RECENT IiV V E N T I O N S . flask which contains the material to be treated but communicating with said flask, such heating chamber being of a temperature a t least equal to (and sometimes greater than) that of the flask, and to introduce a carbon-bearing liquid, such as hydro-
53
the removable cover put in place to close the heating chamber and the furnace heated. Preferably, a small amount of the hydrocabon oil is now introduced into the heating chamber 4, the resulting gas flowing into the flask 7 and driving off the air therein to prevent oxidation as above explained. When the proper temperature has been attained, say a red heat, oil is again admitted through the inlet 1 2 , and such oil is a t once converted into gas and heat to the temperature of the heating chamber, which is always as great as the temperature of the material in the flask. The heated gas, of course, creates its own pressure in the heating chamber and is thus forced through the inlets 8 into the flask and into intimate contact with the material therein, such heated gas not chilling the material as it enters the flask. Indeed, a t the beginning of the operation the temperature of the gas is greater than that of the material in the flask, so that a t the outset the incoming gas not only does not chill the material but such gas assists in heating the same. When it is desired to distribute the carbon throughout the body of the article as above described, the supply of oil from the inlet I Z is merely cut off, the flask being continued a t carbonizing temperature until the desired distribution of carbon is effected.
975,106. Process of Extracting Copper from Ore. WILLIAM L. AUSTIN,of Riverside, Calif. Patented Kov. 8, 1910.
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This invention relates to a process of extracting copper which is especially applicable in localities where there are minerals which can be rendered soluble, such, for example, as copper mincrals, distributed through more or less porous rock. Such rock as porous porphyry (granite-porphyry) for example, may contain, in the aggregate, a quantity of valuable mineral although too small a percentage to be worked profitably by ordinary mining operations. The mineral may, however, be profitably extracted by the process which I have discovered, which consists in applying a solvent so as to percolate through the mineral-bearing material without removing it by the usual mechanical mining operations from its original location, the percolating liquid extracting the mineral by leaching, and in providingxfor the collection and subsequent removal of the re-
carbon oil, into said heating chamber in small quantities, whereby said oil is converted into gas and heated, the heated gas then passing into said flask. The gas thus creates its own pressure in the heating chamber whereby said gas is forced into said flask and into intimate contact with the material therein. Preferably the air is driven away from the material before the latter reaches the degree of heat which would produce oxidation, and air is kept away from said material until the carbonizing process is completed, thus avoiding oxidation and its attendant disadvantages. This expulsion of the air is accomplished by permitting a small amount of carbon-bearing gas to enter the flask containing the material hefore the latter has become sufficiently heated to oxidize, such supply of gas being sufficient to drive off the air, but insufficient, when initially supplied, to produce appreciable carbonization. After the air is thus driven off, the supply of gas is cut off and the gas in the flask lies dormant, thus excluding the air, until the material has been brought to the desired temperature for carbonization when the gas is admitted in carbonizing quantity and the process of carbonizing commences. I n practicing the process, the material is placed in the flask,
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sulting solutions, from which the metals may then be separated in any suitable or usual manner. I n carrying out the process, an artificial drainage level is created a t a point or points below the surface of the rock through
54
T H E JOURNAL OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING C H E M I S T R Y .
which the copper minerals are distributed. This may be accomplished by running levels and cross-cuts a t different horizons, and by sinking shafts to a suitable depth, and in so locating these workings that water or any liquid permeating the rock will seek the lower levels and be collected therein. If, therefore, a quantity of mater is distributed over the surface of the rock, or through any of the upper levels, it will percolate through the same leaching out the copper minerals and collecting in the lower workings. The resulting liquids are then removed, as by a pump, for further treatment to extract their metallic contents. I t is desirable to carry out the process of extracting the metals from the solutions a t or near the location of the ore-body so that the liquids from which the metals have been separated may, if desirable, be again allowed to pass through the rock. I t is, however, immaterial, h o x the water is supplied, it being frequently practicable to divert the water from a running stream, or any reservoir, and to distribute it throughout the upper parts of the ore-body. Process of Extracting Iron from its Ores. STEPHEN G. MARTIK, of Chicago, Illinois. Patented Nov. 15, 1910.
975,625.
This invention relates to a process of extracting iron from its ores and its subsequent conversion into steel, and said process being applicable to the so-called non-Bessemer as \vel1 as to Bessemer ores, and by my improved process either one of said ores can be readily converted into iron of such quality as to be immediately available for the Bessemer blow. The desirable qualities in iron applicable for the manufacture of steel are those of a metal free, or practically free, from sulfur, silicon, phosphorus and the like, and it is well known that such metalloids remain in undesirable quantities in iron produced by ordinary processes in blast Eurnaccs. The invention consists in dispensing v i t h the use of atmospheric air in the blast furnace and substituting therefor modified or ionized air made by passing atmosphcric air through the flame of an:electric discharge, and this modified or ionized air passes
into the blast furnace in an absolutely dry state, and in such condition attacks the furnace charge with a high degree of chemical energy, which reduces the charge in much less time than is now required by methods in general use while the re-
Jan., 1911
sultant metal is found to be homogeneous iron practically free from all metalloid impurities and of the quality and conditions most desirable in iron which is to be converted into steel by the Bessemer process. I t has been demonstrated that when ordinary atmospheric air is passed through the flame of an electric discharge or through a flaming arc of electricity, a gaseous medium is produced consisting of pure air and gaseous peroxid of nitrogen, and this is the sense in which the applicant uses the expression “modified or ionized air,” the gaseous peroxid of nitrogen being the active agent in the process. This gas is conducted into the furnace as rapidly as it is foimed. Under these conditions dissociation of the gas (the temperature of the furnace being taken into consideration) does not take place during its passage from its source of supply to the furnace I t is, therefore, not necessary that means be provided to insure stability of the gas.
975,768. Apparatus for Manufacturing Sublimed White Lead, LOUISS. HLJGIIES, of Joplin, Missouri Patented Nov. 1 5 ~ 1910.
This invention relates to apparatus for the manufacture of lead sulfate pigment and particularly to the construction of the screen or bag house used in separating the pigment from the gases from the furnaces n herein the sulfate is produced. The lead sulfate pigment known in the market as “sublimed white lead” is made by treating lead-bearing material in oxidizing furnaces adapted to convert the lead in large part into a finely divided “fume” of lead sulfatc, and the gases and fume
issuing from the furnace after being subject t o various treatments to eliminate heavy and discoloring impurities are passed through cooling flues to reduce their temperature and then carried to the bag house where the pigment is separated from the gases. The lead sulfate pigment as heretofore made has been found liable to harm when mixed with oil, and after many tests and experiments it has been ascertained that this tendency is due to the occlusion in the pigment of acid compounds of sulfur either SO, or H,SO,. The patentee claims to have discovered that the presence of the injurious acid in the pigment can be avoided by maintaining the gas and fume up to and during the screening operation a t temperatures so high that the acid is maintained in dry vaporous form and thus prevented from becoming occluded in the pigment since it passes freely through the screen bags with the gases. As heretofore constructed and used the screen chamber or bag house used in the separation of the furnace gases from the pigment has been quite freely ventilated, it being considered and used as, in effect, a part of the gas-cooling system, and free ventilation being also desired to get rid of poisonous gases in the bag house, and thus make it possible for attendants to enter it.
