFRED EDWARD ROBINSON
Technical Chemist both of Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford 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 :-
The object of our invention is to provide a ready and efficient process for the
manufacture or production of zinc from oxidised ores of zinc in such a manner that
wear and tear of the retorts are diminished and economy of fuel is effected. In
cases where the ores are sulphides or carbonates and consequently contain matter
such as sulphur which would interfere with the process such for instance as in the
case of "zine blende" it is necessary to subject the ores to a roasting operation to
expel such matter but a silicate of zinc requires no roasting. According to our
invention as applied for instance to the production of zinc from zinc blende the zine
blende is roasted and then the oxide of zinc produced is reduced to a fine powder
and is mixed with carbon or carbon yielding material in quantity sufficient to give
the proper proportion of carbon required for decomposition which is ascertained by
analysis of a sample of the ore to shew the quantity of zinc which it contains. The
quantity of carbon required is usually 15 parts by weight of carbon to every
100 parts by weight of the zinc oxide contained in the ore but the proportion may
be varied to suit the electrical requirements of the plant and to lessen or increase the
electrical resistance of the mixture as required. The carbon may be added in the
form of ground coke coal or charcoal or pitch or tar may be used.
When pitch or
tar is used the mixture should be heated before the hereinafter described electrical
treatment is carried out.
The mixture is fed into an electrical furnace which may be like that described

page_text: and shewn in the Specification of Letters Patent 1706089 wherein the said mixture
(which is made conductive by the carbon) is subjected to the heat generated by an
electric current passed therethrough and decomposition takes places the oxygen of
the ore combining with the carbon to form carbonic oxide (and probably also some
carbonic acid) and the metallic zinc volatilizing and being obtained in the metallic
form which may be effected by the vapours being passed off by a pipe at the top
side or bottom of the furnace as in "destillatio per descensum" into suitable con-
densers wherein it is condensed.
The fixed impurities which remain in the furnace can, after the operation, be
tapped therefrom as slag.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
The manufacture or production of zinc from oxidised ores of zinc in the manner
substantially as hereinbefore explained.
Dated this 28th day of April 1891.
THOMAS PARKER.
ALFRED EDWARD ROBINSON.