A N T I M O N Y : ITS HISTORY, CHEMISTRY, MINERALOGY ...

THE METALLURGY OF ANTIMONY. 89
Chatillon, who is now the owner of several large antimony smelting
works in Haute-Loire (France), patented a process* in 1888, which
is briefly thus:—Coke and ore are charged alternately into an ordinary
roasting furnace, from which the volatile oxide thus developed is
aspirated by a series of ventilators—generally three—into which
boiling water is introduced for catching the volatile oxide in the
currents passing through them; the last trace of the oxide is absorbed
by the water contained in a series of basins.
FIG. 26.
A, The inside of the chamber.
B, Pipe for supplying antimony
oxide.
C, Outlet.
D, Water-pipe.
E, Star-shaped piece for sprinkling.
F, Manhole.
G, Protector-piece against the
shower for the pipe.
H, Brick foundation.
J, Plan view of E.
K, Water overflow.
Woolford's process (1889) is very similar to those described above.
M. Plews ; patentt is as follows (1902):—The sulphide mineral is
first broken into pieces not larger than 1 cubic centimetre, and is
then charged into a furnace already heated to dark red by means of
any kind of smokeless combustible material An oxidising flame is
then produced in the furnace, and the temperature is raised to light
red and is so maintained until all the volatile oxide is given off.
With certain minerals, the antimony is not easily volatilised by an
* French patent No. 189,974, April 16,1888.
t Fremh patent Is T o. 318,658, Feb. 13, 1902.