II. S. 971,206, 1908, A. Mesaerachrnidt.
German 280,964. 1913 H. Dicka.
French 461,480, 1913 British 18,028, 1913 A. Messerschmidt.
U. S. 1,109,448,914German 279.726, 1913, Naher and Noding.
For further data on this method of produc ing hydrogen, consult: German patent, 263,391, 1912, Measersclunidt.
268,062, 268,339, French 444,105, 1912, " 444,106, ? " 461,623, 1913.
" 461,624, " 461.625, 462.379, British 12,117, 1912.
12,242, ? " 12,243, " 17,690, 1913.' 17,691, 17,692, " ? 18,942, U. S. 1,109,447. 1914.
British 2,096, 1913, Badische Co.
28,390, ' 6,155, 1914.
French 465,474, 1913. Berlin Anhaltische U. S. 1,118,595, 1914. Machinenbau A. Q.
1,129,559, 1915.
Regarding the reaction of steam on iron at high pressures, consult: Journal Soc. Chem. lad. 32 (1913), p. 462, Bergius. German patent, 254.593. 1911.
French 447,080, 1912.
British " 19.002, 1912.
" 19,003, 1912.
U. S. 1,059,817, 1913.
" 1,059,818, 1913.
Steam acts upon heated coke in the following way : C plus H,0 = CO plus H,.
The gas produced according to this reaction is called water gas.
Owing to the great difference between the boiling points of hydrogen (-252.5° C.) and carbon monoxide (-190° C.) and nitrogen (-195.5° C.) the hydrogen is best separated by liquefaction. In the Linde-Frank-Caro proc ess water gas having the approximate compo sition H.- 48 per cent, CO -42 per cent, CO3-2.5 per cent, N -3.5 per cent (with other impurities) is freed from CO, by water under pressure followed by scrubbing in alka lis. It is then dried and cooled. The carbon monoxide and nitrogen are liquefied, the hydro gen passing on in gaseous state. Consult 'In dustrial Gases' by Martin and others, p. 21 and p. 39. Consult also French patents 329,839, 1903; 469,854, 1913; and British patent 13,160, 1914.
According to several methods, the carbon monoxide is taken up by suitable absorbents. For example, water gas and steam are passed over lime heated to about 500° C. (and mixed with about 5 per cent of powdered iron as catalyst). The following reaction takes place:
Ca (HO). plus CO=CaCO, plus HI. For further details, consult: Mash. patent. 2,523, 1909.
13,049, 1912.
French " 453,187. 1912.
British 7,147, 1913.
U. S. " 1.133,355, 1915.
German 253.705, 1910.
Hydrogenite contains 5 parts ferrosilicon (containing 90-95 per cent silicon), 12 parts caustic soda and 4 parts slaked lime. When 'lignite& by a hot iron ball in a suitable ap paratus hydrogen is evolved (1 kg. yielding 320 liters of hydrogen). Consult British natent 153, 1911.
Hydrogen by Decomposition of Hydrocar Hydrocarbons, such as petroleum, ben zine, etc., can be decomposed by the action of steam at high temperature, yielding hydrogen and carbon monoxide. (British patent 14,703, 1911 Pictet. U. S. patent 1,134,416, 1913.) Hydrogen is also produced by passing a mixture of hydrocarbons and steam over an inactive refractory oxide such as magnesia covered with nickel oxide (as catalyst) at a temperature of 800-1000° C. Consult French patent, 463,114,1913 Badische Co.
British " 12,978,1913 U. S. " 1,128,804.1915 Natural gas, vaporized oil or casing-head gasoline, when passed through red-hot pipes, are decomposed and deposit lampblack and form an impure hydrogen (impurities are methane, carbon monoxide and traces of oil vapor).
Very pure hydrogen, according to Bergius, may be produced by the reaction between water and iron at sufficiently high pressure to prevent vaporization of the water.
The following table gives the experimental data on the liberation of hydrogen by this method: Charge Volume of gas Volume Fe Cu HiC) Peas Temp. Time gener- of as g g g g Hrs. ated per C.
C C50 .. 100 .. 300 3:30 800 230 50 .. 100 3 300 .3:30 4.650 1,330 50 25 100 3 300 3:00 5,800 1.930 The electrolyte, ferric chloride and the copper (electropositive to iron) increase the reaction velocities enormously. For fuller details consult Journal Soc. Chem. lad. 32 (1913), p. 462. German patent, 254,593, 1911.