April, 1912 T H E JOCR-\\’--3.L OF I N D U S T R I A L i l N D ENGINEERING C H E M I S T R Y . 3 1 s

I 1 R E C E N T INVENTIONS I ~

Reported by C. L. Parker, Solicitor of Chemical Patents, McGill Building, Washington, D. C.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS.

U. S. Patent No. 1,00~7,897, io G. 0. Seward and F. von Kugelgen, Virginia.

This invention relates to an electrolytic cell or vessel for the production of metals lighter than their electrolytes.

In the production by electrolysis of those metals and alloys which have a less specific gravity than the molten electrolytes from Trhich they are separated, a source oi difficulty is the col- lection of the metals in such a way that they cannot come in contact with the gases set free a t the anode, with which they would otherwise combine.

The present apparatus is designed to render possible and easy isolation of the separated metal or alloy by providing a combination of a cathode projecting up from the bottom of the electrolytic vessel through the electrolyte, and a chilled salt-incrusted collecting partition located above the cathode in such a v a y that the metal is confined as soon as separated and can be allowed to collect within the chamber or space bounded by such partition, from which it may be removed as convenient.

In the production of sodium, which remains fluid at the temperature of the electrolyte, difficulty is presented in dis- charging the metal from the cathode chamber into a suitable receiving vessel, by reason of the congealing of the metal upon the nalls of the conduit which becomes clogged thereby.

The inlention provides for the ready discharge of such fluid metal by proi iding a vertical conduit into which the metal flows from the cathode chamber over a spout or lip which causes i t to fall freely through the conduit without touching its walls, or touching only those portions of its walls 15 hich-are adequately heated This conduit is preferably formed integral with the cathode bj- making the latter hollow,

MANUFACTURE OF FERRIC OXIDE.

U. S. Patent No. 1,008,321, to John Gill, England.

This invention is based on the fact that calcium carbonate can be changed into a soluble calcium bicarbonate and in the

presence of a solution of ferrous chloride precipitates the iron contained in the liquor as ferrous carbonate which is capable of being oxidized into ferric hydrate.

The invention consists essentially in treating waste or other liquors containing ferrous chloride with carbonate of lime and carbon dioxide and air to precipitate into ferric hydrate and subsequently calcining the ferric hydrate to drive off the water and obtain a pure or high-class oxide of iron.

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The accompanying illustration shows apparatus in which the process can be advantageously carried out.

PROCESS FOR CONVERSION OF LOWER OXIDS OF NI- TROGEN TO HIGHER OXIDS OF NITROGEN.

U. S. Patent No. 1,008,383, to Fin Sparee, Wilmington, Delaware. Assignor to the E. I. du Pont de Nemours Powder Co.

This is a method of treating oxides of nitrogen in solution to increase their oxygen contcnt, which consists in passing a current of electricity through said oxides of nitrogen solution and acidulated water, betxeen electrodes in the respective

+

C’ 2 solutions, the current density on the electrode in the oxides of nitrogen solution being above one hundred amperes to the sq. cm. an,d the current density on the electrode in the acidulated water below ten amperes to the sq. cm.

The accompanying illustration shows apparatus in which the process can be advantageously carried out.