GB317165A - Improvements in the production of carbon black from natural gas - Google Patents

Abstract

317,165. Winter, R. M., and Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd. June 9, 1928. Carbon.-Carbon and hydrogen chloride are produced by reacting chlorine with a hydrocarbon-containing gas by causing the gases to combine in a flame burning in air or by mixing the gases to form a combustible, inflammable or explosive mixture, at a temperature below the ignition temperature, and burning the mixture in a steady, controlled manner, if desired in air, the products of combustion being in either case collected. In one form, the chlorine is burned in an envelope of hydrocarbon-containing gas which is surrounded by air, a suitable form of burner consisting of two concentric tubes, the chlorine being introduced through the inner tube. In a further form, the burner consists of a number of concentric tubes, the chlorine and hydrocarbon being introduced through alternate annuli and the outer envelope of hydrocarbon gas burning in air. Where the chlorine and the hydrocarbon-containing gas are mixed before combustion, the mixture may be effected in a device similar to a Bunsen burner, the mixed gases being led through the tube at a velocity greater than that of back-firing. The atmosphere around the flame may consist of reaction products together with excess of chlorine or of the hydrocarbon gas, but preferably the flame is exposed to air. The initial gas mixture may contain a little air or oxygen, in one form of burner, chlorine and hydrocarbon gas are supplied through tubes 3, 4 respectively to a mixing chamber 1, packed with material 2 such as pieces of earthenware, so as to form an explosive mixture. The mixture issues from a tube 5 and is ignited at the orifice thereof. The suspended carbon is separated, e.g. by settling, electrostatic precipitation, filtration, or by a combination thereof, and the residual gas washed with water to obtain aqueous hydrochloric acid. Examples in which coal gas and natural gas are employed are given in the Specification. One of the Provisional Specifications describes the use, as the chlorine source, of electrolytic chlorine or of the gas from the Deacon process containing chlorine, hydrogen chloride, steam and oxygen.