US1377554A - Jacob e - Google Patents

Description

I. E. BLOOM.

I PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRICAL UTILIZATION OF MOLTEN SLAGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. I920.

"Patented May 10, 1921.

JACOB E. BLOOM, OF BROOKLYN, NEVJYQBK.

JlROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRICAL UTILIZATION OF MOLTEN SLAGS.

Application filed May 3, 1920.

all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Jason E. BLOOM, a .i.izen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes and Apparatus for the Electrical Utilization of Molten Slags, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the mixing or compounding of hot molten slags from metallurgical smelters, converters, furnaces or the like, with other materials; under insulated conditions; and is illustrated herein by the manufacture of fertilizers; and has for its object, the utilization (in effecting and activating the compoundings,) of the electrical and catalytic properties and qualities developed by the high heat of the molten slags while hot and of the hot gases and emanations from the smelters, etc., and in and for the purposeof the recovery or extraction or the like, of values from or in the materials or the mixtures or emanations therefrom, and thereby obtaining products of improved quality and increased amount, and with saving of cost of fuel. Other objects are set forth in the body of the specification and in the claims.

This invention embodies improvements upon the apparatus parts of my U. S. Patents Nos. 1,33 Q2352 and 1,338,353 dated April 27, 1920, and of my application for Patent, Serial Number 356708, filed February 6th, 1920, the latter for electrical treatments in the compounding of solids with gases, etc,

including fertilizers: and in which is described the theory and science of heat-emitted electrons, i. 6., of positive or negative electrons or both. emitted from highly heated particles or bodies; and I therein describe my improved means of earthing or neutralizing and utilizing such emitted electrons of one sign only, and thereby leav' ing a charge of electrons of opposite sign, upon the particles or solids and utilized in the compounding thereof; and said. methods and means are improved upon, in this invention, wherein in lieu of an exterior costly source of heat, I use the high heat of molten slags, a waste product, without cost for heat, to attain emissions of electrons from suitable matcrials, zulvantagcously duly brought into contact with the molten Slugs and whereupon I duly earth, or neutralize or charge other particles with the heat-emitted electrons of one sign only, leaving the op- Specifieation of Letters Patent.

Patented May 10, 1921.

Serial No. 378,665.

posite electrons or charge upon the particle, and thereby accelerating 0r activating its compounding with an oppositely charged or neutral particle with which it contacts under insulated conditions. And herein, 1 advantageously do not use or require high electric energy from exterior source, such as 18 used in the arc furnace and the like to attain the nitrogen fixation chemical reaction, but I use for reasons of economy, low energy, low voltage and amperage such bemg ample to perform the desired function, to wltz to earth the heat-emitted electrons of one sign only and simultaneously repel the opposite electrons; without such latter repulsion and insulation of the whole, such opposite electron would likewise be earthed, and which I prevent as herein described. In addition, I also utilize the well known catalytic property of incandescent bodies and surfaces, in activating desired reactions of contacting atoms, molecules or particles meetin on such incandescent surfaces.

By tie term slags herein, I include the vitreous matters, or cinders or scoria, as removed in the reduction of metals in sundry types of metallurgical furnaces,,smelters, converters or the like; and I specifically illustrate and describe the invention in the utilization of molten slags and the hot gaseous emanations from iron and steel furnaces and converters or the like, in the making of fertilizers; though it will be understood that the process is adaptable to other hot limpid slags,' and to attain products and values other than fertilizers.

As a process, generally stated, the invention consists in the mixing, fusing, dissolvditions, a molten slag. from its source. with suitable materials, solids or gaseous, having values or desirable ingredients which are not naturally readily available. and which are modified and made immediately available by the process (as illustrated by mixing and fusing in hot slugs. sundry siliceous or basic minerals comprising phosphorites or. potash fertilizer ingredients not naturally in available form as fertilizers. but which become readilyavailable under ordinary soil conditions upon due compounding with the molten slugs as described); and during the mixing. the process further consists. in the earthing or otherwise neutralizing from the mixture, the heat-emitted elec trons of one sign only; and thereafter duly mg and compounding under insulated conextracting some values advantagcously at and suitably recovering values'from the re sulting mixture or emanations therefrom, or otherwise utilizing the whole, as upon due cooling and pulverizing for fertilizer use; and such recovery of values, includes the due leachingfrom the slag mixture, of sundry soluble compounds made available therein, and the due recovery from the solution by evaporation; and including the recovery of values from vapors, gases, fumes, dusts and the like passing ofifrom the mixtures due to the heat thereof; and including the recovery of metals, including precious metals,

from the fused mixture, which are freed by the heat and separated by gravity or centrifugal force, from the slugs.

As an additional step in some cases, I ad Vantageously duly blow into and through the slag mixture under insulated conditions, hot air or the hot waste gases. either with or without due purification, from the smelter stack, or converter or the like, advantageously ionized; and in the method now pursued in blowing hot air through steel converters or the like; and adwtntageously electrified. with one sign only. as described in my said Serial No. 356708; and thereupon, duly recover from the escaping gases. vapors. fumes and dust, the values, to wit: gaseous reaction and other compounds, after due cooling and condensation, flocculation or the like.

I advantageously apply the process in,-

mixing in the molten. slag as taken. hot from its source, suitable materials in finely pulverized or comminuted form, which are readly fusible at the temperature of the slag, and which will result in. chemical reactions or molecular associations or electrical acsorptions or the like con'ipoundii'igs when fused, in a manner analogous to dissolving and compounding in liquids. and which compounds can, if desired, be duly recovvBred, separated from the slag, by a wet process as by leaching and evaporation and crystallization. or by a dry process as by vaporization, sublimation. cooling, condensing, flocculation or the like. As an alternative process, in some :ases, where two or more different materials are to be treated to extract values. lllOl'tffI'OIl'l, in lieu of simultaneously treating samc together. ll duly treat the same separately by the method above described. in separate batches of molten Slags; and thereafter mix and compou'nd together the said separate mixed batclu-is, in substantially the same method: and likewise the vapors or gases from the separate batches. oppositely eltuztril'icd.

As an alternative step in the pri'u'cs in tainahlc at materially differentv llllllltitl" turcs, l conduct the process in a succession of steps, of conducting the above described process at such difl'erent temperatures,

starting with the highestand continuing; with the same or similar as it gradually cools, or utilizing well known means of cooling.

in the conduct of the process, ll advantageously mix and fuse the materials successively, in the order of their several melting temperatures, 5. (1., where all are mixed in the one batch of slag.

I advantageously use methods of "feeding the solid material comminuted; in thin spray-like or sheetdike form, or as a sand blast, previously warmed, to avoid chilling the molten slags; and duly agitating the mixture to attain intimate contact of particlcs. as with mechanical rabbles or stirring devices or with blasts of gases or otherwise. The temperature of slags from Bessemer steel coi'iverters, averages 1600 to 1800 degrees ceutigrade.

Most siliceous or basic minerals or rocks comprising fertilizers such as phosphorites or potash. readily fuse completely at 1310 to 1350 C. to a homogeneous mixture; and even at a lower temperature, as at or under 1050 (I, there is an apparent neard'usion with the exception of a few minute crystals whose surfaces act as adsorbents .in this process. This latter property is utilized where slugs of lower temperature are used; as for instance pig iron blast furnace slags which often have temperature of 1200 (1. only.

It has been found, that under insulatei conditions and high heat, inorganic substances begin to emit electrons at about 230 increasing materially at over 4-00 1.; and the emission is quite large at over 700 (.g and that phosphates oi inorganic substances at high temperatures, emit generally only 'iositivc electrons, and the atoms or particlcs l'roni which these l *at emissions emanate. are then negatively charged", and chlorides oi' inorganic substances likewise; and conversely. the oxides of inorganic substances at high temperatures emit generally 'only negative electrons. and the particles are left positively chargcd,and especially so. the alkali oxids, also the alkali metals and alloys; and the nitrates of inorganic substances at high tcml'icratures, emit only positive electrons until converted into oxids, after which only negative electrons are emitted. Again. the chemical reaction between gases and alkali oxids give rise to emissions ol' negative electrons. The kind of (llllHSlOlH is readily determined by well known methods. .igain, in some cases, at high tenmcraturc. both positive and negative electrons are emitted. notably with some gases. The positive electrons liberated or emitted by thehot bodies. are associated with mass. or are structures of atomic or molecular dimensions: but not so the negative electrons, which are the same from all materials.

" tact in'the molten slugs of the oppositely electrified solvates or dispersoids or the like, atoms, molecules or particles; and also of the oppositely charged emanatimis in the mixtures and after leaving the mixtures in the form of vapors, gases, fumes or the like; all under insulated conditions.

By the term emanations, I include, vapors, gases, fumes, dust or the like, formed by or in or escaping from the hot mixtures. By the term oppositely electrified, I include cases Where one of the contacting particles only is electrified, the other being neutral. By the term extracting the values, I mean the duly obtaining from the mixtures, or materials, or from the emanations, any of the compounds or elements desired or of value, and in. available form.

The composition of slugs, ores, fluxes and the like, not uniform, no two slugs being alike; and for the same reasons, no exact electrical actions can be forecast, and must he empirically determined from successive results under same conditions, at the same plant. with the same materials mixed with slugs from same origin.

