AN IMPROVED METHOD OR PROCESS OF TREATING BONES, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MANURE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Packard, junior, of Bramford, in the County
"
of Suffolk, for the Invention of AN IMPROVED METHOD OR PROCESS OF
TREATING BONES, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MANURE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Packard at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th November 1878.
"AN
EDWARD PACKARD, junior, of Bramford, in the County of Suffolk.
IMPROVED METHOD OR PROCESS OF TREATING BONES, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR
THE MANUFACTURE OF MANURE."
This Invention relates to an entirely new method or process of treating bones,
chiefly for the manufacture of manure, and it obviates all losses which are
experienced by the methods heretofore employed for working bones for this purpose.
The said process effects in one purely chemical operation the reduction of the
bones to powder and dissolves the same.
The said process consists in the dissolution of the bones in sulphuric acid of a
certain concentration and at a certain temperature, which is best affected in lead
vessels containing 1,000 kilogrammes of sulphuric acid, and from 1,000 to 1,500
kilogrammes of bones, according to the quality of the superphosphates to be
manufactured.
Sulphuric acid of from 47° to 48° Bauiné being heated in the pans to about 80°
Celsius will dissolve the largest and hardest bones in about 48 hours, and a solution
is produced which contains,
First. All the nitrogen in the bones as soluble sulphates. A loss of nitrogen as
it occurs in the steaming process is rendered impossible, as even the ammonia which
has accumulated in the bones before use is prevented from being volatilized.
Second. The phosphoric acid of the bones is contained in the solution.

page_text: Third. The fat contained in the bones up to 10% is drawn off the solution, and
so quantitatively all obtained, whilst in the old method it was all or partly lost. In
the so called English method of crushing the bones raw and treating them with
sulphuric acid, the whole of the fat is lost. In the steaming method only a very
small portion of the fat, and that very impure, is obtained. On the other hand the
fat obtained by practising the Invention can be used at once for the manufacture of
the best soap.
After the dissolution of the bones is perfect and all fat removed, the solution is
used for the manufacture of artificial manure. The solution consisting of phos-
phoric acid, and that part of the sulphuric acid which has not been absorbed by the
bones, is used to work upon any phosphate, guano, coprolites, bone ash, or similar
materials in exactly the same manner as pure sulphuric acid is now used. In this
operation not only the sulphuric acid works but also the phosphoric acid which has,
to be taken into consideration in calculating the quantity of phosphate.
In the methods heretofore used in working bones for manure it has been im-
possible to render soluble the whole of the phosphoric acid contained in the bones;
even when thoroughly dissolved a considerable quantity remained unaffected which
it will be seen is avoided in practising this Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Packard in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th May
1879.
EDWARD PACKARD, junior, of Bramford, in the County of Suffolk.
" AN
IMPROVED METHOD OR PROCESS OF TREATING BONES, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF MANURE."
This Invention relates to an entirely new method or process of treating bones,
chiefly for the manufacture of manure, and it obviates all losses which are
experienced by the methods heretofore employed for working bones for this purpose.
This new process effects in one purely chemical operation the reduction of the bones
to powder and dissolves the same.
The said process consists in the dissolution of the bones in sulphuric acid of a
certain concentration and at a certain temperature, which dissolution is best effected
in lead vessels containing 1,000 kilogrammes of sulphuric acid and from 1,000 to
1,500 kilograms of bones, according to the quality of the superphosphates to be
manufactured. Sulphuric acid of from 47° to 48° Baumé being heated in the pans
to about 80° Celsius will dissolve the largest and hardest bones in about 48 hours,
and a solution is produced which contains,-
First. All the nitrogen in the bones as soluble sulphates. A loss of nitrogen as it
occurs in the steaming process is rendered impossible, as even the ammonia whi h
has accumulated in the bones before use is prevented from being volatilized.
Second. The phosphoric acid of the bones is contained in the solution.

page_text: Third. The fat contained in the bones up to 10 % is drawn off from the
solution and so quantitatively all obtained, whilst in the old method it was all or
partly lost. In the so called English method of crushing the bones raw, and treating
them with sulphuric acid, the whole of the fat is lost. In the steaming method
only a very small portion of the fat, and that in a very impure condition, is obtained.
On the other hand the fat obtained by this improved method or process can be used
at once for the manufacture of the best soap.
After the dissolution of the bones is perfect, or carried as far as desirable, and all
fat removed, the solution is used for the manufacture of artificial manure.
The solution consisting of phosphoric acid and that part of the sulphuric acid
which has not been absorbed by the bones, is used to work upon any phosphates,
guano, coprolites, bone ash, or similar materials in exactly the same manner as pure
sulphuric acid is now used. In this operation not only the sulphuric acid works
but also the phosphoric acid, and this fact has to be taken into consideration in
calculating the quantity of phosphate.
In the methods heretofore used in working bones for manure it has been im-
possible to render soluble the whole of the phosphoric acid contained in the bones;
even when thoroughly dissolved a considerable quantity remained unaffected, but
it will be seen that by my Invention this difficulty is avoided.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,
-
The method above described of dissolving bones intended for the manufacture of
artificial manure by the direct action of sulphuric acid upon the whole bones, by
which process I obtain the whole of the nitrogen as soluble sulphates, a complete
or partial dissolution of the phosphate contained in the bones, and the whole of the
fat contained in the bones, all as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Packard, junior, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.