GB189905037A - Improvements in the Obtainment of Cyanogen Compounds. - Google Patents

Abstract

5037. Mactear, J. March 7. Ammonium, potassium, sodium, and iron salts.- Ammonium cyanide is produced by heating a mixture of two molecular proportions of ammonia with one molecular proportion of carbon monoxide, preferably in presence of a catalytic agent such as charcoal, to a temperature of 1800‹ to 2000‹ F. by means of electrical resistances. Producer or Dowson gas may be used instead of carbon monoxide. The mixture of gases is passed through the branches b<2> of a main b<3> to holes b<1> in the cover b of an oblong chamber a, the top flange a<1> of which contains a channel a<2> communicating with the holes b<4> and with holes a<3> leading into the chamber. The mixture passes through the charcoal g, and is heated uniformly by electrical resistances h, which are equidistant from each other and from the walls of the chamber, and consist of coils of platinum wire wound upon refractory material mounted in closed tubes j. The chamber may also be heated externally by electrical resistances wound round it, or by gaseous fuel. The gases pass through the perforated bottom, and out of the chamber through holes, channels, and branched mains similar to those by which they entered. The top and bottom covers of the chamber are luted thereon by a suitable cement at d, and are bound thereto by metal bands. The gases, after leaving the chamber, are cooled and conducted to a chamber containing caustic soda or potash for the production of sodium or potassium cyanide, and the ammonia which is evolved in these reactions is collected for re-use in the cycle of operations. The solutions of alkaline cyanides thus obtained are evaporated, preferably in vacuo. Ferrocyanides are obtained from the ammonium cyanide by the known processes.