By the alternative term or neutralizing, (5., earthing or neutralizing, I mean, where the heat emitted electrons from the molten mixture, or the like, in lieu of electrically led to ground as through a ground wire of the unipolar contact and car-thing apparatus as described in my said ap i'ilication. Serial No. 356.70%, are neutralized and utilized by and upon mccting and being taken up by another molecule or ion, or atom or particle. and which is thereby electrified positive or negative, or which may be neutral or oppositely electrified. and which in latter case, may become neutralized; and such may be a. solid or may be a gas or the like in the mixture. forcibly blown or otherwise brought into contact thcrcwith by agitation. in some applications of the 'irocess. l electriiy the gases prior to blowing some through the moi-ten mixtures, with one sign only. the opposite to the prevailing sign of the mixture, or the latter may be neutral; and vice versa. The as led from the throat of a smelter or converter, or the like, generally have a temperature of about 756 Cu, and are readily minced and electrified with one sign only without additional heating, as described and used in said Serial No. $6,708. And likewise as regards the hot emzanations, gases, vapors, etc, from two different batches of slag mixtures, such are readily ionized and electrified with one sign only, opposite to each other, separately, and then brought together under insulated conditions, resulting in gaseous compounds of value, recovered as indicated, and having increased density and stability and diminished hygroscopicity. By increased density and stability, I mean increased as compared with like or analogous compounds formed or made by any process without the electrical process herein described; and by diminished hygroscopicity, I mean diminished as compared with the hygroscopic property of a like compound prepared by any process without the electrical process or steps herein described.

\V here neutralization of the heat emitted electron occurs, as above described, and which is apt to occur when two different materials are fused or treated in the same batch oi. molten sla such as phosphates emitting positive and ulkalies emitting negative electrons, then the above unipolarcontact and earthiug apparatus is not used, and is cut out by opening the circuit breaking switch. The time of so doing is advantageously determined empirically starting with about twenty minutes agitation; or can he ap 'n'oximately prc-detcrmined. by analysis and calculation of the amounts of said different components in the batch. But. it will he understood that the process is conductcd under insulated conditions. the apparatus being supported on insulators. in the process. with some materials. as for instance those comprising potash, the latter or salts thereof, can be advantageously volaiilized at lower temperatures, '2'. lower than the original slag temperatures, at 500 to 800 (1: and slugs should be cooled to such latter temperatures if it is desired to recover most of the potash in available state from .a mixture with the potash matcrials. especially ii thcrc be in the slug :1 material per cent. of silica, which fixes the potash in a noipavailahlc state.

Again. a step in the process, advantageously with low temperature slugs. it is ad vuntagcous to add iron. hematite. or mangumsc dioxid ore. about 7"? of each or both. to impart fluidity lo the mixtures at the lower tcmpcraturc: and such is often advantageous at the higher temperatures; and the addition of other materials. in granulated or pulverized form or as gases, will suggest itself to the chemist and metallurgist, to eil'ect desirable conu'ioundings of values to be recovered as above indicated, and from divers and other materials.

In the making of slag fertilizers with newest this process, I advantageously add to the mixtures hereinafter described, manganese dioxid, or manganese ore, or manganifer' ous iron ore, or the like, in predetermined amount to attain advantageously not over 8% of manganese in the slag fertilizer product, not only to increase the fluidity of the molten mixture, but also asan additional fertilizer constituent in the product, serving as an activator in the plant food for which the fertilizer is used, and also when consumed as a constituent of such plant food, serving a useful function as an activator in the assimilative processes in the body or animal system.

As an alternative or additional step of or in the process, generally stated, the invention consists in the suitably collecting,

blowing under regulable pressure, and mix ing, under insulated conditions, the hot gases and emanations from the furnace or the like source of the molten slags, into and through mixtures of the molten slags with materials having values; and into contact with other gases, or gases and vapors, or the like, for due compounding therewith, and the recovery of values therefrom; or into contact with materials having values, which are also advantageously heated by convection ofheat from molten slags; and the said hot furnace gases .and emanations or the like, before the said mixing thereof, being advantageously electrified with one sign only, by the due earthing therefrom of the heat-emitted electrons of opposite sign only.

And likewise as regards electrically utilizing the hot vapors, gases and emanations arising from the molten slag mixtures. All such emanations from furnaces or the like, as also the same from molten slag mixtures. as also from mixtures of materials treated as herein described, carry ionized gases, and particles carrying negative or positive electrons or both, and from which a very large portion of electrons of one sign are readily earthed as described, leaving the particles electrified with opposite sign; and the subsequent compounding thereof with other neutral or oppositely electrified ions or atoms or molecules or colloids or particles is accelerated, with resulting compounds of increased density and stability.

The temperature of furnace gases. often exceeding 750 C, is suifi'ciently high to cause other and neutral particles with which the hot emanations contact as described, to also thereby become heated sufficiently high, to emit electrons, some of which are earthed or neutralized, leaving them electrified, and thereby further facilitating the desired combinations, and ensuing recovery of values.

As an apparatus, the invention, generally stated, comprises a suitable mixing chamber of a vessel such as a slag pot or a retort, or converter, or slag-hearth, or tilting slagcar, or a rotatory puddhng machine (me- .chanical, or rocking 0r oscillating), or

hearth of a smelting furnace or like the byproduct coke oven with stirrer, or the like, with chamber lining of conductor refractory substance, with insulator supports, with carwith means of agitating and stirring the mixture advantageously with a graphite stirrer or the like; with means as described in Serial No. 356,708 of electrically earthing from the mixture, during the mixing, the heat emitted electrons of one sign only, or otherwise neutralizing such electrons, and retaining and repulsing into the mixture the electrons of opposite sign; with means of withdrawing the mixtures from the cham ber; and advantageously, with means of blowing hot air, or waste gases from the source or furnace producing the said molten slags, or the like, through suitabletwyers, into and through the molten mixtures in said chamber; with means of suitably collecting the emanations. gases, vapors, fumes dusts or the like, escaping from the said chamber, into suitable conduits, chambers, flues, condensers. coils or the like; all under insulated conditions; and with. means of recovering values from such emanations; with means for recovering values from the slag mixture; with means of pulverizing the remaining slag residue mixture after the due withdrawal from said chamber. By the term pulverizing vslugs. .l include granulating, as by means of pouring the hot mix tures into a well of water, as at present; also means of making a pumaceous mass thereof as by spraying same with blasts of hot gases; and with means of subsequently or simultaneously cooling, and means of then grinding, or of then leaching to extract values from the more friable mass; orthe like.

As an alternative apparatus, where two or more different materials, having different values, such as the phosphate and the alkali rocks. are to be treated in molten slags, then in lieu of the one apparatus aforesaid, I advantageously provide and. use as described, two or more thereof; that is, the apparatus comprises, a separate electrical mixing unit, (substantially as above described for electrically utilizing one batch of molten slag only, for one or more materials mixed in the one batch of slag, and which I here inafter call an electrical mixing unit), separate for the due mixing and treating of each such difierent material, and separate means for collecting the emanations from each mixing chamber and with means, similar to the said unit, of suitably enlarged capacity, of similarly mixing and treating in the one chamber, such two batches together; or more than two batches; and advantageously with means to likewise bring together and duly mix the two emanations from the separate units; or more than two; all under insulated conditions. And with means of recovering values from the emanations, separately or together; and with means of recovering values separately from the remainder of each batch of slag mixture or from the single united mixture remaining from all the batches of slag mixtures; and with'means of utilizing the latter there after, as for cements, or brick or otherwise; or as fertilizer, when the fertilizer elements have not been entirely removed or emanated and recovered therefrom.

As an alternative apparatus, where two different materials having different kinds of values are to be advantageously treated at materially different temperatures to recover values therefrom in increased amount, the apparatus comprises two separate electrical 'sla -mixin units with hot molten sla s at b D C about the difierent temperatures; with means of cooling the slags accordingly before or during the mixing with the material to be mixed and treated at the lower temperature; such cooling means to com prise attemperating coils surrounding chambers and conduits to utilize the waste heats for steam making and heating materials before mixing with slags, eta; or steel-jacketed spacings surrounding the mixing chamber with refrigerating fluids flowing therethrough ;or with mean: of blowing cold gases or air through the mixture; or advantageously cooling by mixing and fusing in the molten slags at the higher temperature necessary to fuse the matrix, the material holding the value to be extracted or recovered, though there ma y thereby be a loss of of the desired value. This latter means of cooiiug, is advantageously pursued only the one batch. of slags, or is trca in order to our a .1 or i the freeing of the values or the major portion thereof; to attain such fusion or iroeing of ucs, an additional tluxing substance may he duly added to the mix, not only to act as a but also as a harmless cooling agent to mown means are duly provided, for n temperatures from time to ixtures. and also of the .id w t means of mg the teui-peraim'cs um: cont roli and pressures of the latter in the several mixing and recovering flues, chambers, coils and accessory apparatus.

1 advantageously cool the hot emanations, gases and the like, by passing same from the mixing chamber to the recovery apparatus, or from the latter, through suitable fines or the like, surrounded by suitable receptacle for holding and thereby warming the materials to be subsequently mixed with the slags. And in the absence of such emanations recovery apparatus, I similarly utilize the hot slugs or the slag mixtures, advantageously in the desired cooling thereof, to warm suitable inclosing or surrounding receptacles for holding and heating the materials to be mixed, and in order to avoid undue chilling of the slags upon first contacting with the materials, and to attain a more homogeneous chilling or cooling of the whole mass.

