Improvements in the Treatment of Bones and Animal Waste or Refuse Generally for the Purpose of Rendering the Same more Suited for Fertilizing Purposes and for Obtaining Gelatine, Glue, and Size.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 28th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 29th Jan., 1889
Improvements in the Treatment of Bones and Animal Waste or
Refuse Generally for the Purpose of Rendering the Same more
Suited for Fertilizing Purposes and for Obtaining Gelatine, Glue,
and Size.
I, AMOS HERBERT HOBSON, of 5, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, in the
City of Westminster, Analytical Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
My Invention relates to the treatment of bones and animal waste and refuse
generally, such for example as fish or fish scrap (i.e. the heads and tails of fish) and
the horns, hoofs, skins, cartilages, and meat of animals; and the objects of my inven-
tion are (a) to render such bones, refuse, or waste more suited for fertilizing purposes
or (b) to extract the gelatine, glue, or size from such bones, refuse, or waste while
loaving a residue possessing valuable fertilizing properties.
The Invention as applied to the treatment of bones and other refuse for mantire
only, has for effect to bring the nitrogenous constituents of the bones etc., into a
soluble condition in which they are more readily assimilable whilst still remuning in
admixture with the mineral constituents which, so far as they consist of phosphate of
lime, become partially transformed into phosphates soluble in water while the untrans-
formed part is more readily acted on by the acids of the soil; and as applied to the
treatment of bones and other refuse for the extraction of the glue, gelatine, or size, it
has for effect to separate all or the greater portion of the nitrogenous constituents and
at the same time render the mineral or inorganic portions better suited for fertilizing
than they are when untreated.
If bones be treated with from five to ten per cent. of their weight of caustic potash
or its equivalent, the nitrogenous and investing membraneous matter of the bone is
dissolved, with partial decomposition, especially if heated to, or above, boiling point
and with some loss of ammonia, more particularly if more than ten per cent. of the
potash or its equivalent be added.

page_text: The process of my invention is applied to the production of manure only in the
following manner; The bones, preferably reduced to the form of moderately fine
powder, are heated with about ten per cent. of their weight of caustic potash (or the
equivalent of other alkali such as caustic soda, carbonate of potash or soda, etc.)
dissolved in sufficient water to form a creamy mixture with the bone, the amount
required being generally equal to the weight of the bones. The operation is performed
at a temperature below boiling point (say between 180° and 210° F) and is continued
with frequent stirring for eight or ten hours or until the nitrogenous matter is
completely dissolved. The mixture may either be used directly as liquid manure or it
may be evaporated to dryness. The nitrogenous matter in either case romains
associated with the mineral matter of the bones, but in a form capable of being more
quickly assimilated by vegetation.
When the proportion of alkali is less than five per cent. of the weight of the bones,
the nitrogenous and investing membraneous matter is also dissolved more or less
completely, but with little or no decomposition or loss of ammonia, and the solution
obtained leaves on evaporation, a residuo liaving the properties of gelatine, glue, or
size, as the case may be while the insoluble residue is far better suited, as regards
assimilation of phosphates, to perform its function as a food for plants than bones in
the untroated state in consequence of the whole or greater part of the nitrogenous
portion having been dissolved out and the bone reduced to a friable condition instead
of being dense and hard as it is without such treatment.
In applying this process to the production of both nianure and gelatine, glue, or
size; I first, if necessary, cleanse the bone of any adhering or contained fat in the
ordinary way, or remove the fat by the use of benzine or other solvent of fatty
matter, and I then add to the bone and water with which it is mixed, caustic potashi,
caustic soda or equivalent of other alkali (in the proportion of from one to five per
cent. of the weight of the bono) and heat to a temperature below boiling (say between
180° and 200° F) for five to fifteen hours, according to the nature of the bono etc. and
the product required.
Bones in commerce may be derived from one or many kinds of animals and are
usually mixed. The time of heating and proportion of alkali, therefore, necessarily
varies and with ordinary bones in the London Market the time required when making
glue or gelatine is nine or ten hours, a more prolonged heating being liable to injure
the product. But in making size which does not depend for its utility so much as tho
gelatine or glue upon its adhesive qualities, the heating may be continued until
practically the whole of the nitrogenous matter, is dissolved out, say for twelve to
fifteen hours.
