Improvements in amp; connected with the Production of Glauber Salts, Ferrous-carbonate, Ferrous-hydrate amp; Ammonia from Nitre-cake.

摘要

24,639. Parker, C. L. Nov. 12. Alkaline sulphates; ammonia; iron carbonate and hydrate &c.-Consists in manufacturing Glauber's salt from nitre-cake or acid sodium sulphate produced in making nitric acid, and obtaining byeproducts such as ammonia, and ferrous carbonate or hydrate. The cake is dissolved in water, and scrap iron, or other metal such as zinc, added, whereby ferrous sulphate &c. is formed and normal sodium sulphate produced, while the hydrogen evolved reduces any ferric sulphate to the ferrous state and also converts the nitric acid and oxides of nitrogen present into ammonia, which combines with the free sulphuric acid in the nitre-cake solution. This action is accelerated by adding a little copper sulphate solution, or copper scrap when scrap iron is used, a copper iron galvanic couple being formed. A little acetic or other organic acid is added, and then a strong solution of sodium carbonate or hydrate, as long as any iron carbonate or hydrate is precipitated. The whole is heated to or near the boiling point, and a further quantity of sodium carbonate or hydrate added, decomposing the ammonium sulphate, and the ammonia is collected by a suitable hood over the vessel, for leading it to an absorption chamber. Un standing the liquid is drawn off and the sodium sulphate crystallized out, while the iron compounds are washed, filter-pressed, and .dried. The mother liquor from the sodium sulphate may be used for dissolvi g more nitre cake.