The apparatus advantageously provides and includes suitable means of similarly electrically treating, and extracting the values from, the hot emanations from the admixtures of the molten slugs and materials fused therein, comprising insulated means tor collecting the emanations from the mixing chamber into and through a suitable electric earthing conduit lined with refractory conductor substances, and thence into suitable fines, and chambers for the recovery or precipitation of fumes and dusts or the like, as in metallurgicalsmelting practices, or as practised in the recovery of values in and from by-product coking ovens, or other systems of recovering values as heretofore indicated; with insulator supports for the apparatus holding or convey ing or treating the gases; with means of earthing or neutralizing the electrons of one sign only, in the einanations, in passing through the earthing conduit, duly therein provided with the unipolar contact and em-thing apparatus of Serial No. 356,708;

and thereby the emanations are charged with one sign only by the carthing of heat emitted electrons of the opposite sign only, and the particles carrying the one kind of charges, are thereafter more readily compounded with neutral or oppositely charged other particles for the contacting with "which, means are duly provided in and by ensuing flues, chambers, coils and the like, all on insulator supports, of the suitable recovery apparatus, and including precipitation, flocculation and the like effect, as with fume or dust particles carrying such charges or electrons, upon striking and contacting with duly interposed battles, plate or wire screens or the like, on insulator supports, or advantageously oppositely electrified. that is by means of a similar unipolar contact earthing apparatus; with means of antler-ting the prccipitations upon and tron:

such bodies. And similar means are provided tor the unipolar electrification oi: a second or other stream of emanations from another batch or" slag mixtures, suitable for compounding with the aforesaid emanations, and with sign opposite to the latter; and wit. means of suitably bri ging to gether and mixing, in. a neutral conduit, flue, chamber, coils or the like on insulator supports, the two oppositely charged streams oi'i' emanutions' with suitable means for recovery of values from the combined streams.

ind udvantageously, where the materials mixed with the molten slugs, comprise metals, esyiiecially precious metals, which do not volatilize at the temperature of the sl::-,, );s, and which. heavier than the slags,

whose specific averages about 2.6, and which metals or inattes can therefore be separated by gravity or centri'lfugals atter beingmelted and freed by the heat of the slags,-then the apparatus further comprises a suitable molten-metal receiving chamber or receptacle, suitably connected with the mixing cl imber, with means of passage of the metal. from the mixture thereto, when duly separated advantageously by quiescence and gravity, and the earthinu or all elect fication from the mixture and removin insulated conditions.

rind advantageously, as an alternative means, where the system of twyers and blowers for injecting ll" ses through the slag mixtures are not a," le, the ap iaratus includes, for the due rillection and transportation of the emanations from the mixing chamber, a suitable blower or suction means, in connection w h fines for the en'ianatioos, to duly propel the same therethrough, in addition to the diffusion. and expansive force of the hot gases. And advantagcously, \vl'ierc only a slap; pot or slag tilting car or the like vessel available as a mixenthc :q'niaratus includes a mechanical stirrer advantageously of pure graphite or lined therewith, or like the mechanical rabble of an iron mechanical pud filer, of a conductor or metal or alloy material of far greater melting point than the slag temperature, and advanta 'eously with cans of cooling the rabble like watercooled electrodes, and with an insulator handle or dielectric refractory cover of: the ha dle to enable the due s irrii'ig ol the mi lure under insulated coudith sulator supports of the vessel; and such rabble is advantageously a hollow cylinder with suitable means for blowing" and injecting hot air or on as or pulverized inatcrials therethrough and into the molten slugs or mixture. simultanemisly while stirring the mixture with the rabble and with the above unipolar contact and eartliing device electrically connected to the rubble.

The apparatus advantagemislv includes the conduit and suitable means of feeding the materials to be mixed and fused in the molten slags, in pulverized form, duly warmed, and in thin streams, through a feed hopper in top or sides of chamber, with simultaneous agitation, either by mechanical stirrers or by due tilting or shaking of the vessel or the like, or by suitable injecting of the powders by a twyer injector with and by the simultaneous injection of hot gases, by means similar to the like twyers and apparatus for blowing hot gases into and through blast furnaces or the like; or as described in my Serial No. 356,708.

Where the available slag mixing vessel is of the type of a by-product coke oven, with a machine operated stirrer, the apparatus advantageously includes such-like stirrer in combination with the above unipolar contact and ear-thing apparatus electrically connected with the stirrer, and advantageously with a conductor refractory lining, and adjusted to earth the freed electrons of one sign only, upon contacting therewith during the agitation with the stirrer, and simultaneously repulsing the opposite electrons or particles oppositely charged, and which latter are thereby utilized in ensuing compoun iling with other oppositely charged. or neutral particle. Refractory lining for such ovens or other slag mixing chambers is advantageously madeof a conductor substance like a carbon electrode or a graphite brick or a cement compounded ofg'raphite and of basic oxids, lime or magnesia or dolomite or fluorspar or the like admixtures. i. (A, of some of the fluxes else-' where herein stated as advantageous to mix with the sings and materials from which values are to be recovered, to serve the purpose therewith, analogous to the replaceable linings of basic slag, furnaces, when corroded. Said lining; is advantageously backed with a carbon filling between it and the outer wall or metal shell or the like, which fiilling and metal parts are likewise electrically connectcd with same unipol-earthing device as the conductor lining.

The apparatus advantageously includes, as where new smelters or open hearth furnaces, or converters or other source of slugs including electric furnaces, are to be constructed insulator supports for such, as by means of one or more layers of massive porcelain, or stoneware, or lava or other solid insulator materiah'and advantageously water cooled are placed upon present toun dation stones; and advantageously horizontally perforated to permit of the circulation therithrough of cold air or waters or the like: and otherwise conducting the smelting charge of the smelter gases; and in the teedpreceded by a dielectric joint, and electricelly'connecting said conduit and its passing slugs to earth the heat emitted electrons of one si n only therefrom, through the above unipo er contacting and earthmg apparatus; and likewise in the above smelter gas conduit; and in some cases in the hearth of the smelter or the like; and thereby obtaining and using in my process, the siege electritied largely with one sign only, advantageously positive, "and the ases ionized and electrified with opposite sign, advantageously negative. And advantageously lining the smelter or converter or other source of the molten slags. with a refractory conductor substance or compound lining like that elsewhere herein described for the bin ing of slag mixing chambers, and similarly electrically connecting the lining with a uni polar earthing device to earth the heatemitted electrons of one sign. only, advantageously the negative.

The apparatus includes the combination of the above mixing chamber and mixtures, and a itators and the like, with the conductor re ractory linings to attain extensive coutacting surfaces for and With the carthing apparatus or device. or unipolar contacting and earthing apparatus described in my aforesaid application Serial No. 356,708. and in my patents for electrical processes and up parutus, etc, Nos. 1,338,352, and 1,338,353, each dated April 27th, 1920, both filed Sc tember 30, 1919; c., using herein only tie contacting and carthing means. and disposing with the electrifier means which in this invention are przu'tically the hot slugs and hot gases and heat emitted electrons therefrom.

In. this invention. l advantageously use the direct current lo voltage circuit, with means of carthiug one pole thereof and bringing the other pole in contact with the materiel being treated. under insulated con ditions, as described. advantageously in said latter patents Though I may operate with a circuit of low voltage and amperage continuously supplied. on account of the economy in costthereo't, yet where such cost is to be i gnorcd, as Where the "aste heat of molten slags and furnace is utilized for steam making to drive steam engines to drive motor generators, dynamos and the like for creating the electric circuits used in the unipolar con-- tacting and car-thing devices. then i may advantageously use currents of higher or medium voltage and of greater empersge:

and such lattenthus created and the herein described unipolar contacting are adventugeously used in the processes oif' said application No. 356,708 in the melting of the fertilizer and other products therein described. And so likewise, in the present process, Where pulverized materials are to be blown into and mixed with sheets of falling molten slags from which electrons of one Sign have been carthed, then 1 advantageously inject such pulverized materials previouslyelectritied with sign like said earthed electron by means of such greater current and as described in said 356,708. In the recovery or extracting of some values from the slug mixtures, advantageously after the principal emanations have passed off therefrom, I edvantageously provide means for an alternative or final granulating step in the process, to wit, in the granuleting of the slag mixtures as by mechanical means such esby injecting or falling upon centrifugal revolving metallic cylinders or disperser-s within suitable chambers, or means of falling into a tower through a suitable metallic screen, or other and in part, as done in the producing of cement from slugs; inniy improved step, I advantageously electrically connect such mechanical means, the centrifugal surfaces, or the screens or sieves and the like contacting surfaces, and the jacketed Walls of the chamber or tower, with my electrical cal-thing device as stated, for earthing heat emitted electrons of one sign only; and simultaneously iniecting into the suspended or falling granulated slugs within the chamber or confined space, having insulator supports, streams of steam or vapors of e suitable solvent or disperse medium, suitable for dissolving any emanations, or some thereof, eirising from the hot grains of slag mixture suspended therein; and I further advantageously provide due means for collecting the said cmanations from said granulated mixtures while suspended, and from the sanlc upon their falling into a well of cold miter or the like, and duly transporting all such emanations. into the mixing conduits and tines to! and with the above described summations from the molten mixing chambers: and then upon recovering the close from combined cmanations; and likewise from any solutions u'cciJ-itatcd from the vapors in the chamber or tower. The granulated slag mixtures are thus made more porous. and more readily give up their values in leaching operations, or other recovery processes.

As an alternative or additional step and means for the recovery of values from the gases and cmanations, and thereby largely purifying such before the final ejection of waste into the exit chimney and atn'iosphe'cc, advrzn agcousiv provide and inscrt in the final flue to inc chimney, two succcssivc conduit sections of piping either electrons only, and

- tently feeding the comminuted U or 8 shape or the like, of about the same cross section as the final flue, and with dielectric joints between the two sections and at the ends thereof, and on insulator su ports, and with a filling in the bends of the U, of a loose bundle of metallic granules or wires or sieves or the like, with ample passageways for gases to pass therethrough; with each such bundle electrically connected with my above unipolar electric contact and earthing device, the first to earth negative the second, positive only, or vice versa, with means of blowing or forcing the gases therethrongh, with a doorway in the sections for withdrawing and replacing said bundles, and means of recovering values deposited from the U sections; the detailed construction of such conduit sections being advantageously as described, in my said Serial No. 356,708, though herein, in most cases, the

heating thereof will be dispensed with where the gases are still hot from the original slags.