Whichever product is required, the solution is then drawn off from the bone and
filtered or allowed to settle, and decanted off. It is afterwards evaporated at as low a
heat as possible, say at about 160° to 180° F to a suitable consistency for use as
gelatino, gluo, or size. When the solution of nitrogenous matter is to be brought to
a highly concentrated or solid state for use as glue, gelatine, or size, it is advisable
before commencing to evaporate, to arrost the action of the alkali by wholly or partially
neutralizing it by the addition of a chemically equivalent quantity of an acid such as
sulphuric, sulphurous, or hydrochloric acid. As the lees may contain sufficient
soluble matter to be worth extraction, I may wash it and concentrate this second
extract so obtained, along with the first.
I may then with advantage add to the residual bone about five per cent. of caustic
potash or an equivalent of another alkali and sufficient water to make a creamy
inixture with the bone and heat the mixture for a few hours for the purpose of dissolving
as completely as possible any nitrogenous matter remaining after the oxtraction of the
glue, and use the bone and dissolved nitrogenous matter directly as manure or evaporate
to dryness.
In the application of this invention, I do not confine myself to the use of the exact
quantities given above, but may vary them to suit the special circumstances of each
particular requirement.

page_text: Although I have described the treatment of bones only, I would have it clearly
understood that the treatment is also applicable to animal refuse or waste generally,
with but little, if any, modification. It is impossible to describe in detail, a special
treatment for each of the many kinds of animal matter but I may state that the only
practical variation will be in the amount of potash or other alkali used.
This
amount will vary according to the solubility of the particular substance under
treatment.
A. H. HOBSON.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.

page_text: Improvements in the Treatment of Bones and Animal Waste or
Refuse Generally for the Purpose of Rendering the Same more
Suited for Fertilizing Purposes and for Obtaining Gelatine, Glue,
and Size.
I, AMOS HERBERT HOBSON, of 5, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, in the
City of Westminster, Analytical Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:
My Invention relates to the treatment of bones and animal waste and refuse
generally, such for example as fish or fish scrap (i.e. the heads and tails of fish) and
the horns hoofs, skins, cartilages, and meat of animals; and the objects of my
invention are (a) to render such bones, refuse, or waste more suited for fertilizing
purposes, or (b) to extract the gelatino, glue, or size from such bones, refuse or waste
while leaving a residuo possessing valuable fertilizing properties.
The Invention, as applied to the treatment of bones, and other refuse for manure
only, has for effect to bring the nitrogenous constituents of the bones, etc. into a
soluble condition in which they are more readily assimilable whilst still remaining in
admixture with the mineral constituents which, so far as they consist of phosphate of lime,
become partially transformed into phosphates soluble in water while the untransformed
part is more readily acted on by the acids of the soil, and, as applied to the treatment
of bones and other refuse for the extraction of the glue, gelatine, or size, it has for
effect to separate all or the greater portion of the nitrogenous constituents and at
the same time render the mineral or inorganic portions better suited for fertilizing
than they are when untreated.
If bones be treated with from five to ten per cent. of their weight of caustic
potash or its equivalent the nitrogonous and investing mombraneous matter of the
bone is dissolved with partial decomposition especially if heated to, or above, boiling
point and with some loss of ammonia, more particularly if more than ten per cent. of
the potash, or its equivalent, be added.
The process of my invention is applied to the production of manure only, in the
following manner; The bones, preferably reduced to the form of moderately fine
powder, are heated with about ten per cent. of their weight of caustic potash (or the
equivalent of other alkali, such as caustic soda, carbonate of potash, or soda, etc.)
dissolved in a weight of water equal to the weight of the bones to be treated. The
operation is performed at a temperature preferably below boiling point (say between
180° and 210° F) and is continued, with frequent stirring, for eight or ten hours, or

page_text: until the nitrogenous matter is completely dissolved. The mixture may either be used
directly as liquid manure or it may be evaporated to dryness. The nitrogenous matter,
in either case, remains associated with the mineral matter of the bones, but in
capable of being more quickly assimilated by vegetation.
form
When the proportion of alkali is less than three per cent. of the weight of the bones,
the nitrogeneous and investing membraneous matter is also dissolved more or less
completely but with little or no decomposition or loss of ammonia, and the solution
obtained leaves, on evaporation, a residue having the properties of gelatine, glue, or
size, as the case may be, while the insoluble residue is far better suited, as regards
assimilation of phosphates to perform its function as a food for plants than bones in
the untreated state, in consequence of the whole or greater part of the nitrogenous
portion having been dissolved out and the bone reduced to a friable condition instead
of being dense and hard as it is without such treatment.
