LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS* ASSOCIATION. 
55 
Mr. Henry Brunner. These works are very extensive, and afforded an excellent oppor¬ 
tunity for the inspection of all the various processes of the alkali manufacture, which 
the gentlemen present did not fail to take advantage of. This firm also received a medal 
at the International Exhibition, and certainly the honour in this case was deservedly be¬ 
stowed, for notwithstanding the extensive scale on which their processes are conducted, 
all the various articles manufactured by them which we saw were of excellent quality, 
especially their bicarbonate of soda. At these works the visitors were lucky enough to 
have an opportunity of examining the construction of a sulphuric acid chamber, as one 
of the many chambers in this establishment was in course of repair. 
In passing through these works we could not help thinking what a great contrast they 
presented to the soda works of days gone by. 
Formerly, in order to procure the alkali, it was the practice to grow the Salsola Soda 
or the Salicornia herbacea in the warm climates of Spain and the Mediterranean, and the 
Fucus vesiculosus , serratus , digitatus, nodosus, and other fuci in these more northern 
climes. These alkali nurseries were of course placed on the seashore, for there only 
could the organic laboratories find sufficient salt to subject to the decomposing action of 
their energetic powers ; the plants were burnt to ashes, forming barilla, or kelp, and the 
soluble portion was then separated by water from the insoluble earthy matter, sand, etc. 
The carbonate of soda was afterwards separated by crystallization from the other soluble 
salts. The ashes of the plants just mentioned contained from 2 to 20 per cent, of car¬ 
bonate of soda. Previous to the establishment of the French Republic in 1793, there 
was hardly any soda made except by this process, and of course the supply was exceed¬ 
ingly limited. 
The soda process, as carried on at the present time, was invented by a French apothe¬ 
cary ( un pharmacien) named Le Blanc. It consists,—1st, in the decomposition of common 
salt by means of sulphuric acid, the products being sulphate of soda, technically known 
as ‘ saltcake ’ and hydrochloric acid. 2nd. The decomposition of the sulphate of soda 
by fusing it with carbonate of lime and carbon, the product being what is technically 
called 4 black ash,’ or ‘ ball soda,’ which consists essentially of carbonate of soda and sul¬ 
phide of calcium. 3rd. The separation of the carbonate of soda from the sulphide of 
calcium by lixiviating the black ash with water. The solution obtained is evaporated to 
dryness, and the residue roasted in a reverberatory furnace, the product being an im¬ 
pure carbonate of soda, known as 4 soda ash,’ and containing from 50 to 55 per cent, of 
alkali. 
To manufacture crystallized carbonate of soda, a saturated hot solution of soda ash is 
made, and after being allowed to settle to separate impurities, it is run into large iron 
pans, where, as the liquor cools, the carbonate of soda crystallizes out almost perfectly 
pure. The mother-liquor from the crystals contains most of the sulphates and chlorides, 
and also carbonate of soda. It is evaporated to dryness, and the residue roasted to form 
what is known as 4 weak ash’ or ‘ crystal ash.’ 
Bicarbonate of soda is procured by placing the crystals of carbonate of soda in a close 
leaden chamber, and subjecting them to an atmosphere of carbonic acid; water sepa¬ 
rates, and the carbonate of soda takes up another equivalent of carbonic acid. The 
lumps of bicarbonate are taken from these carbonating chambers to the drying kiln, 
where they remain for a few days, and are then removed to the mill, and ground ready 
for market. 
The hydrochloric acid evolved in the first process was, in the early days of manufac¬ 
ture, allowed to escape, and caused considerable damage to the surrounding neighbour¬ 
hood. After the manufacturers had been put to considerable trouble and expense to 
remedy this, Mr. Gossage invented the arrangement which is now in use for condensing 
the acid gas. It consists of towers filled with pieces of coke or bricks, and as the gas 
passes up through the towers, a stream of water runs down, and, coming in contact with 
the gas, condenses it. A Bill is now before Parliament for preventing the escape of these 
deleterious gases from alkali works, and if it becomes law, which it is almost certain to 
do, inspectors will be appointed to examine the alkali works, and all manufacturers 
allowing an escape of more than 5 per cent, of muriatic gas, will be liable to a heavy 
fine. This being the case, we were particularly careful in noticing the condensing ap¬ 
paratus of the works we visited, and have much pleasure in saying that both at the 
works of Messrs. Gaskell, Deacon, and Co., and those of Messrs. Hutchinson and Co., the 
condensing apparatus was most efficient, every possible care being taken in both works 