By the term comminuted or pulverizing of materials for mixing into and with molten slags, I include and generally mean the coarse grinding thereof,the fineness thereof, varying with different materials,

.and the costs thereof; ordinarily 60 to 100 mesh is advantageous;1 also include thereby, the decrepitation by heat, as with fluorspar, which when coarsely ground or in small lumps, readily decrepitates in molten slags and therefore pulverizing is unnecessary. It is advantageous to first pass rocky material through a jaw crusher or the like to about one quarter inch size; then throu 'h crushing rolls to reduce to 20 to {30 mesh; and in some cases, then grind or pulverize to pass through 100 mesh screen.

1 provide means for suitably intermitmaterials into the molten slugs, as through a feed hopper or automatic door in roof of chamber, in such manner as to seal the opening against egress of gases or entrance of cold air; or injecting thin streams of comminuted materials against and into falling streams or sheets of molten slags passing into the mixing chamber over wide edges or cascade steps within the walls inclosing the mixing chamber, or using other means of feeding an'l commingling the molten sings and 60mminuted materials more especially to attain a homogeneous heat admixture or, uniform high heat for vaporizing values from the materials, with or without the fusing there-, of, as distinguished from the homogeneous mixing of the atoms and molecules and the like of the slags, and materials, which in some cases it is very diiiicult or impractical to effect on gar-count of the high viscosity of some molten slags. Therefore, I advantageously provide the means indicated for upon said bundles or homogeneously spreading and utilizing the heat and heat-emitted electrons in the emanations, vaporizations or the like, especially where such occur at temperatures far below the fusing points of the materials.

I advantageously construct the walls of the slag mixing chamber, walls of a. steel converter, and with conductor refractory lining; and with conductor or carbon filling between the inner lining and outer metal shell or walls, and with like means for tipping, feeding and emptying same; and with like means of blowing hot gases therethrough, by means of suitable twyers. Or for open-top vessels, 1 advantageously construct such, like the slaghearth or the Spanish slag-hearth with twyers; and in all constructions, 1 provide insulator supports, and interior lining of a conductor refractory compound or a conductor brick like a graphite brick, or a compound cement of graphite or amorphous carbon advantageously bonded with refractorics of basic nature, which when corroded will act as suitable admixtures or fluxes in the molten slag mixtures, like those elsewhere herein described. And such linings are electrically connected with a unipolar earthing device, like the stirrer connection, and likewise the metal shell or frame of the walls, to earth electrons of one sign only, as described.

As an alternative mixing chamber apparatus in lieu of a converter shell or the like, I provide a modification of the present byproduct coking ovcn with mechanical stirrer, or the like; with insulator supports, and with the stirrers, and advantageously the chamber refractory conductor lining, and metal parts of walls electrically connected with my above unipolar carthing device; with additional means for feeding or pours ing into same, the molten slags; and with analogous means for collecting the emanations.

I provide means of utilizing the dry methods of condensation in the treatment of large volumes of emanations, as in making slag fertilizers, by providing such means first, as are used in the separation of solid fumes, dust, etc., from smelter smokes, by cooling the gases, and by retardation of velocity through enlargement of fines, or change of direction or increase of surface friction; and further advantageously suspending numerous wire curtains in the lines, as at present, with the improvement of supporting such or the like, on insulator supports, and electrically connecting same with my above unipolar earthing device. Such fines are advantageously very long, as at present, and with the addition of insulator supports and also of dielectric joints, at ends of sections in which said wires are suspended.

like the shell. and 1 ,vention, by the molten slags.

1,377,5iiii- Means are duly provided for collecting and. removing the fumes and dusts and flocculations and the like, precipitated in said lines; and further for the due recovery of values therefrom, and also from the gases and remaining emanations duly carried beyond said depositions. Said emanations, in some cases, contain metallic values, as where such are in the materials mixed with the molten slags, and volatilize therefrom; and again, where non-volatiliza'ble, such may settle by gravity, and I provide means for the carthing of electrifications therefrom and for the settling and withdrawal thcrcoi by a suitable pipe connection with valve, from bottom of mixing chamber, in the form of a matte or metal or metallic compound, from which values are duly recovered.

As an alternative apparatus to utilize the heat of molten slags, and the heat emitted electrons, in some cases, where it is not desirable to mix the materials having values to be recovered, with the slags, I attain heat emitted electrons and ensuing recoveries of values, by means of convection of the heat through an intervening solid conductor refractory plate or bowl. or smelting furnace hearth, or crucible, or retort, or the like, or muflie or cupola furnace and with in-- sulator supports, and which rests upon or in the molten slag, and which retortor the like holds or supports the said materials, which are thus heated, deflagrated, or fused or the like, often with ensuing emanations of gases, vapors, fumes and the like, together with heat emitted electrons from the materials or from the intervening hot infusible refractory plate; and the values are subsequently recovered from said emanations, as also from the remainder of the materials in the bowl or the like, substantially as herein stated for and from the above slag mixtures; and for and with such, I provide and adapt like accessory means as fib0i 8 described and with my unipolar contact and earthing device for earlhing one kind of electrons and repulsing and retaining the opposite kind of electrons, as more fully described in my Serial No. 356,708,- though it will be understood that the heat source therein stated, is replaced in this in- It will be understood, that I provide such retort-like furnace, duly set into a bath of molten slags in a suitable slag pot, with means of separatelv introducing into the retort sundry materials in some cases, including gases, for due compoundings, and with connections from the retort to condensers and the like; with means of stirring or otherwise agitating the retort contents and of periodically emptying and refilling the retort; and with means of pouring the slags into the surrounding bath, and withdrawing same therefrom; and means of attemperating and insulator supports for same. Most of the solids compounded with gases and sprays as described in said Serial No. 356,708, can be advantageously compounded in the above means, and methods, where economically available at or near the source of the molten slags.

As a product, the invention generally stated, comprises a compound of values electrically recovered from or with a molten slag with other materials comprising values, embodying and comprising compound of chemical reactions, and molecular associations, and electric adsorptions, and the like, whereof the compounded molecules and the like, have increased density and stability and less hygroscopicity, meaning, as compared with similar products otherwise recovered or manufactured or obtained.

As a fertilizer product, generally stated, the invention comprises a pulverized electrically compounded slag with fertilizer values of materials compounded or fused therein and therewith and thereby, embodying and comprising compound of fertilizer ingredients in available state, the compounds comprising chemical reactionsmolec ular associations, and electrical adsorptions, and the like, and whereof the molecules and the like have increased density and stability and decreased hygroscopicity; and in some cases, distinguished by the elimination of deleterious components from the burnt prod uct. Such fertilizer-values include sundry soluble phosphates, and potash and nitrogen compounds, or either or any two thereoii, 1

in the available forms desired, and also lime, and in some cases magnesia; and again, minor parts of soluble oxide of iron and advantageously of manganese or the like acti vator or catalytic assimilable element.

Again, in some products, as where the molten slags are duly mixed with. materials comprising nitrogen, including gases including nitrogen fixed from air, or from smelter gases, or from cement making plants,

or from by-product coke ovens or the like. the product comprises such values in avail-- able form. Again, fertilizers are now made from basic slags, where the ores used contain phosphatic ingredients; but where tin latter are absent, as in most U. S. iron ores, and where only acid slags are obtainable a product with phosphates is obtained by this process from the mixing of slugs with phosphatic rocks, and having the above qualities or distinguishing characteristics.

As a product, the invention further com prises values recovered as described, iuclud-; ing chemical compounds or molecular asso; ciations, 'or adsorption compounds of two molecules or atoms or ions or particles or colloids or the like, from each of which, or one thereof, there have been removed or neutralized heat-emitteil electrons of one iii? emitted electrons emitted from a neighboring particle; and which have thereby become electrified with one sign only, and opposite to each other; or one component being electrified and the other neutral; all such 'prior to the compounding. And one such.

- compound may thereupon further compound with a third atom or molecule or particle, or with a compound like unto itself, such latter being oppositely electrified and the resulting compound being a molecular association. And all such compounds have increased density due to the electrical pressures in the compounding, which results in increased stability, with diminished hygroscopicity. And likewise as regards the electrically combined adsorption compounds. In the molten slags, there are sundry colloids, electrically charged by the heat efo fects, while molten or suspended in the molten slags or in some cases, in the emanations; and including the sundry metal elements present from the metallic ores with.

which the furnace or the like was charged; and where such metals or mattes thereof are desired to be recovered, such may be elec- 1 trically discharged by the described process, and the subsidence by gravity facilitated, and the values recovered in neutral state. I attain my invention by the novel electrical ap- 'paratus in combination with sundry existing apparatus illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters and numbersrefer to similar parts; but it will be understood, I do not restrict myself to the particular means described, other suitable apparatus being readily adaptable by a skilled engineer, with the addition of similarly combining therewith the unipolar contacting and earthing means or device and with insulator supports and dielectric joints and the like to attain insuports, with unipolarearthing devices. Fig.

lated conditions in the conduct of the process.

Figure 1 is a vertical section, in diagram of an open-top slag-mixer with insulator supports, with stirrer, in combination with an electrical unipolar earthing device. Fig.

2 is a diagram of a vertical section of a 4 is avertical diagram of an-open-topmixcr, set in a hot-slag bath, with hollow stirring rod and means of injecting hot gases into the mixer contents through stirrer, with insulator supports, with unipolar earthing device. -Fig. 5 is a diagram in perspective of a furnace-slag-tap, with molten slag being poured into a slag-run, (to or from a slagmixer, not sh0Wn,) with insulator supports. with unipolar earthing device from the molten slags. Fig.6 is a diagram of a perspective view of a slag-run, such as Fig. 5, combined with a slag-spreader, with means of blowing pulverized materials against the spreader while the slags are flowing thereover, and thence into a slag-mixer, with insulatorsupports, with unipolar earthing device.

