GB198328A - - Google Patents

Abstract

198,328. Algemeene Norit Maatschappij, (Assignees of Sauer, J. N. A.). May 26, 1922, [Convention date]. Charcoal.-A process for producing uniformly active charcoal, of the type in which a carbonaceous material is heated in presence of activating gases, is characterized in that the raw material, which may be coal, brown coal, or coke produced by the low temperature carbonization of dense peat &c., is granulated or pulverized and is subjected in a retort, heated internally or both internally and externally to the action of the gases while being mechanically agitated, as for example by a mechanical agitating appliance in the retort or by rotation of the retort. The raw material may be preliminarily dry-distilled at above 800‹ C. while inert or slightly active gases are passed therethrough. The activating gases specified are steam, preferably superheated, carbon dioxide or monoxide, air, hydrogen, flue or generator gases, hot gases of combustion, and burning gases. Chlorine or sulphur dioxide may be employed to remove inorganic impurities. An apparatus for carrying out the process in a continuous manner consists of a hopper 7 with automatic feed mechanism which charges the material to a trough 1 with a conveyor, whence it passes successively to retorts 2, 6 of chamotte or an alloy of chromium, nickel, iron &c., each of which has a conveyor. Retorts 2, 5 are disposed within the brick walls 9 of a furnace 18, the unions 10, 17 being exposed. Gases may be blown! into the retort 6 at 20, into 5 at 21, and into 4 at 22, the retort gases passing by outlets 23 to wide pipes 24, provided with partitions 25 and water-chambers at their bases to collect suspended carbon, and finally to chimneys 29. An example shows the production of active charcoal from pre-carbonized material, air preferably diluted with an inert gas being admitted to retort 6, flue or generator gases to retort 5 and steam to retort 4. Zones of different temperatures may be maintained ,in the retort or series of retorts and the gases may be injected together or separately. In the Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3) (a), anthracite and other less porous kinds af coal are specified as raw materials, the process is applicable to the regeneration of spent charcoal and the agitation of the charge is not limited to mechanical, but agitation by the kinetic action of injected gases is specified and in an example finely powdered charcoal is maintained in a floating state in an externally heated retort by means of activating gases, alone or mixed with inert gases. This subject-matter dces not appear in the Specification as accepted.