In applying this process to the production of both manure and gelatine, glue, or
-size, I first, if necessary, cleanse the bone of any adhering or contained fat in the
ordinary way, or remove the fat by the use of benzine or other solvent of fatty matter,
as will be well understood, and I then add to the bone and water with which it is
mixed, caustic potash, caustic soda, or equivalent of other alkali (in the proportion of
from half to three per cent. of the weight of the bone) and heat to a temperature
preferably below boiling (say between 180° and 200° F) for five to fifteen hours
according to the nature of the bone, etc. and the product required.
Bones in commerce may be derived from one or many kinds of animals and are
usually mixed. The time of heating and proportion of alkali therefore, necessarily
varies and with ordinary bones in the London Market the time required when making
glue or gelatine is nine or ten hours, a more prolonged heating being liable to injure
the product. But in making size, which does not depend for its utility so much as
the gelatine or glue upon its adhesive qualities, the heating may be continued until
practically the whole of the nitrogenous inatter is dissolved out, say for twelve to fifteen
hours.
Whichever product is required, the solution is then drawn off from the bone and
filtered or allowed to settle and decanted off. It is afterwards evaporated at as low a
heat as possible, say at about 160° to 180° F, to a suitable consistency for use as
gelatine, glue, or size.
When the solution of nitrogenous matter is to be brought to a highly-concentrated
or solid state for use as glue, gelatine, or size, it is advisable, before commencing to
evaporato, to arrest the action of the alkali by wholly or partially neutralizing it by
the addition of a chemically equivalent quantity of an acid, such as sulphuric,
sulphurous, or hydrochloric acid.
As the lees may contain sufficient soluble matter to be worth extraction, I may
wash it and concentrate this second extract so obtained along with the first.
I may then with advantage add to the residual bone about five per cent. of caustic
potash or an equivalent of another alkali and sufficient water to make a creamy
mixture with the bone, and heat the mixture for a few hours for the purpose of
dissolving as completely as possible any nitrogenous matter remaining after the
extraction of the glue and use the bone and dissolved nitrogenous matter directly as
manure or evaporate to dryness.
In the application of this invention, I do not confine myself to the use of the exact
quantities given above, but may vary them to suit the special circumstances of each
particular requirement.
Although I havo described the treatment of bones only, I would have it clearly
understood that the treatment is also applicable to animal refuse or waste generally
with but little, if any, modification. It would be difficult to describe in detail a
special treatment for each of the many kinds of animal matter, but 1 may state that
the only practical variation will be in the amount of potash or other alkali used. This
amount will vary according to the solubility of the particular substance under
treatment.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein described process of treating bones and animal refuse or waste for the
purpose of rendering the same more suited for fertilizing purposes, which process
consists in digesting the bones, etc. (preferably at a temperature below boiling point)
in an alkaline solution of sufficient strength, and for a sufficient time, to dissolve the
nitrogenous and investing membraneous matter and bring the same into a more readily
assimilable form, as described.
2. The herein described process of treating bones and other animal refuse or waste
for the purpose of extracting gelatine, glue, or size, and loaving a residue fit for use
as a fertilizer, which process consists essentially in digesting the bones, etc. in an
alkaline solution of the strength, at the temperature, and in the manner, hereinbeforo
described, in then drawing off the resultant solution, filtering, neutralizing if
necessary and concentrating the filtered solution, as herein set forth.
3. The herein described process of treating bones which consists in digesting the
hones in an alkaline dilute solution in the presence of heat, then separating and
concentrating the solution thereby forming glue, gelatine, or size, in then digesting
the remaining bone in a strong alkaline solution so as to completely dissolve the
remaining nitrogenous matter and bring the same into a moro readily assimilablo
form, substantially as described.