In general, letter S indicates hot sla s and mixtures; S etc, hot slag mixers; gas piping from mixers; P, electrifier conduits for gases and emanat1ons;.E E, the electrifier earthing device; 1', hot slag runs, or troughs; I, slag-inlets; L, lining of refractory con.- ductor substance; C, cooling coils or for steam, or heating sands, etc.; T, twyers; R, rabble or any stirring device; DJ, dielectric joint; Y, insulator support; g, inlet port for powders into mixers.

Fig. 1 is a; diagram of .avertical section of an open-top slag-mixing chamber S like the present slag-pot, or slag-tilting car, or a slag-hearth, or the like, with insulator supports Y, with a mechanical stirrer R, with a conductor refractory lining L of said chamber S and whereof n represents an outer metal shell, and m is a filling of car- 'bon, or like the walls of a steel converter,

between at and L, andwhich stirrer has an insulator handle or cover to handle Y, and

the said R and-the said lining L and shell 1?. of the chamber, bein electrically connected to a unipolar eartliing device, genfilly indicated by the letters E E, and fully described in my aforesaid patent application,

. and illustrated in part in Fig. 1, in which D C G is a direct current generator or stor age battery or other source of a direct current circuit, with pole-changer P C in the circuit, with one lead wire W therefrom tov earth, and theother lead wire w, torabble or stirrer R and to contact lining L, and with voltmeter V and ammeter A and galvanometer not shown, and resistance R, and cut-out switch 8, and clamp C E, (being a. detachable'clamp for attaching wire 'w to R and to L) in the said circuit and shown in the wire w, and with the molten slag mixture S inthe chamber S in contact with L and with R. It will be understood that by the letters E-E, I also include the use of other analogous unipolar contacting and earthing devices described in my above patent applications; and that any such, with a single chamber as above, constitutes a slag mixing unit.

Fig. Q-is a diagram of vertical sections of a combination of three several slag-mixing chambers or units: S S and S with closed top having inlet ports g for materials into the molten slags, and also havin inlet conduits l for feeding molten slags fa 'ng from slag-runs a", from the slag source, ,to wit: a smelter, or open-hearth steel turnace, or a converter or the like Z; the slag-run rbeing shown leading to S holding a slag-mixture P, as of phosphorites and slag-run 7 leading slags from Z to S holding such as potash K mixture; and with slagruns r and 7" leading slag mixtures trom S and S respectively to the third mixing unit S and with twyers T and T and T for blowing hot gases from the smelter or other source of waste gases, into and through said vessels S S and S respectively, and into and through retort-like necks or conduits G and G and G: respectively from S and S and S together with the hot vapors, gases and emanations therefrom,--all being duly continuously blown into gas-mixing conduits or apparatus G M,-and thence into suitable fume and dust and fioccular precipitations collectors l3; and thence into suitable gaseous and other recovery apparatus G C; and thence forcing the waste ases to purifier conduits P and P with metallic sieves or the like, a and a electrically earthed as shown; and thence to chimney A and the atmosphere, S G and S G and S G are gas conduit leading the hot smelter gases or the like, to twyers T, T and T respectivcl ,with suitable blowers not shown, with regu able pressure. Insulator supports Y are shown for the sundry vessels and such are also used though not shown for the conduits and 'connectin iping,and which are also provided witl i dielectric joints D J, at points shown and elsewhere wherever it is essential to maintain operating under insulated conditions. At C C are cooling coils or the like for duly utilizing waste heats as for steam boilers or heating materials to be mixed with molten slags, or other heatin urposes.

represents a receptacle below any miner, as S for receiving molten metals or mattes, as of precious metals, settling in the molten mixtures by gravity and periodically allowed to fall into M through a suitable exit pipe and dielectric joint connection from bottom of mixer, with cut-0d valve in the exit pipe, not shown.

The unipolar earthing device E E, ad-

vantageously like, that illustrated. in Fig. l, ,is daily electrically connected with the conductor refractory liningsof the vessels and conduits at the points indicated diagrammaticall in Fig, 2. it will be understood the sai three units may be operated together, as stated, or each separately; and that not shown, are provided for withdrawing the slag mixtures or residues from the chambers; and for the due recovery of values from such residues as also from the emanations either those from each miXin chamber separately or all together as indicated.

The slag-mixtures from S or the residues therefrom after the emanations therefrom have been allowed to pass off, it thus desired, are duly withdrawn from the bottom, by opening suitable shut-ofi valves, not shown, and allowed to flow by gravity, through slag-run 1 into a granulating chamber and cold water pit WV,-the slagmixtures being advantageously sprayed by being blown by a blast of cold air or some of the waste emanations from a branch S G firom G by a twyer blast T so that the molten stream is first projected upon and is sprayed by falling upon the well-known centrifugal or revolving cylinder VV or using acold-blast air injector W to so do,and the falling grains and sprays while en route to the cold-water pit W are granulated-and further in some cases made porous by meeting a stream of gases or vapors or emanations injected through a twyer or injector T and the hot gases and vapors or the like are duly blown through V into exit pipe G and thence into F and ensuing recovery apparatus. W and G are advantageously supported on insulators, not shown; and the granulating centrifugal electrically connected with E E, to earth negative electrons.

he waste heat from the emanations and gases and slag mixture prior to granulating the latter are used for heating the various materials prior to mixing with slags to avoid chilling the latter; also for making steam to drive dynamos and motors and the electric currents used in the process or for other lighting and power purposes, all by well known means not shown.

Fig. 3 is a diagram of a vertical section of a retort like vessel or chamber V, the body or flask of which may be a long tube, or like a destructive distillation apparatus, with the chamber lined with conductor refractory lining, not shown with insulator supports Y, advantageously with a stirrer R projecting into V for agitating mixtures of materials therein, with means of electrically connecting the stirrer and the lining lil E, a unipolar earthing device; with inlet ports 9 for feeding materials M to be mixed and treated in the chamber; with inlet conduits I for injecting gases or powders and gases into M; with dielectric joint I) J, in conduit 1, electrically connected with E E; with neck or outlet pipe G for emanations and gases from V and into suitable condensing and recovery apparatus, not shown, like the same indicated in Fig. 2; with an injector G J for injecting vapors or reacting gases or the like into G electrically connected with E E, analogous to and for like functions to similar injector G J of .Fig. 2; and with means of attemperating M,

waste heat for generating steam for electric.

light and power purposes, including that utilized in E E, the unipolar contacting and earthing device. Similar coils C, or the like means for utilizing the waste heats from molten slags, or from the smelter gases,

or from the emanations described, are also shown and used in various parts of the apparatus of Fig. 2. It will be noted, that Fig. 3,-is an alternative form of apparatus, wherein the materials M having values to be recovered, are advantageously treated at lower temperatures than molten slags, or advantageously not mixed with molten slags, but with heat-emitted electrons therefrom or from the highly heated metal frame of V in contact with the slags, or from the gases and emanations carrying electrons from prior contact thereof with molten slags of the gases and emanations injected into M through I, or in some cases, through the hollow rabble R. And likewise in Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a diagram of a vertical section of an open-top kettle or the like, V on insulator supports Y, with conductor refractory lining of the chamber, not shown, holding materials M in comminuted form, to be treated, and "with stirrer R, with means not shown of blowing hot gases through R, with means of setting the kettle V in a bath of molten slag S, in a slag-pot S on insulator supports Y,- with cooling coils C surrounding 8*, with R and conductor lining of V electrically connected to E E.

Fig. 5 is a diagram or perspective view of a slag tap if from the source not shown, leading the molten slags S to a slag-run or trough 1', on insulator supports Y, and provided with a conductor refractory lining L, and advantageously with cross-wise strips or lowbaflie plates or bundle of wires a, over which the slags flow, before passing by gravity into molton slag mixing chambers, not shown; and the said L and a, being electrically connected to E E, a unipolar earthing device, to earth from the passing slags, electrons of one-sign only, and whereby or whereupon the slags pass into the Y mixing chambers largely electrified with opposite sign. The slag-runs of Fig. 2, are

advantageously thus constructed. Such are termed electrifier slag-runs.

The conductor refractory linings for the above described electron contacting, to earth the heat-emitted electrons of one sign 70 only, are made advantageously of aifiorphous carbon, such as charcoal or lamp-black or gas-retort coke or petroleum coke, with a binding material of waterglass or tar, and practically as now employed in making carbon mixtures for arc-electrodes or carbon battery plates or carbon brushes; and with the addition to the mixture, of acid or basic refractories, pulverized, of the same minerals, silica constituentsor lime and mag- 8 nesia, respectively, 01. 8., similar to the fluxes or admixtures added to the molten slag mixtures herein described; when the latter is made basic, no acid lining should be used, that is no silica or the like is used in the '86 lining, but advantageously sundry basic minerals and advantageously oxids of K or of Na or of Mn or of Fe, that is oxide which are advantageous in a fertilizer when such is being made'by this process,.-and which may find their way into the slag mixtures when the lining is, in time corroded and disintegrated.- In the latter event, the lining-is periodically renewed.

Where the .lower slag temperatures are used, as herein described, in some cases, a metal lining is advantageous, of good conductor metal, which will not fuse or melt or deteriorate at such temperature.

Fig. 6 is a diagram of a slag-spreader plate 0", advantageously provided to receivethe slags S falling from slag-run 1 or the like, into a slag pot or slag mixer S I; and while falling on such inclined plate 1*,

the materials with values to be mixed with 10-5 the slags, are injected in hot and sand-like form by suitable blasts through injectors 10 against the slags; the spreader plate being lined with a conductor refractory substance like slag-runs, and electrically connected with a unipolar earthing device E E to earth heat emitted electrons of one sign only.

