A N T I M O N Y : ITS HISTORY, CHEMISTRY, MINERALOGY ...
A N T I M O N Y : ITS HISTORY, CHEMISTRY, MINERALOGY ...
A N T I M O N Y : ITS HISTORY, CHEMISTRY, MINERALOGY ...
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THE METALLURGY OF ANTIMONY. '13<br />
The mineral is introduced into the muffles through doors, /, which<br />
are closed" during the roasting.<br />
The muffles are not in communication with one another ; each<br />
muffle has an opening through, e, into a chamber, c/, which communicates,<br />
through an opening, o, with a channel, h, connected with the<br />
condensing chambers, •?'. The circulation of the vapour is obtained<br />
by means of a ventilator,,;, placed immediately after the last chamber<br />
of condensation. The remaining gas, after passing through k, is<br />
washed by a water-shower in I, and then passes into the basins, m.<br />
The Miniere e Fonderie d'antimonie Sociuta Anonima, Genoa, Italy,<br />
one of the principal antimony smelters, patented in 1907 the following<br />
process* :—<br />
In other processes the oxide produced is generally condensed either<br />
in long flues, or on baffles, or in large condensation chambers. In<br />
many cases the volatile matter is mixed with water in the ventilators,<br />
after which the oxido is separated out by decantation. The condensation<br />
in these cases is not always complete, and the object of the<br />
present invention is to prevent any loss of the oxide by filtering<br />
through cotton, linen, or any other fabric that will arrest the oxide contained<br />
in the smoke.<br />
In order to prevent the carbonisation of the tissues used, it is<br />
necessary to cool them to about 100°. If the oxide-containing fumes<br />
have too high a temperature, they must be cooled by passing them<br />
through chambers or metallic tubes more or less surrounded by water.<br />
Care must be taken not to allow the oxide at its early stage to come<br />
into contact with any water, as the presence of water would destroy<br />
the permeability of the tissue and lead to the formation of sulphurous<br />
acid. In order to overcome the resistance to the draught, offered by<br />
the tissues used, it is necessary to use ventilators.<br />
Figs. 33, 34, 35, 36 represent cooling and condensing chambers;<br />
figs. 37, 38, 39, 40, filtering chambers.<br />
Fig. 33 is a cross-section of fig. 34. The walls and foundations of<br />
these chambers are of masonry, stone-concrete, or sheet-iron. The<br />
roof is always bordered lengthwise by L-shaped plates, 2, so<br />
as to serve as evaporating basins for the water flowing over the<br />
roof. The condensed oxido falls into the sacks, 3, from which it<br />
can bo discharged. Figs. 35, 36 show another form of condensing<br />
chambers, fig. 35 being a cross-section ; the channels are arranged<br />
in chicanes, 5, with openings, 4, for the discharge of the condensed<br />
oxide.<br />
Fig. 37 represents a cross-section, and fig. 38 a longitudinal section,<br />
* French patent No. 381,517, Sept. 4, 1907.