S may be either an open slag pot, or like Fig. 1, or a retort like chamber as in Fig.

2. Where the comminuted materials thus injected into the thin streams of molten slags on the spreader, are phosphorites, the unipolar device E E is adjusted to earth positive only, both from the injectors 10, and the mixture S In the preceding slag run, the

negative is earthed. On the spreader plate, and in the mixing chamber, the negatively charged phosphates combine with the positively charged lime and the like; forming calcium phosphates. Lime or magnesiag or the like admixtures, are advantageously similarly and separately projected, earthing the negative therefrom,--and so doing prior to injecting the hosphorites. i It will be un erstpod,-that the'slag -runs 13) navigate i-- and. r+ of Fig. 2 are like Fig, 5 in contruction, andelectrically connected with a uni-polar earthing dev'ice llfil, to earth from fiowingtherethrough only negative only positive electrons respectively as shown; c., the slags conveyed to S, in 'cli phosphorites P are mixed and which o oil positive electrons by high heat and ecdrne negatively charged, the flowing are advantageously positively charged L- iinu negative heat-emitted electrons 7mm; and conversely, as regards the i materials K in slag mixture 5, and the flowing in run-way r+. And likewise, regards run-ways 1' and which lead slap; mixtures, from S and S respectively into may be advantageously electrically connected to earth opposite electrons respec tively, prior to mixing in S The operation of the apparatus '15 conclucted as indicated. in the description there of, and or" the process; and, in general tapping the slag tap 13' of the furnace; allowthe molten slags S to fall into slag;- run 9, contacting with bellies 01 therein connected with E E, adjusted to earth positive electrons it the slags be basic, with phosphorites, or negative for acid slags; thence allowing the siege to fall into slag pot S or the like of Fig. 1, or Fig. 2, and simuleously feeding therein the comminuted 1 and agitating the mixture with rer of Fig. 1, or blast of hot gases r. 2, and adjusting" the unipolar earthing device, to earth positive electrons it the materials comprise phosphorites or the like, and to earth negative electrons, it the maerials comprise potash; that is to say, where he materials comprise particles whose heatm electrons are mainly negative, as t llmlis, then the negative is earthed,

.2. E leaving the particles charged 1379; and conversely where the heat electrons are largely positive, as ':h. phosphoritic materials, then the posi lectrons are earthed as from S leavthe particles charged negative. Nhere in in S which. has no earth connection; 'n g; transported thereto over or in sla rruns r and 1, respectively, in intageously similarly earth connected ant, S

emanations from S Fin. 1 escape space, and are wasted; but in Fig. 2, such shown, as indicated, duly led into conduit 8", and meeting the emanations from 1M1 G and emanations from S via G d all together in conduit G M, and thence wn into fume and dust collectors F, and ersuing condensers C or other recovery apzitus and finally into the twin or consecuadsorption conduits P and. P and to chimney A, to the atmosphere or space at large and with unipolar earth connection as shown or described, from the conduits and recovery apparatus or the like.

In the conduct of the process and apparatus for making fertilizer products, 1 advantageously utilize hot molten acid slags, whiclr usually comprise no or very little phosphatic materials, with silicious or basic minerals comprising such phosphorites or phosphates, chiefly those with tricalcium phosphate; and which minerals are fusible in the molten slugs; and likewise, advantageously separately sundry potash silicate rocks, such as greensand or glauconite; or the sericite slates; or the lcucite rocks; or the like materials in crushed or coarsely comminuted or pulverized form; or I mix the finely ground mill-tailings containing potash salts or the silicates of potassium as now found in the dumps of wastes of sundry metallurgical plants; and I advantageously volatilize the potash salts as described for recovery of values, as in Fig. 2, and in addition to recovering the potash salts from the emanations, I also recover a material part of the remaining precious metal content whose specific gravity is greater than the slags or slag mixture, and as described. Or I mix with the molten slag mixtures of the above character, nitrate bearing earths or rocks which are now not utilized, on account of cost of recovery of nitrates with present processes; or I mix some of the nitrogen gases from by-product coking ovens or the like, or from and with the smelter gases, duly blown through the molten slag mixtures as described; or I mix some of the cyanamids or calcium nitrates or the like, described in my above Serial No. 356,708, advantageously while still hot from the original manufacture thereof. It will be understood, that the economic situation will largely govern the use of any such above materials, notably the costs'ot' bringing the materials to the fun naces where the molten sings are produced,

for due mixing therewith at the source,

without additional consumption of fuel; and thereby utilize the present waste heat in the form of additional commercial lay-products of the smelter or converter or the like.

In the operation of the process with molten slat, mixtures, it is important to previously ascertain the average approximate composition or percentages o1 ingredients of the stage, and also of the materials to be mixed therewith, and thereupon the relative amounts of the materials and the slags, and either with or without additional suitable other admixtures such as lime or magnesia or dolomite or silica or the like, can be readily determined by the same general rules as adopted by the skilled metallurgist in determining like questions in mixing ores and dunes in smelting operations. As guide, the following authoritative quotations,

are adopted Technical Paper 187 of 1918, Q

35.32%; and MgO 5.51%; CaS 3.87%;

' other oxids 2.06%.

The percentage of the so-called bases is 51.61%, whereas the percentage of the acids is 48.39%- (Page 25): Average analyses of slag from furnace producing basic iron: CaO 44.34%; A1 0 11.84%; SiO 35.97%. Again, the Carnegie Steel Co. of Pittsburg, Pa., reports the chemical analyses of air-cooled blast furnace slags from nine distant and different plants and localities, with composition as follows:

Percentages.-

Silica 31.53 to 36. 72 Alumina 12. 39 to 14. 11 Calcium oxid 38.75 tO'thi. 8 Magnesium oxid 1.62 to 19. 13 Iron oxid 0.25 to 2.00 Sulfur in calcium Sl1lfi(l 0.89 to' 1. 29 Sulfur in calcium sulfate--. 0.1 to 0.52

Basic slags from iron ores, which abound in Europe but not in the U. S., have been demonstrated by agriculturists to comprise 'tllie phosphates, duly abstracted from the ores, and tobe contained in the slags as so1l soluble phosphates of lime and phosphates of magnesia; and generally as the tetra basic-phosphate of lime or of magnesia, or of both. Such readily dissolve in water saturated with CO or in like soil conditions, forming an acid phosphate of lime, or of magnesia, the former like that found in the commercial superphosphates.

My electrical improvement enables the attaining of a similar composition of soil- -soluble phosphates in slags from ores destitute of phosphorus or phosphates, by the due mixing with molten slags from such ores, or with acid slags, of materials comprising phosphorites or the like, together with basic elements where such. are deficient in the slags or the materials, such as lime or calcite, or magnesia, or dolomite, or the like in ample calculated amount to combine with the phosphates present in order to form sundry phosphates of lime or phosphates of magnesia; and also silicates of lime or other base, wherever silica is in excess; and for that a siliceous slag cannot so do, and is advantageously converted into the composition of or approximating a basic slag, by the admixtures indicated.

Mixtures of acid slags with phosphatic limestone have heretofore been made by ordinary methods of mixing, but in most cases, though ample percentages of phosphorlc acid were.present, yet only' a slight portion thereof, say one-tenth to two-tenths was soluble in citric acid or soil condition iron, andaluminum.

. and

process, probably from the following cause.

Generally, lime CaO at the high temperature of the molten slag s, emits negative electrons, and itself becomes positive. Silica SiO on the contrary (with its additional element of O), emits positive electrons, and itself becomes negative, and thereupon readily combines. with the positive lime upon.

contacting therewith. And likewise, phosphorie acid P 0 with its excess of O, emits positive electrons and itself becomes negatively charged, and thereupon readily com bines with the lime or the like base, and simultaneously repels the similarly charged silica.

One such acid slag from open hearth steel furnace was found upon analysis to comprise percentages as follows: silica 50.26; lime. Ca(), 1% F 0 32.80; MnO 15.10. One such phosphatic limestone constituents comprised lime 51.54%; ho'sphoric acid 22.27%; C9 17.20%; and iO Al O 8.99%..

It will be understood that no two slags even from the same source, and likewise no two such materials. as said phosphatic limestone, analyze exactly alike; but a fair average based thereon can be, assumed. Quoting from Separate No. 730 from Yearbook U. S. Department of Agriculture,

High-grade phosphorite or phosphate rock, consists chiefly of tricalcium phosv phate, commonly called bone phosphate of lime. The commercial grades range from 65 to 78% of this compound and'contain as impurities, varyingamounts of silica carbonates, fluorids and oxids or phosphates of For producing soluble and available phosphates, without the use of sulfuric acid there are two general processes The first of these is based on the production of phosphate compounds which undergo ready decomposition under soil conditions. In this class is the phosphate of basic slag, a substance which is now universally recognized as a highly desirable phosphatic fertilizer.

The other method of producing phosphoric acid, is based onv the vol-' atilization of this acid from its compounds,

its subsequent collection. The general scheme consists in submitting an intimate mixtureof phosphate rock and sand, with or without coke, to the action of a temperature sufficiently high, to drive off the phosphoric acid, and produce a slag consisting chiefly of silicate of lime. This slag contains most of the impurities originally present in the phosphate rock. The nearly pure phosphoric acid volatilized pended solids through a porous med absorbed in water, f f can then be used either for treating a second batch of phosphate rock and producing thereby double acid phosphate, or it may be neutralized with ammonia, forming ammonium phosphate, one of the most concentrated fertilizers it is possible to produce. It renders possible the utilization of lower grades of phosphate unsuitable for treatment with sulfuric acid. Moreover, the product obtained is phosphoric acid in such a concentrated form that long railroad hauls would be commercially practicable.

Again, noting from Bulletin No; 1&3 of 1914, U. S. Department of Agriculture, on The production and fertilizer value of citric-soluble phosphoric acid and potash 2? Composition of phosphatie limestone: P U 20%; CaU, 37.1%; EH0 32.4%; C0,, 10.5%.?

In the manufacture of the concentrated fertilizer, such as the above ammonium phosphate, 1 advantageously apply my aforesaid process and apparatus, advan-- tageously described for Fig. 2, and advantageously as an improvement upon and using the process for reparing a concentrated fertilizer descri ed in U. S. Patent No. 1,194,077 dated Aug. 8, 1916, duly dedicated to the ublic, without cost, by the inventors W. Ross, and A. R. Merz and J. N. Carothers, of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Quoting from said patent:

A concentrated fertilizer is thus obtained directly in the dry way without the aid of scrubbing towers of any kind, and all expenses involved in the evaporation of solutions, filtration and the drying of crystallized salts, operations which are incident to the preparation of salts by the wet method, are avoided. if l Vhen the process is carried out under suitable conditions, the solid product resulting from the reacting gases e., P Q, plus QNH, plus H 9 or ZH O or EH 0) settles out in a very flocculent condition, which enables it to be easily collected by filtering the gases with the susium. or by an arrangement of baffle plates. We do not confine our process to the production of ammonium metaphosphate or to any other definite compound of phosphorus mid and ammonia, for there may be produced in the dry state, any one of several compounds, or a mixture, of different compounds by causing variations in the relative amounts of the reacting gases.

ii/ hen it is desired to retain most of the phosphates in the slags. to be utilized as slag phosphate fertilizers, I add basic materials to the mixture, especially such as have a fertilizer value, such as lime or calcite or magnesia or the like, in calculated amount. advantageously so that the total of the basic elements shall be approximately double the acid elements, silica and the like, and plus the amount of phosphoric acid content, to be fixed by the lime or magnesia or the like.

On the other hand, where it is desired to volatilize the phosphoric acid, I provide excess of the acid constituents, sufiicient to combine with the basic lime and the like, and recover the phosphoric acid values as described for Fig. 2; advantageously combining the vapors with gaseous ammonia, upon the due cooling of the vapors, and duly forming a phosphateof ammonia, a most concentrated fertilizer; the said vapor P 0 is negatively charged by the emission of positive electrons due to heat of slags; and thereafter 113011 bringing such in contact with the N 3 gases, either electrically neutral or negatively electrified, in the insulated recovery apparatus, and mixing conduits described, and advantageously as described in above Patent No. 1,194c,077 the desired compound is attained, with molecules of increased density and stability. Such vapors may also be recovered in water, in well known methods; and advantageously injecting steam into the vapors in an insulated conduit as described. As a general rule, like the above P 0 molecules which emit positive electrons at high heat, and become negatively charged, so also in general do SiO in silicates, and CO in carbonates, and SO, in sulfates, and uncombined Fe, and Cl, and F1, and N0 and UN; and on the contrary, like GaO which emits negative electrons at high heat, so also in general do Fe in ferrous or ferric compounds, and Mn in manganic compound H and K, and Mg, and Na, and NH and K 0.

The process is operated in an analogous manner for the utilization of the heat of molten slags and the hot gases from the source producing the slugs, in the recovery of values from potash-bearing siliceous or basic rocks, or the like; though advantageously at lower temperatures.

Quoting from Bulletin No. 415, U. S. Department of Agriculture 191.6. on The recovery of potash from alunite Alunite is a hydrous sulfate of potash and alumina. on heating to a moderate temperature (500 (l), water is driven off and the mineral decomposes into alumina and potassium aluminum sulfate. Upon increasing the temperature to 700 to 750 C., the latter compound is decomposed, fumes of sulfur dioxid and trioxid are evolved, and a residue remains which consists of alumina and soluble potassium sulfate, and the residues subsequently leached with water. A temperature between 750 and 800 C. was found to be best for the complete extraction of the potash with the minimum amount of water.

Tn the application of my electrical process to molten slags and alunite, I follow the general process heretofore described, empirically first advantageously mixing equal weights of each; and at low temperatures 700 to 800 (1., where open top slag mixing vessel s only are available; and either using the mixture, upon due granulating or pulverizing, as a fertilizer, without effecting a separation of the soluble potash salts; or I may duly leach the latter therefrom.

-"Where apparatus such as Figs. 2 or 3, is available, for collecting and recovering values from emanations, I advantageously,

treat the mixtures at the higher'slag temperatures 1000 C. upward, withex'cess of bases, and minimum of acids, silica and the like, to vaporize the alkalis with other emanations, and recover the values as described.

It will be noted, that in the process, I advantageously first utilize the heat to duly calcine such rocks or the like, to first drive off the water and the oxids of sulfur, or the like by volatilization, at the start, prior to the'due recovery of values. The residue, after the complete volatilization, is suitable for making metallic aluminum. Quoting further from said U. S. Bulletin 415:

Potash is now being recovered as a byproduct from blast-furnace operations and in the manufacture of cement from potashbearing silicates, lime being used to convert the potash into oxid, in which form it is readily driven off. The residue then consists of a clinker having the properties of hydraulic cement.

In the application of my electrical process to such, I advantageously blow such with the waste gases from the furnace or the like through the molten mixtures as described; or where gathered in the form of dusts at their source, I duly mix same, as described for other materials, with the addition of'lime or other base, where such is indicated.

Quoting further from said U. S. Bulletin Alunite and fluorspar or some other fluorid are powdered and intimately mixed, (or better, are ground together) and heated at such a temperature that the hydrofluoric acid (of-the fluorid) is set free by the sulfuric acid (or sulfur trio'xid) yielded by the alunite on heating. This converts the alumina 'into aluminum fluorid the potassium remaining as sulfate. The product is then leached, the potassium dissolving as sulfate.

This latter utilization of fiuorspar, is the invention of Paul J. Fox of the Department of Agriculture, .luly dedicated to the public, as described in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,217 ,432, dated February 27, 1917; and the use of fiuorspar or the like is utilized in my slates combined, and

process, where the economic conditions are such, that the spar can be economically transported to the source of the molten slags, in order to there utilize the heat and heat-emitted electrical conditions of this invention, and in order to economicallyrecover the values desired from alunite and from other materials herein indicated. And in" order that such heat effects ma lized at the molten slag sources, I advantageously utilize the materials from which values are desired to be recovered, with such additive fluxes or the like admixtures, economically attainable in different and distant sections of the 'country,and which materials as well as fluxes must be different on account of costs of transportation.- Inthe U. S., alunite is often associated with gold ores. I also mix fluorspar with hosphorites and slags, for like reasons. r spar and calcite.

Said Bulletin 415 gives the analyses of sundry alunites, with potash (K 0) content varying from 3.48 to 9.61% and silica 39.20 to 4.41%; and iron and aluminum oxids 26.97 to 36.10%; water about l3%.

Other materials with potash content, available in some sections, are sericite or potash slates. An analyses of such and oi .the available molten slags, will readily enable the operator to determine the amounts to mix, and of desirable fluxes. In the application of my process, I advantageously mix the slags with about one-half the weight of the slates; and add lime thereto in amount about three and a half times the amount of lime or magnesia in the slags and after first mixing and fusing such then addcommon salt in amount one half said added lime; and preferably at over 1310 C. in order to fuse the mixture; after the fusion, I advantageously reduce the temperature to about 800 C. and stir and agitate for about 20 vminutes, advantageously recovering values from the vaporizations of potassium chlorid fumes; and also sodium chlorids; and

quickly cooling and granulating the residues, from which potassium chlorids can also be duly leached and crystallized out upon due evaporation. pensing-with the salt, and ing and Or by disquickly coolgranulating the mixture after the fusion, the potash may be obtained in soil soluble state to amount of about 10 or more, of the mixture, suitable mixture with the to 12% granulated or pulverized as fertilizer. In the first potash material, I adjust the unipolar earthing device to carry to negative chlorine (and which latter is readily charged negative, emitting positive elec- CIA emma then and advantageously at lower e store, add. common salt in amount int onevthird weight of the added latter being advantageously added 7 earth ion, from the mixang ground switch of the device, or otherwise dis- Y .ie from mixing chamber. a potassium alumino-silicate, any found in lava flows. here the potash bearing green sands are commercially available, I mix and treat same as above indicated,- and advantageously mi); such, (as also any other potassium bearing silicate rocks), as recited in Fig. 2 apparatus, in one separate molten sla chamber, S and with suitable admixof dunes lime or the like, and in ano mixer S likewise mix a phosphorite material as above described; and "hereafter, duly. min the two in a third chz nber S and simultaneously,collect and treat the combined emanations from the three mixing chambers; and recover the values from each; including potassium phosphates, from the third chamber residues, and the emanations therefrom.

Quoting from lechnical paper No. 187 of 1918. oi the ll. S. Bureau of Mines, e'ntitled Slag viscosity tables for blast iurnace work 1 v The most important conclusion to be drawn from the results of the'investigation, is, that a slag, even when melted and comletely converted. into a liquid, is composed of relatively complex compounds of lime, ahunina and silica, and not of a simple mixture or solution of the constituent oxids of (hail, Alf), and Sit), this discovery will ultimately necessitate a revision oi ideas commonly held regarding the chc1nical properties of slaps, etc.

avail myself oi said discovery. by advantageously adding admixtures to the mixtures of molten slags and materials comprising values to be recovered, by the addition of other materiais in the nature oi fluxes as described to insure compounding oi the values with the latter and to attain chemical reaction and other compounds "cvicc adjusted to earth negative elcc-.

with the latter, together with electrical adsorption compounds of the values with the complex compounds of lime, alumina and silica, above indicated, and with the minute crystalline articles of such or of the admixtures, w ich may not be completely fused at the lower molten slag temperatures.

Quoting further from said paper No. 18?: Within the temperature range, beginning at a point where the ternary eutectic melts, and extending to a point where the entire mass is converted to a liquid, we are dealing with a complex system, (i. e., molten slags), composed of a liquid within which is suspended a certain quantity of solid crystals, or if the amount of the eutectic is small, of a mass of crystals covered on the surface with a thin layer of liquid slag.

Again quoting from said No. 18?:

It is known that the calcined limestone of, the charge, the gangue of the ore, and.

in the highly heated slag, are thereby raised to a temperature considerably above the melting point of pig iron. During the time the molten iron is in contact with the slag within the blast furnace, those reactions of desulfurization and of silica reduction oc cur, that determine the grade of pig produced.

I advantageously facilitate the said reactions and the like with the application of my above described process and apparatus applied to such furnaces and smelter-s Z and the like, as shown in Fig. 2;

I do not restrict the process to hot molten slags, from iron furnaces, steel converters, or the like, but also utilize such from copper smelters or converters, whose slugs consist mainly of silica, lime and ferrous oxid, with minor quantities of alumina and other oxids: and also slags from lead smelters. and other metallurgical operations. And likewise as regards the emanations, vaporizations hot gases or the like, from such furnaces or the like, sources of molten slags, the high heat whereof, and the heat-emitted electrons and ensuing elcctrifications are utilized, similarly, as described, and as illustrated by the apparatus of Fig. 2; and advantageously. by blowing such emanations and hot ga ses, from the smelter stacks or the like, under insulated conditions, advantageously first electrified with one sign only, and then projected through the molten slag mixtures, through suitable insulated twyers, and advantageously before utilizing the hot waste gases for heating steam boilers, or for preheating blasts, or preheating or warming the materials to be mixed with the slags: or other uses.

Gases which have bpen in co i'a glowing slags, either, in the verter or other source, are ionized thereby, and become; conductors; I avail myself thereof in the manner above described; and to neutralize heat-emitted electrons in the slag mixtures, and subsequently, in the emanations carried into the recovery apparatus by the blasts of gases, as illustrated in Fig. *2; and which may-be similarly used with retortlike vessels such as Fig. 3 and in the conduits of the recovery apparatus, I earth from such emanations and gases, electrons of one sign only, by bringing same in contact with I I hot gases and accompanying emanations from the smelter Z, in Fig. 2, or like source of molten sla s, from contact with the latter, comprise eat emitted electrons of both signs in general, and at a temperature exceeding 750 C; and I advantageously first earth therefrom, in a suitable conductor gas conduit section P details not shown, pre ceding the twyer T leading to slag mixture 3, with phosphorites, the negative electrons; and similarly another stream of the hot gases is projected into slagmixture S with potash or the like, through twyer T preceded by a conductor gas conduit section P details not shown, having a unipolar earthing device to earth positive electrons only; thereupon the electrified gases take up from the mixture while being projected therethrough, the heat emitted electrons of opposite sign, neutralizing many such, and carrying off the surplus ifany not neutralized; and generally the latter, as there is a great excess of electrons from the molten solids as compared to gases.

As the gases are projected through S and S into emanations andgas conduits G and G respectively, and then into the common mixing conduit or other gas mixing device G M, the opposite electrons are again earthed from G and G or conduit sections P and P thereof respectively so that when the gases are mixed in G M, which is neutral or completely insulated, they are oppositely electrified, and compoundings are readily and quickly effected, with molecules of increased I density, resulting in increased stability; and

thereupon and thereafter values are recovered more quickly and effectively, in increased amount. The said gas conduit sections are advantageously rovided with insulator dielectric joints D at the ends, with due connection with ensuing pipes or vessels;

plus or minus electrons only, or neither, i. 6.,

with no ground connection.

Again, I may utilize the hot furnace gases, duly electrified by the earthing of heat emitted electrons of one sign only, as described, by the due projection thereof, under suitable pressure, and under insulated conditions,'into retort-like chambers with suitable materials or mixtures therein, as in Fig. 3, through inlet conduit 1', and advantageously so doing after, in some cases, duly purifying the gases, as by the prior removal of fumes and dusts therefrom; such blasts of ases thereby serving the function of agitatmg, as also electrifying by contact or of'compounding at high temperatures with emanations from said materials'in the-retort, and v in the=ensuing gas mixing coils or the like, and recovery apparatus connected with G Fig. 3, not shown in Fig. 3, but substantially as shown and explained for and in Fig. 2. And further, in some cases, I inject, as through injectors G J Fig. 2, and Fig. 3, streams of other gases or vapors, etc, either neutral or oppositely electrified, and under insulated conditions (and previously duly heated by means not shown of hot waste gases or the slag heats), into contact with the first electrified hot gases, or cmanations from mixtures, for due electrical compounding therewith, and the recovery of values therefrom as previously described. Thus where the materials treated as described com- )risc sulfid ores or rocks, which when highly heated or fused, emit sulfur gases in suffi cient amount to be economically of value, 1

treat the gases and 'emanations as described,

advantageously by earthing heat emitted negative electrons therefrom and recover same duly, as sulfuric acid by the compounding with water vapors advantageously neutral; or by compounding with ammonia gas,

where such is economically available, to make ammonium sulfates, for fertilizer use. In said cases, I advantageously apply my electrical method as described, to and in the Process for the manufacture of sulfuric acid, invented by William H. VVaggaman, of theU. S. Department of Agriculture, de scribed in his U. S. Patent 1,185,029 dated May 80,/16, and duly dedicated t" the public.

The sulfur gases are advantageously electrified positive, by the earthing of heatemitted negative electrons, as described above; and are broughtinto contact with,

.and mixed with steam vapors, advantageously neutral, and thereafter absorbed in water to make sulfuric acid. And likewise, the positively electrified sulfur gases and emanations are brought into contact with negatively electrified ammonia gases; and including ammonia or the like gases in the blast furnace gases blown through the molten slag mixtures comprising sulfur compounds, making a crude sulfate of ammonium fertilizer, or the like. I

it will be understood, that electrification of components of compounds, herein indicated, is attained in some cases by the due earthing of the heat emitted electrons, and ad 'antageously the negative; and again such heat-emitted electrons from one molecule or element or atom, may be neutralized by the opposite from a neighboring particle; or such may be projected into, or taken up by a iboring atom or molecule or particle h ng into contact therewith, and thereby cha or electrifying the latter, advan t geously positive. 5., when it takes up a p asitive electron while neutral, or on the contrary negatively charged when it, being neutral, takes up a negative heat-emitted electron. in the case of slag mixtures, and others herein described, it is advantageous to determine such empirically, and conduct the process, by following at the start, the general rule, that the heat emitted electrons are negative from or of the bases or basic oxide, Cat), Mgi), Na O, K,(), or the like or basic radicals; also from NH and that in general, the heat emitted electrons are positive from the acid oxids or acid radicals; such as and. the oxids of U, of Si, of S, and some of the osids of N, and N0 and hl tl 'l some of the oxids of manganese, aiu chromiir and of some elements as Cl, and

it has been noted that the ionizing power or he be positive electrons, emitted by upon the neighborin or 4-5 centar gases other medium into a are emitted, is far greater than the negative emissions, sometimes in the ratio of 100 to 1. l avail myself of this property, as illustrated in the process with pl'iosphorite mixtures, whereof the phosphates emit positive electrons, especially the if as, and which facilitates ensuing recoveL and likewise with plain iron Fe which the smelter emits mostly positive circus, some of which are emitted into ipuig gases and emanations, duly u ,d as described; and again where comively cold gases or vapors, are to be .ned with the hot gases in the conduits very apparatus, and such are advanm' 'ierature to attain emission lcctrons therefrom into such,

"pi-flier to the compounding.

leave the more powerful positive electron to perform the desired function, in electrically facilitating the formation of the desired compound or product, in the manner described. Where two gases are thus compounded, either one being ionized, or each electrified with opposite signs, the compounding is facilitated by the injection into the gase of steam or sprays of water or other desirable liquid disperse medium or solvent, as the drops of water or the like, facilitate the condensation of the ions of the gases thereontogethcr with simultaneous or ensuing com poundings. It is well known that the chemical combination of gases is enhanced by the presence of moisture; I avail myself of this property, in combination with the electrifications advantageously attained as described, by the due ezirthing of heat'emitted electrons of one sign only, and conducting the compoundings under insulated conditions, as described.

I am aware of the utilization of acid and basic slags in the manufacture of ferti lizers, such being also the title of Bulletin No. 95, Bureau of Soils, U. S. Department of Agriculture, by Wm. H. lVaggaman, of 1913; and I do not claim any such slag fertilizers, excepting when made under my electric process herein described. and the improved fertilizer products electrically fixed, of increased density and stability, and of diminished hygroscopicity, as compared to the same made orattempted or recommended to be made without such process but as heretofore. l\loreover, the commercial basic slags heretofore used as fertilizers are such as obtain their phosphate content from the orcs in the smelting thereof or the like, and not by subsequent mixings.

I claim- 1. The process of electrically utilizing hot limpid molten slags in the compounding thereof with other materials comprising values to be recovered, which consists in suitably mixing and largely fusing the materials, in and with the slags; and simultaneously, during the mixing, electrically carrying to earth, or otherwise neutralize, the heat emitted electrons of one sign only; all under insulated conditions; and thereafter recovering the values from the mix ture and from the cmanations, the fumes. vapors, dust, gases or the like.

2. The n'ocess of treatin and utilizin l? h

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